Varicose veins during pregnancy
Many women first meet with varicose veins during pregnancy, although the disease is not unique to this period: the genetic predisposition, excess weight, poor diet and sedentary lifestyle are among the factors that add up in favor of the appearance of varicose veins.
During pregnancy there is a whole series of changes to your body, among which are changes in the circulatory system and those with a genetic predisposition, may see appear varices by dilated superficial veins.
This is because the growing baby increases the size of your uterus and this causes a “stop” in the major pelvic blood vessels that carry venous blood to the heart, then a small amount of pooled blood from the superficial veins. In addition, the hormonal changes of pregnancy cause the one hand, retention of sodium and water causing the amount of fluid to transport is greater-and, second, progesterone-very high during pregnancy, a loss muscle tone of the vein wall, which relaxes and becomes prone to swell and deform.
The weight gain beyond what makes also advised that “stop” to increase, and with it the possibility of appearance of varicose veins. Most times, varicose veins occur during the first trimester of pregnancy.
For the appearance of varicose veins, there are areas of the body more vulnerable than others, and that return blood to the heart, should go up, “going against gravity. The legs, the rectum and sometimes the vulva, are often the most affected by varicose veins that are appearing on the rectum, are known as “hemorrhoids.”
Besides being aesthetically unpleasant, varicose veins can be painful and cause feelings of bloating or cramps. When they appear in the rectum, may cause pain and even bleeding during bowel movements or cracks in the area that can be very annoying and painful, making it necessary for medical treatment.
During pregnancy you have to be especially attentive to the appearance of varices, especially when painful, red or swell suddenly, as this can be a symptom of more serious diseases such as thrombosis or thrombophlebitis, which occurs when a clot forms in the vein that can include an infection.
With successive pregnancies, those with bias and have already had varicose veins in the first pregnancy, may see more acute the problem: increasingly showing up increasingly evolve varices and worse, so it is essential consultation with a phlebologists.
All pregnant women – especially those who work long hours sitting or standing, should take precautions to prevent varicose veins:
* Obviously-and beyond the varices, the baby’s health, no smoking.
* Eating healthy, avoid constipation and weight gain no more than necessary.
* Make physical exercise, advised by her obstetrician in relation to the activity performed and the intensity of it.
* Do not wear high heels and tight clothes, especially in the legs, thighs or waist.
* Ask the provider if necessary the use of socks “off.”
* If they have to be long stop, change position frequently and walk around, as far as possible.
* If they have to spend much time sitting, get up frequently-at least five minutes every hour.
* Being stop-for example, in the tail of the bank or in a job that requires it, be on your toes twenty times. At home you can do the following exercises: walking barefoot for five minutes on tiptoe, lie down and up and down the legs, move your legs bicycle type, lying with her legs up, ankles turn inside out and then from outside to inside, then flex it. Bend the toes.
* While sitting, for example, in the office, perform the following exercises: with feet flat on the floor, lift the toe and heels on. Raise and straighten one leg at a time, turning the foot to one side to the other
* Relaxing with legs elevated about 15 inches over his head.
* Self-massage the legs at night before bed, and take lymphatic drainage massage with a professional whenever possible.
Although genetics play a fundamental role and those without predisposition may not have varices but do not take the necessary precautions, it is known that in health, prevention is the most important weapon in the fight against disease, so that beyond family history, all pregnant women should implement to avoid the appearance of varicose veins.