個子高的人容易得靜脈曲張

(CNN)In what researchers are calling "the largest genetic study ever performed" on varicose vein disease, a Stanford University School of Medicine study found a persons height to be a significant risk factor for developing varicose veins.

在研究人員所稱的有關靜脈曲張「目前為止最大的基因研究」中，一項斯坦福大學醫學院研究發現，一個人的身高竟成了他得靜脈曲張的一大風險因素。

"We not only found an association between height and varicose veins, but the genetic studies we did showed a causal link," said cardiologist and study author Dr. Nicholas Leeper, an associate professor of surgery and cardiovascular medicine at Stanford. "That suggests that the genes and pathways that drive human height are also likely to be causing varicose veins."

「我們不僅發現了身高和靜脈曲張的兩者之間的聯繫，而且我們的研究還顯示這是一種因果聯繫，這說明促進長高的基因和代謝也有可能造成靜脈曲張。」心臟病學家、研究作者尼古拉斯.利珀博士說道。尼古拉斯.利珀博士同時還是斯坦福大學心血管內外科副教授。

Dr. Cheryl Hoffman, medical director for the UCLA Health-Manhattan Beach Interventional and Imaging Center, singled out "the strong genetic link."

加州大學洛杉磯分校健康曼哈頓海灘介入和成像中心內科主管謝麗爾.霍夫曼博士在「強烈基因聯繫」這一說法上表示贊同。

"We know that varicose veins and venous disease are genetic, so it makes sense there might be something wrong with the vein walls that runs in families," said Hoffman, who was not involved in the research.

「我們知道，靜脈曲張和其他靜脈疾病來自我們的基因，因此我們家庭中某個成員的脈壁可能有缺陷的這一說法是有道理的，」霍夫曼說道，她並沒有參與這項研究。

What are varicose veins?

什麼是靜脈曲張？

Swollen, twisty purple veins that often look like tree branches just under the surface of the skin, varicose veins can cause aching pain, throbbing and discomfort.

靜脈曲張是皮膚上呈現出的臃腫的、迂迴的紫色血管，外形類似於樹枝一樣的一種疾病，呈酸痛和陣痛感，讓人非常的不舒服。

"A lack of movement, being pregnant, overweight, all this puts pressure on the veins in the lower part of the body, and some blood begins to pool instead of traveling up the veins back to the heart," Hoffman explained. "Varicose veins are an extension of that."

「缺乏運動、處於孕期、肥胖都會給我們下半身的血管帶來壓力，一部分血液會凝結，而不會返回心臟，」霍夫曼解釋道。「這種狀態會帶來靜脈曲張。」

Typically found in the legs, the unsightly protrusions are usually benign but can lead to more serious heath issues, such as bleeding, sores or ulcers and blood clots.

靜脈曲張通常會在腿上出現，這些不雅觀的疾病通常是良性的，但可能會帶來嚴重的健康問題，例如出血、酸痛或潰瘍和血塊。

The most serious complication is deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, a blood clot in one or more of the deeper veins. Deep vein thrombosis is typically characterized by cramping pain, redness and swelling at the site, although it can occur with no symptoms. DVT needs immediate treatment; if one of the clots breaks loose, it can travel through the bloodstream and cause a life-threatening pulmonary embolism, or blocked blood flow in the lungs.

最嚴重的併發症是一種深靜脈血栓形成（DVT），一個或多個深部靜脈的血塊。DVT的患處通常會出現絞痛、發紅和腫脹，但也可能沒有任何的癥狀。DVT需要得到即可的救治，如果其中一個血塊擺脫了原來的地方，它可能通過血流並導致危及生命的肺栓塞，即堵塞肺部血流的一種疾病。

About 20% of all adults will develop varicose veins, according to the US National Library of Medicine.?The Society for Vascular Surgery estimates that up to 35% of Americans have the condition, which most commonly affects women, especially those with multiple children, and the obese.

美國國家醫學圖書館數據表明，20%的成人有靜脈曲張。血管外科學會估計，多達35%的美國人有這種疾病，其中主要的患病人群是女性，尤其是生育有多個子女和肥胖的女性。

A theory proved

一個原理已被證實

Using data from the UK Biobank, a genetic repository of 502,619 people ages 40 to 69, the Stanford researchers identified 30 genetic regions associated with varicose veins. Then they used an artificial intelligence machine model to look for any previously unknown risk factors.

通過利用的擁有502619個40-69歲的英國生物樣本庫的數據，斯坦福的研究人員識別出了30個基因區域和靜脈曲張有關。隨後他們用人工智慧機器模型來分析任何之前沒有識別出的風險因素。

Out of 2,716 predictors of varicose veins, the machine model confirmed many currently established risk factors: age, family history, gender, weight, pregnancy, smoking, hormone therapy and a history of deep vein thrombosis or surgery on the legs.

從2716個靜脈曲張的風險提示中，該機器模型證實了目前已被確定的風險因素：年齡、家族史、性別、體重、妊娠期、吸煙、激素治療和深靜脈血栓形成病史或腿部手術。

But, Leeper said, the connection to height was surprising.

但是，利珀博士表示，靜脈曲張和身高的聯繫並不是那麼令人驚訝。

To verify that finding, researchers used a statistical technique known as Mendelian randomization to see whether height was an actual cause. Sure enough, the analysis showed that it was.

為了證實這個調查結果，研究人員使用了一個叫做孟德爾隨機化的統計方法，以查看身高是否是一個靜脈曲張的誘因。果然，該項統計顯示兩者卻有聯繫。

"A handful of studies from 20 or 30 years ago hinted at a link," Leeper said. "We dont understand it. Perhaps taller people are affected by gravity, or there could be something in the vessel wall itself. What is happening, we just dont know."

「一批20或30年前的研究暗示兩者有聯繫，」利珀博士說道。「我們不知道。也許高個子的人會受到重力的影響，或脈壁本身就有一些問題。它的原理還有待考證。」

The AI model also found another previously unknown risk factor: bioimpedance, a measure of how well the body resists electric flow. Fat, for example, is highly resistant; blood is less so.

人工只能模型還發現了另一個之前就被驗證的風險因素：生物阻抗。生物阻抗是一種測量身體抵抗電流程度的方式。例如，肥胖是高阻抗，但血液不是。

Treatment for varicose veins is limited to surgical interventions, such as vein catheterization or laser treatment, along with lifestyle changes such as compression stockings. Standing all day or sitting for long periods of time, such as on a plane, should also be avoided, as it can increase blood pressure inside of veins.

靜脈曲張的治療僅限於手術干預，如靜脈置管或激光治療，還有穿上壓縮襪等生活習慣的改變。我們應該避免整天保持站立的姿勢或在飛機上等地方坐得過久，因為這回增加我們血管內部的血壓。

The researchers hope their results shed light on the underlying biology that changes in people at risk for varicose veins and allow scientists to develop new therapies.

研究人員希望，他們的結果闡明了改變靜脈曲張高風險人群的潛在生理學，讓科學家能研究出新的治療方法。

source:Tall folks, watch out for varicose veins