Thousands of Greeks ignore this particular health problem – the years venous disease– But he returned to the news thanks to the 2nd round of information campaign of the “Butterfly” Association.
The club’s mobile unit traveled to 13 cities and remote areas of the country, examining a total of 693 citizens for years of venous disease.
Findings do not leave room for complacency:
- 6 out of 10 examiners (60.3%) said it was the first time they had checked for venous insufficiency.
- Of these, 7 in 10 (70.1%) were eventually diagnosed with some stage of the disease.
The program was attended by 12 volunteers and 10 butterfly members who not only offered exams but also distributed more than 5,000 information forms.
The campaign focused exclusively on the region, reaching Crete, Laconia, Komotini, Trikala and other areas, with the aim of approaching communities that usually stay outside such initiatives.
Chronic vein disease and predisposing agents
Chronic venous disease is a progressive circulatory disease, which begins when the veins of the lower extremities fail to return blood to the heart effectively. This leads to increased pressure in the veins (venous hypertension), resulting in the first symptoms often “quiet”: weight on the feet, swelling on the ankles, pain or cramps at night, and in more advanced stage varicose veins or even venous ulcers.
The disease is not uncommon. It is estimated that up to 40% of the adult population has a certain degree of venous insufficiency, with women affected much more. According to the butterfly campaign, women are 2.5 times more likely to get sick than men, while pregnancy doubles the risk of developing the disease – due to hormonal changes and increased pressure on veins during pregnancy.
Other important predisposing factors include:
- Inheritance: If there is a history of venous deficiency in the family, the likelihood of disease is almost doubled.
- Standing: Occupations that require long standing standing upright (eg teachers, nurses, shops) increase the risk by about 19%.
- Age: The rates go up spectacularly after 60 years, as the venous system is tired.
- Obesity and lack of exercise: increased body weight and sedentary life exert additional pressure on the veins of the lower extremities.
The disease not only threatens the quality of life with fatigue symptoms and aesthetic alteration from varicose veins, but can lead to serious complications such as thrombosis or chronic ulcers. Early diagnosis and regular medical monitoring are crucial to avoid its advanced forms.
Ways of dealing with and treatment
Chronic venous disease is not incurable, but continuous monitoring and proper treatment is needed. The main treatment pillars include:
- Conservative measures: exercise, weight loss, avoiding long standing, lifting legs to rest.
- Compressed Socks: They are a “gold standard” in conservative treatment as they improve circulation and reduce symptoms.
- Medication: Specific venous preparations that improve the vein tone and relieve swelling and pain.
- Invasive methods: In more advanced stages, techniques such as sclerotherapy, laser, radio frequencies or microsurgical interventions are applied, which are now being done in a slightly invasive and quick recovery.
The key, according to vascular surgeons, is early diagnosis. The earlier the disease is detected, the simpler and more effective the treatment – before venous insufficiency develops into a chronic and painful problem.
Source: Iatropedia.gr