Varicose veins is still considered a nuisance because it interferes aesthetic appearance. Though varicose veins is a risk of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (pulmonary embolism / PE).
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the pulmonary artery by an embolus (blood clot) that occur suddenly, which could result in sudden death.
Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Specialist Faculty of medicine / RSCM dr. R Suhartono, MD said, varicose veins should not be underestimated because it can cause serious complications such as PE. Varicose veins are caused by disruption of the function of the veins to return blood flow to the heart.
Veins are blood vessels that served to restore the blood from the body to the heart. Veins have valves to keep the pressure on the muscles stay normal so that blood can flow to the heart. Veins in the legs have a harder task than in other parts of the body because of the far distance with the heart.
"If the venous valve is damaged, the blood can not be restored to normal. Resulting blood accumulation that resulted in swelling of the vein. This is a cause varicose veins or known by the medical term chronic vein insufficiency (CVI)," said Suhartono in talk show hosted by SOHO Group , Saturday (04/27/2013) in Jakarta.
If you have severe varicose veins will lead to accumulation of blood because blood flow is not back to normal. Consequently prone to clot blood and potentially block blood flow to the lungs. This has resulted in sudden death.
"Sudden death due to pulmonary embolism is often misunderstood heart attack. Then the disease is still not much of a concern," he said.
Phase-stage venous disorders, said Suhartono, starting from the onset of lines calf which is reddish in appearance of veins began to swell. Furthermore the greater the swelling veins to cause injury because the skin cells in the blood vessels of the dead.
The incidence of varicose veins large enough. Suhartono said, women have a risk of 25-50 percent of adults have varicose veins. While men have a 15-30 percent risk of varicose veins.
Increased risk of varicose veins on their prolonged sitting or standing, lack of physical activity, obesity, pregnancy, and genetic factors.