Varicose veins in the legs- this is not just a cosmetic problem that creates aesthetic problems for a person. The disease causes a number of complications, so adequate therapy is required.
Varicose veins are a polyetiological pathology. It occurs due to prolonged sitting, heavy work, hormonal disorders, pregnancy, congenital hereditary disorders in the vascular wall. The veins in the legs lose their elastic properties, they stretch when filled with blood, the valve apparatus begins to work poorly.
The valve is an important structural unit of the vessel. Normally, the blood is blocked after passing through, preventing it from flowing back into the peripheral canal. Thus, the flow of blood through the veins is carried out towards the heart. When the valve stops working normally, blood flows back to the lower extremities, where it stagnates.
With stagnation of blood, the venous wall expands, which aggravates the problem. Parts of the valve move away from each other, varicose veins in the legs pass to the second stage.
Etiology of varicose veins
What causes varicose veins and how does it manifest itself? First of all, the pathology is associated with genetic disorders and the gender of the patient. Varicose veins are diagnosed more often in women, because they are constantly undergoing hormonal changes, give birth to children, and walk in high heels.
A brief description of the main causes of varicose veins:
- genetic predisposition. Varicose veins are not directly inherited, but some structural features of the veins contribute to the development of the pathology. Connective tissues in the walls of the vessels weaken, congenital changes are noted in the valves, causing them to close poorly. Since varicose veins in the legs are often diagnosed in young people of both sexes, who often spend active time, there are cases of the development of the disease in children. Modern studies claim that the etiology of the disease is mostly related to genetics.
- Hormonal causes. On different days of the menstrual cycle, some endocrine disorders and congestion in the lower extremities are noted in women during pregnancy. Life cycles such as puberty, childbearing, postpartum, menopause, and menopause should be given special attention. Women are advised to check the veins in their legs 2-3 times sooner than men. Scientists believe that congestion and varicose veins in the legs are related to the action of progesterone. This hormone is produced at the end of the menstrual cycle and throughout pregnancy. Estrogens produced in the first half of the cycle prevent varicose veins.
- Sedentary work, low physical activity, activities that require long standing. All these factors can cause varicose veins in the legs.
- Age. The vascular valve apparatus, like all organs, wears out over the years. Therefore, varicose veins in the legs are more often diagnosed in adults and elderly people.
- Obesity. Extra pounds significantly increase the pressure on the legs, causing the arteries to become clogged and weakened.
The secondary form of varicose veins occurs in people who have been injured, suffer from liver and spleen pathology, and have heart defects. When diagnosing such problems, they first treat the main pathology, and then move on to varicose veins.
Stages of varicose veins
With varicose veins in the legs of each other, three stages are successively changed:
- Compensation. Patients are not worried about anything, during the medical examination, disproportionately large veins are revealed on the legs.
- subcompensation. Patients complain of strange sensations in the legs ("running of ants", leg cramps at night, leg fatigue). Swelling of the ankles is detected in the evening, and they disappear in the morning. During examination, varicose dilated veins are clearly visible.
- Decompensation. This stage is characterized by all the features of the previous ones. In addition, dermatitis, eczema, annoying itching of the skin are combined. During the examination, the doctor notes the dryness and shine of the skin on the legs, and the combination with fiber. Often visible areas of hyperpigmentation occur after small hemorrhages due to the breakdown of hemosiderin.
Varicose veins on the legs progress for a long time, at first they are not considered a dangerous pathology. When decompensation develops, many complications can appear. They must warn the patient, because they can lead to disability and even death.
Initial symptoms
Initial manifestations of varicose veins in the legs:
- Limbs are always tired
- Edema occurs in the middle or at the end of the day
- Legs often feel heavy
Over time, spider veins form on the skin with varicose veins, veins begin to appear, then become dense. These symptoms are indicative of poor blood flow.
The main symptoms of progressive varicose veins in the legs
Manifestations of varicose veins differ in different stages. At first, it is just spider veins or protruding veins. Then there are more serious and severe symptoms.
The main manifestations of varicose veins:
- Pain in the lower extremities, heat in the legs, mainly in the course of the veins.
- Constant feeling of heaviness.
- Swelling that gets worse towards the end of the day.
- Convulsions, especially at night.
- A clear expansion of the veins is visible under the skin.
- Dark skin color, compressed areas, trophic ulcers.
If the initial signs of varicose veins are detected, treatment should be started immediately. The problem does not go away by itself, it only progresses.
To better imagine the symptoms of the initial stage, they can be seen in the photo.
Diagnosis of varicose veins in the legs
In order to correctly diagnose varicose veins in the legs, the doctor should consider only the examination data and the patient's complaints. He prescribes a number of additional examinations to confirm the presence of the problem and determine the stage. The most informative methods:
- Duplex vein scan (ultrasound). The method allows you to determine how wide the vessels are, where the blood moves in them, whether there are blood clots (blood clots) in the lumen.
- Contrast venography. Using this technique, the degree of increase in the venous lumen, the characteristics of passing through blood vessels are determined.
The diagnosis of varicose veins in the legs is the responsibility of a phlebologist. Only an experienced and highly qualified specialist can identify pathology in deep veins.
How the disease develops and what are the complications
Varicose veins, in most cases, are complicated by thrombosis and thromboembolism, vascular inflammation and trophic disorders. Complications are skin discoloration, redness (especially along the veins), turning blue, appearance of hyperpigmentation areas, pain, etc.
From the very beginning, the ankles and lower legs begin to swell, this symptom becomes more obvious after a long stay in an upright position. Pain during movement appears in the calves, along the veins themselves. Seals are palpated in different parts of the leg under the skin, and trophic ulcers are detected in severe cases.
How to prevent varicose veins
A series of preventive measures should be taken with hereditary predisposition or initial manifestations of varicose veins in the legs:
- Shoes should always be comfortable, with little or no heel.
- If there are heavy loads, they put a bandage on the limbs or put on compression underwear, but only after consulting a doctor first.
- You cannot stand or sit for a long time, you need to change your posture and move more often.
- Hot baths are contraindicated, especially in the morning. It is better to swim under a contrast shower.
- Smoking has a great negative effect on blood vessels, this bad habit should be abandoned.
The main preventive measures are reasonable physical activity. It is recommended to exercise for a few minutes in the morning, ride a bike, swim, walk more.
Prevention of varicose veins in legs in pregnant women
The probability of varicose veins in the legs increases during childbirth. This phenomenon is associated with the following reasons:
- Hormonal restructuring of the body during the birth of a child provokes varicose veins and stagnation, blood flows poorly from the legs.
- In the second half of pregnancy, intra-abdominal pressure rises, which makes it difficult for blood to flow through the veins of the lower half of the body.
- After childbirth, varicose veins on the legs either disappear on their own or begin to progress. This is due to individual and hereditary factors.
Treatment of varicose veins in the legs
Treatment of varicose veins in the legs begins only when the progression of the main manifestations of the pathology is noted.
Some people go to doctors because of a cosmetic defect. Dilated veins on the legs do not look very aesthetic, and I want to eliminate this concern.
Effective modern methods of treating varicose veins of the lower extremities are:
- Sclerotherapy. The technique is used as a separate treatment method or together with conservative. Special substances that cause vascular sclerosis are injected into the venous lumen with a needle. Stops and dissolves vascular activity. 3-6 sessions are performed every 7 days to achieve results. The treatment is completed without scarring or scarring.
- Treatment without surgery. With subcompensation of varicose veins in the legs, minor clinical symptoms and lack of great discomfort, it is recommended to use compression underwear. Socks, leggings or tights are worn daily. Underwear compresses dilated veins, narrows their lumen, improves valve function and blood flow, and eliminates the main symptoms of varicose veins.
- Medicines for the treatment of varicose veins. Drug therapy can combat the symptoms of varicose veins. Medicines reduce pain, remove swelling, slow down the development of pathology, but do not completely cure, do not restore vascular function.
- Laser treatment. It is recommended to use laser therapy for varicose veins of the superficial veins on the legs. When a laser is applied to a vein, sclerotic processes begin to develop there. It is then resolved in the same way by the administration of drugs or surgical removal.
With the help of sports, you can prevent varicose veins and their further development. Walking at a fast or moderate level, special gymnastics, swimming and water exercises help well. In such a situation, jumping, tennis, weightlifting are contraindicated.
What is venotonic
Venotonic drugs increase the tone of the smooth muscles of the venous wall. From this, the elasticity of blood vessels is preserved and improved, and blood flow from the lower extremities is established. The most popular tools of this group:
- A drug containing flavonoids that act as a venotonic. These substances are considered one of the most effective substances, because they improve the tone of the walls of blood vessels.
- French company medicine. The main active substance is bioflavonoid (600 mg). The higher the dose of the drug, the more effective it is. The tool reduces the stretch and permeability of the vessel wall (including capillaries), and also increases blood flow.
- A drug containing escin, the component of which is obtained from chestnut. The release form of the drug is drops and tablets for oral administration. The remedy is used not only for the treatment of varicose veins in the legs. It relieves swelling and pain after injuries and sprains, and is also used for a number of other diseases.
Most venotonics have a complex effect. They affect the entire vascular system, the condition improves significantly after treatment.