h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Varicose Veins - A73919352
Author: Galaxy Babe - U128652

This was written by Guitarzann who retired after one published EGE. I found this while searching for info on varicose veins () and just tidied it up. It wasn't in the Flea Market but here's the original: A300042

I am happy to accept suggestions/improvements and any horror stories, particularly I'd like to hear from anyone who has had these things removed.

GB

Hi GB, nice informative piece.
In the 'What Are They' section this bit doesnt't read well.
""To correct for this, the body evolved one-way valves""
I'd either take out the 'for' or re-phrase perhaps to something like,
**To aid the flow back to the heart, the body evolved one-way valves**

Apart from that, looks good.


BMT Scout

You say in Footnote 2 'This is why athletes never get varicose veins'. That kind of gives the impression they don't get them even if they retire and take up a sedentary lifestyle.

I agree, i am inclined to say 'never say never' - rarely or hardly ever get VV - might be a better option. Some of it has to be down to genes and a host of contributory factors.

Websailor

Thanks for the reviews, I've corrected what has been suggested

On athletic injury related varicose veins, I've found almost nothing of relevance on a Google search. Most of what I'm turning up relates to advertisements for treatment options without reference to traumas producing the varicose veins.

On the other other hand, I've frequently seen them in gyms where I've worked out, usually affecting pro and semi pro football players, usually around the knees and elbows. I'd suspect the problem in this case is related to falls and bruising.

I've also seen publications relating this to illicit corticosteroids, but have found nothing of relevance on this with Google, though several relevant sites have been blocked.

I've always thought the "bulging", pumped-up veins of gym-addicts were different to the varicose veins mentioned here. I'm willing to be corrected though

The definition of "varicose" just means distended or swollen so I suppose it could technically be for any reason. And my dictionary lists a varicose ulcer, so maybe it doesn't just refer to veins either. Although everyone knows what you mean by a varicose vein in this context so I don't think it needs to be corrected.

What's the BBC line on a reference to the way that the body has 'evolved' one way valves? Creationists may take issue with the value judgement. And you don't want one of *those* threads to evolve... er... to be created...er... to occur.

"However, a fair share of cases occur simply to lazy people and couch potatoes." Again a value judgement. Without scientific references to support this or specific numbers for 'a fair share', I'd say it's a personal opinion, even if a commonly shared one. I know it's just semantics but couldn't you just refer to people who are "inactive for one reason or another"?

And I have a question, which is really just me thinking aloud. Is this a human condition only or can animals get them? Or maybe not because they have 4 legs and a different centre of gravity? And because their heart isn't so far away from their legs?

If you have a low body fat and developed muscles then you will have visible normal veins, with perfectly functioning valves. (I love these veins ). Though they're larger than normal they won't painful and no treatment is needed.

It's not just inactivity that causes veins, they're very common in people who don't stand up for large parts of the day but don't walk a lot, for instance shop workers.That's because standing puts a large amount of pressure on a vein, but when you're walking the pressure is relieved by the muscle pushing the blood up to the heart.

I don't see any problem with the word evolved. It is a well proven fact that humans evolved. The views of creationists who say that they didn't should not be given equal weight as they don't have one jot of evidence.

"However, a fair share of cases occur simply to lazy people and couch potatoes." Again a value judgement. Without scientific references to support this or specific numbers for 'a fair share', I'd say it's a personal opinion, even if a commonly shared one. I know it's just semantics but couldn't you just refer to people who are "inactive for one reason or another"?



I didn't write this Guitarzan did, I'm happy to change anything deemed opinionated or factually incorrect. I'm happy to stick with the evolution theory

I'm not saying anyone should deny evolution! I just wondered if the BBC has a policy that doesn't allow it to deny creationism.

<>

Dr Zen do you mean "they're very common in people who *do* stand up for large parts of the day but don't walk a lot" (before I add that)

Indeed.

Why the I didn't see that error when I posted I'll never know.

Regarding <> I've decided to ask the Eds directly, F47997?thread=7752214

On my remarks above, this is not what I meant:

http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/when-bodybuilding-and-steroids-go-too-far/offbeat-news

Instead, with the football players, it was red and blue streaks clustered around knees and elbows which I think may have been related to rough play and bruising. ...and no indication at all of steroids.

Still haven't found any literature online, haven't tried the sports magazines yet.

On the other point, make that 'anabolic steroids' rather than 'corticosteroids'. Though I've seen news reports, I haven't been able to find any archival material with the major news agencies. The story related to massive intraparental hemorrhaging (actually down in the muscle mass), something far worse than any common problem of varicose veins, apparently due to a bootleg anabolic steroid in the illicit traffic.

Perhaps I should change the title of this to "Common Varicose Veins" as I really don't want to get into steroid abuse and such.

I've added something about sports injuries, hereditary conditions and a footnote about evolution

Hi GB

I'm not sure that I agree with a lot of this entry - I get the impression that the original author wasn't exactly an expert

The bloopers include:

The dramatic description of valves 'bursting' - they become incompetent ('leaky') and allow blood to leak backwards, in a similar manner to a leaky heart valve. This leakiness is more likely to occur the further down you go, hence calf varicosities being archetypal.

Superficial thrombophlebitis is inflammation of a vein, not just swelling due to backed-up blood.

Blood clots are in the list of possible complications of varicose veins, but they're not the sort that spread to the rest of the body and cause stroke, PE etc - rather, they cause thrombophlebitis, which is painful and may worsen venous stasis. Venous insufficiency, venous eczema, haemosiderin deposits, ulcers and infection are other important complications and deserve a short section explaining what they are.

The most common cause of varicose veins is 'idiopathic' - that is to say, there is no particular cause for them to occur. Risk factors include pregnancy, obesity, increasing age, being female (risk x2) and standing a lot. I'm not sure what your source is for immobile persons tending to get varicosities - they are more likely to get deep vein thrombosis due to stasis of blood in their deep veins, but I don't know that they're more likely to suffer from varicosities.

Crossing your legs does not cause varicose veins. It's an old wives' tale - it takes a blood pressure cuff or tourniquet to achieve the pressure required to obstruct venous drainage.

As for the idea that clots from the legs might enter the coronary arteries and cause 'coronary blockage' - please get yourself a diagram of the heart/circulation and then come back and tell me why this would not happen! Please do not describe varicosities as 'dangerous' - they hardly merit a frightening description, and mostly cause discomfort and cosmetic problems. When they do need surgery it is due to chronic complications, and not due to the risk of life-threatening acute disease.

I hate to provide a list of flaws, but I'm sure they're mostly present from the original copy and can be corrected with a bit of fact checking. Some good sources would be:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/varicose1.shtml
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/varicose-veins/Pages/Whatarevaricoseveins.aspx
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Varicose-Veins.htm

Alex

Hi Alex
Thanks a lot for the review, I reckon it needs a rewrite to take on board your points and remove inaccuracies.

Please don't any Scouts recommend this until I've had a chance to work on it (it won't be quick, as I have a busy week RL)

GB

BMT Scout