Veins – the pipelines of life

Veins – the pipelines of life

Veins run through our entire body, and work in conjunction with our heart. They are the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart. But although they are so important for our body, it is thought that between 20-60% of the UK population suffer from some form of vein weakness. [1] So, what is the cause, and what can be done to combat it?

Capillaries, venules, and veins – the blood’s transport units

Veins are blood vessels that transport blood from the body back to the heart, and around three quarters of all blood vessels in our body are veins. A network of very small capillaries makes up the basic framework. From this, the blood flows out of the arterial system, and into venules – small veins with a diameter of 15 to 500 micrometres, and they can be seen in our eyes, for example. The venules merge into veins that are about one millimetre in diameter, which in turn merge into the larger body veins with diameters of one to ten millimetres. The latter converge in the inferior and superior vena cava, which open into the right atrium of the heart. An important collection point for blood from the abdominal cavity is the hepatic portal vein (Vena portae hepatis). It collects the venous, oxygen-poor blood from the digestive organs and transports it to the liver, where the nutrients from food, as well as medicines and toxins, are metabolised.

Fundamentally, veins transport oxygen depleted (i.e., used) blood. But this is not the case for the pulmonary veins. These transport oxygenated blood back to the heart, more specifically the left atrium. However, venous vessels don’t only transport blood, but also store it. Around 5 litres of blood flows through the veins of an adult every day. More than three litres of it are found in venous systems. This is vital for survival as it acts as a reserve, so our body is able to continue to supply organs such as the brain and the heart in an emergency. For this reason, it is important to keep the legs elevated in the event of a circulatory collapse so that the venous blood reaches the central organs - because gravity makes blood flow even more difficult. [2]

In contrast to arteries, veins have low pressure. This lower pressure and the slower blood flow makes getting blood back to the heart more difficult. As such the body has certain ways of supporting veins, particularly during standing (where gravity again plays a role). To make sure the blood doesn’t flow backwards, venous vessels, especially in the arms and legs, are equipped with valves, so-called venous valves. A defective valve system can lead to swollen legs and varicose veins.

Alongside the venous valves, our muscles also support our veins. However, only when we move. When standing or sitting, the muscle pump in the legs is rarely active - this can lead to leg swelling. Furthermore, as veins close to the heart do not have valves, the abdominal muscles in particular support blood flow. When you exhale, the blood is pressed out of the veins into the right atrium of the heart.

Training for your Veins

A classic training method for your veins is contrast bath therapy – alternating between bathing in hot and cold water. You can do something similar in the shower. Veins will widen in warm water, and contract in cold water. As such, contrast bath therapy will train this widening and closing. If you spend a large portion of your workday sitting down, you should try to break this up by going walking, propping your legs up, or doing some exercises, such as Toe stand, squats, or air cycling. These exercises will help to strengthen your venous system. This can also be done in the office, while brushing your teeth or in front of the TV. Here we make use of the muscle pump, i.e. the ability of the muscles to pump back the used blood. This can prevent blood congestion and harmful internal pressure.

Plant Extracts for Healthy Veins

Hesperidin is a flavonoid that is found in rinds of citrus fruits. In preclinical and clinical trials, positive effects of hesperidin on differing illnesses, such as cardiovascular diseases, can be seen [4]. It is also used in pregnancy for haemorrhoids [5].

Rutin is a naturally occurring flavonoid, that is metabolised in the small intestine. It is used, among other things, in ointments for the treatment of varicose veins. Rutin can strengthen the walls of blood vessels and thus keep them elastic. This prevents the accumulation of water in tissue.

Diosmin is another flavonoid. Within medicine, this active ingredient is used for the treatment of venous disorders and haemorrhoids. It is often combined with hesperidin and rutin [6].

Aescin is a mixture of more than 30 different saponins contained in horse chestnut. It has been proven to have astringent properties, i.e., it seals vascular walls. Studies have shown that it is very effective in treating chronic venous insufficiency. Aescin promotes the return flow of blood to the heart. As a result, less water penetrates from the veins into injured or weakened tissue. This has a positive effect on oedemas and swellings - they become smaller. Aescin is also used for haemorrhoids [7].

The ruscogenin contained in butcher's broom is said to have capillary-sealing, anti-inflammatory, and draining properties. It is used for chronic venous insufficiency, especially in combination with hesperidin [8,9].

In order to achieve good efficacy, preparations with these ingredients should be taken over several months - in preparation for summer, it is therefore advisable to start taking them as early as spring