Why are the elderly prone to thrombophlebitis? Thrombophlebitis is a common peripheral vascular disease that usually affects middle-aged and elderly people. Once an elderly person develops phlebitis, it can significantly increase their health burden. So, why are the elderly prone to thrombophlebitis? Below, experts from Shanxi Yikang Peripheral Vascular Hospital will provide a detailed introduction.
**Why are the elderly prone to thrombophlebitis?**
1. **As age increases**, various functions of the elderly body deteriorate, including vascular function, which begins to decline gradually. This manifests as: slowed blood circulation, reduced vascular elasticity, and hyperactivity of the coagulation mechanism, all of which make the elderly more susceptible to lower limb vascular dysfunction. Additionally, the veins in the elderly age, causing the venous valves to atrophy, making it easier for platelets to adhere below the venous valve sinus, leading to clot formation. Venous pacemaker catheters and electrodes may also cause venous intimal injury, all of which are intrinsic factors contributing to phlebitis in the elderly.
2. **From the perspective of external inducing factors**, the elderly often suffer from multiple diseases, and recovery is slow when they fall ill. They may require prolonged intravenous infusions, and repeated intravenous injections may cause venous vascular trauma, thereby inducing phlebitis. Nowadays, phlebitis caused by intravenous infusions or surgical procedures is quite common, which is an important factor that cannot be overlooked in the elderly population.
3. The elderly generally have weaker physical strength and engage in less activity, resulting in insufficient exercise for the blood vessels, which weakens the muscle elasticity responsible for venous return. Moreover, many elderly individuals suffer from heart disease, with poor cardiac function and significantly reduced cardiac output, leading to systemic circulatory congestion. These unavoidable factors are all important reasons why the elderly are prone to phlebitis.
The above is a detailed explanation provided by experts on why the elderly are prone to thrombophlebitis, hoping it will help you. If you have more questions, you can consult online with the experts from Shanxi Yikang Peripheral Vascular Hospital. Finally, we wish you good health.
For more details, please visit the special section on phlebitis at Shanxi Yikang Peripheral Vascular Hospital: [http://www.sxykmgy.com/jingmaiyan/](http://www.sxykmgy.com/jingmaiyan/) or consult the experts for free. The experts will provide detailed answers based on the patient's specific situation.
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