Disease is relatively common, being more frequent in women than in men
Vitória Macedo
SAO PAULO, SP (Folhapress)-The president of the United States, received the diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency (IVC), according to the White House on Thursday (17), after being examined by his doctor due to swelling in the legs. This is one of the main manifestations of the disease, which is common and causes several discomfort.
IVC is characterized by an increase in pressure on the veins of the lower limbs, resulting from an incompetence of the venous system responsible for blood drainage. In other words, the veins cannot make the blood return efficiently to the heart.
According to Edwaldo Edner Joviliano, president of the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery-São Paulo, it is a relatively common disease, more frequent in women than in men. “It is estimated that it affects 40 to 60% of people at some stage of life,” says the expert.
Google Trends data show that interest in chronic venous insufficiency was already significant, but reached its peak search in Brazil after Trump’s diagnosis announcement. One of the main questions listed was whether this condition can be fatal. In the United States, the phenomenon was similar, with concentrated searches of the risks of chronic venous insufficiency.
“It is not a disease that leads to death, but one that affects the quality of life,” says Dover, reassuring about the severity of the condition.
Risk factors
The main cause, according to Joviliano, is the genetic predisposition. In addition, other factors can contribute to the development of IVC:
History of venous thrombosis serious trauma in the leg surgeries of large obesity orthopedic surgeries according to Nelson Wolosker, vascular physician at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, there are several clinical situations that lead to increased pressure on lower limb veins. Varicose veins represent a more benign form of the condition, while venous thrombosis is a more serious picture.
Symptoms
The IVC causes, above all, disorders in the quality of life of those who receive the diagnosis, manifesting mainly through:
Swelling in the legs pain varicose veins (dilated veins that are projected out of the leg) Changes in the skin of the leg appearance of ulcers formation in the lower limbs (in more advanced cases not treated)
Treatment
Clinical treatment is mainly based on lifestyle change, including regular physical and aerobic physical activity, which improve leg drainage.
The doctor highlights the importance of strengthening the legs: “Our calf is a second heart we have, contributing to the return of blood,” he says. “One should not save the leg.”
It is essential to avoid staying long with the legs standing and down, or a long time sitting in the same position. In labor activities that require this posture, the doctor recommends rising periodically.
Doctors also indicate rest periods with high legs to reduce swelling.
Another important treatment is the use of compressive elastic socks, which compress the legs according to the level of compression required by the health professional. “This helps to improve the quality of life and allows the individual to perform work activities without further problems,” explains Joviliano. Use can be continuous, depending on gravity, preventing legs from making it.
In some cases, corrective surgeries of varicose veins can be performed to solve the problem more definitively at that time.
