Signs of varicose veins of the legs are common in women - this pathology is found in almost every third woman. This disease, accompanied by dilation of the lumen and walls of venous blood vessels, causes not only cosmetic defects but also pain and insufficiency of the tissues of the lower extremities. As a result, if left untreated, a woman can develop trophic ulcers on her legs, leading to even more serious complications. Therefore, the start of treatment for varicose veins should always be timely.
Signs of varicose veins in women are not always noticeable in the initial stage - sometimes the disease lasts a long time.
Causes and early signs
Varicose veins in the legs are affected by varicose veins under the influence of the following factors:
- Excess weight;
- inheritance;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- Long stay in a static state;
- Pregnancy;
- childbirth;
- taking high-dose contraceptives;
- Increased abdominal pressure with frequent or prolonged coughs, wheezing or constipation;
- Overload during physical exercise or exercise;
- foot injuries;
- Pelvic pathology; Excessive use of
- tanning or thermal treatment;
- wearing uncomfortable shoes;
- heel sitting habit;
- Alcohol abuse;
- old age.
Due to the increase in pressure and stagnation of blood in the venous blood vessels, the vessels become tense, the blood flows in them change direction and the velocity of the flow, as the walls of the vessel change tone and the valves work normally. As a result, changes in the veins lead to the development of a vicious circle of hemodynamics and other functions of the venous blood vessels.
In the early stages of varicose veins, blood circulation can still be compensated by conservative means - wearing compression underwear, gymnastics and the use of venotonic drugs. However, as the disease progresses, the changes in the structure of the veins become irreversible and can only be removed surgically.
Symptoms of varicose veins can significantly disrupt the normal rhythm of life.
The following symptoms may be the first signs of varicose veins in the legs:
- heaviness in the legs;
- Telangiectasias - appearance of spider veins and nets of different colors (blue, red, black);
- feeling of fullness during prolonged immobility (sitting, standing);
- convulsions at night;
- Relieve symptoms after walking or relaxing in a horizontal position.
Often, the first manifestations of this common disease are attributed to fatigue, and a visit to the doctor may be delayed until serious consequences of the disease appear. As the venous wall enlargement progresses, the symptoms become more pronounced, and then new ones are added to the above manifestations.
Symptoms
Varicose veins manifest in the following stages with the following symptoms:
- Rapid fatigue in the legs;
- pain;
- feeling full of fluid;
- Swelling of soft tissues after exercise;
- Transparency and discharge of large veins above the skin;
- itchy skin;
- bruises due to rupture of large shells;
- skin peeling;
- hair loss;
- trophic ulcers.
Against the background of varicose veins, thrombi - thrombi - may form in the lumen of the veins. When they migrate into the blood vessels, consequences of varying severity develop: thrombosis, phlebothrombosis, the development of cardiovascular disease, the opening and suppression of ulcers, blood clotting in the vessels of the heart or lungs.
Diagnosis and treatment
To confirm the diagnosis, a woman should contact a vascular surgeon and undergo an examination. The diagnostic plan includes examination with instrumental studies:
- Doppler ultrasound of the blood vessels of the leg;
- duplex angioscan;
- Rheovasography;
- X-ray and radionuclide methods.
Tactics for treating varicose veins of the legs are determined at the stage of the disease. Conservatives can be used at an early stage:
- Wear a compression wrap or elastic bandage;
- Sufficient physical activity;
- wearing comfortable shoes;
- Physiotherapy exercises;
- Eliminate static load on the legs;
- Use of venotonics.
The duration of conservative therapy is individual and depends on the speed of disease progression and adherence to the doctor's recommendations. It can be added to a special diet, which involves the introduction of food into the diet, which helps to strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
The likelihood of varicose vein reduction during conservative treatment is determined by each clinical case. In many ways, the success of therapy depends on the timing of the visit to the doctor.
Also, these therapies are recommended in preparation for surgical treatment or for patients who are contraindicated for invasive intervention.
Sometimes prevention of varicose vein progression may consist of minimally invasive interventions. They are used only for strict indications that are determined during the patient examination.
Treatment of varicose veins in the advanced stages usually involves surgery - minimally invasive or classic.
If possible, a woman is advised to undergo radical treatment for varicose veins of the leg:
- compression sclerotherapy;
- laser coagulation;
- photocoagulation;
- Radiofrequency coagulation.
If the effect of this minimally invasive technique is not enough, then classical surgeries are performed for more radical surgical treatment:
- Miniphlebectomy;
- Phlebectomy;
- Trendelenburg method (complicated by thrombosis and infection).
Sometimes classical surgical techniques are added to the use of minimally invasive means. This combination can reduce surgical trauma and shorten the postoperative rehabilitation period.
Successful treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities, especially in the early stages. That is why the first signs of this disease should always be the reason for visiting a vascular surgeon. Varicose veins can occur at different ages and observations have shown that women have this disease more often. The signs of varicose veins in women are the same as in men.