Varicose veins in the legs, or varicose veins (from Latin varicis - "swelling") is a disease of the blood vessels of the lower extremities, in which blood flow is disrupted due to a malfunction of the venous valves: the veins dilate. Continues, begins to bulge under the skin, nodules form. Varicose veins cause great discomfort due to swelling, pain and dangerous formation of blood clots and trophic ulcers. This disease in severe cases, unfortunately, can lead to disability.
This disease is extremely common - more than 60% of the world's population suffers from it). It has haunted mankind, it seems, since the time of its appearance: varicose veins are mentioned in the Old Testament, archaeologists during excavations in Egypt have discovered a mummy on the feet with traces of treatment for trophic ulcers, signs of varicose veins are visible. According to the footprints of ancient statues and written evidence, the ancient physicians Avicenna and Hippocrates sought methods of treating varicose veins. Scientists suggest that such a price is for humanity to walk upright, because this disease is much less common in other species.
Although women suffer from varicose veins more often than men - due to hormonal problems during childbirth and menopause - varicose veins in men often progress faster and lead to much more severe consequences. This is due to the fact that the work of the so-called "man" is often associated with regular weight lifting, and traditional stereotypes urge men to ignore minor pain.
Causes of the disease
Because varicose veins in the legs are caused by excess blood pressure in the blood vessels, the following factors, along with congenital weakness of the connective tissue, can lead to:
- Standing for a long time, standing for work. Varicose veins of the legs are considered to be a professional disease of waiters because they have to walk with heavy cells, hairdressers and surgeons who have to stand on their feet for many hours in a row;
- Sitting on a chair for a long time and standing for a long time with folded legs in which blood vessels are twisted and blood circulation is disturbed;
- Excess weight,
- Pregnancy - a woman's weight increases quite rapidly and at the same time increases the pressure on the legs, hormonal changes during pregnancy affect the walls of the veins;
- Wearing tight tights, socks with elastic bands and similar factors;
- Hypodynamics;
- Overloading the body during sports, during work, which is associated with frequent weight gain;
- Endocrine system dysfunction, as well as various hormonal disorders, which are a common cause of varicose veins in women on the legs;
- Foot injuries, foot deformities.
Varicose veins of the legs
Varicose veins occur:
- Თintended.The probability of inheriting this disease from parents is more than 70%. Congenital varicose veins can appear at any age, but usually appear at a young age, and in rare cases even in infants. This form of the disease has additional unpleasant symptoms: a noticeable increase in a single leg, sometimes hemangiomas (vascular tumors) appear throughout the body. Hereditary varicose veins can also appear on the veins of internal organs;
- Primary varicose veins.This type of disease develops as a result of the reasons listed above;
- Secondary varicose veinsIt usually begins with a complication of venous thrombosis or as a result of trauma.
The disease is usually divided into the following stages:
- 0- Asymptomatic, when the disorders begin at the cellular level, but are not yet manifested in the form of formed symptoms;
- 1- noticeable symptoms, which, however, still have little effect on the ability to work;
- 2- At this stage, severe swelling becomes permanent, nodules and trophic ulcers appear. The patient can not walk during the day without special auxiliary equipment;
- 3- Serious complications, disability.
As you can see, varicose veins in the legs are a very serious disease that should be treated as soon as the first signs appear to avoid dire consequences.
Symptoms
Despite the variability of symptoms in each case, it will not be difficult to identify varicose veins in the legs. Its main manifestation, which is why the disease got its name, is the dilation of the veins of the legs. From the subcutaneous blood vessels may be "cobwebs" or "stars" - by the way, they will be more noticeable on women's feet. This is due to the fact that men have more "vegetation" on their feet, so the thin threads of blood vessels can go unnoticed.
The disease progresses slowly over many years or even decades. In the first stage of the disease, the symptoms are rare and generally nonspecific: there is a feeling of heaviness, bloating, pain in the legs, sometimes burning and night cramps. Swelling of the legs and feet, venous pain are especially common symptoms with varicose veins in the legs. At first the swelling rarely appears, it is light and disappears after resting in a horizontal position, but if you do not take therapeutic and prophylactic measures, the venous insufficiency is chronic, and the swelling appears regularly for no particular reason. These manifestations usually intensify in the evening, after a working day and also in hot weather.
What is the danger of varicose veins?
Often, the first signs of varicose veins in the legs are ignored, the disease gains momentum and irreversible processes begin, leading to extremely unpleasant consequences: trophic ulcers and thrombophlebitis.
Trophic ulcers are painful, incurable wounds on the ankle or lower extremity caused by poor blood supply to tissues. This rather painful disease manifests itself more often in old age and its treatment can last a lifetime.
Thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of the vein wall during which blood clots form a thrombus that blocks the venous lumen.
Signs of thrombophlebitis that have developed against the background of varicose veins are as follows:
- Fever, chills;
- Tumors along the veins, quite painful
- Swelling of the limb
Thrombophlebitis can continue with chronic recurrent exacerbations, possibly a so-called purulent fusion of the resulting thrombus (septic thrombophlebitis) - then the infection spreads rapidly with the blood throughout the body.
ᲛImportant!A torn thrombus or part of it can enter the pulmonary artery, causing pulmonary embolism and often death. Do not let the disease take its course and do not neglect the supervision of a specialist!
Diagnosis and treatment
Varicose veins are diagnosed and treated by a phlebologist, who should be consulted if there are symptoms of this disease. Modern diagnostic methods (ultrasound angioscan, Doppler ultrasound, etc. ) determine how much the veins are damaged and prescribe the right treatment.
Medication and compression therapy are used to treat varicose veins, as well as surgical methods that are most effective.
There are many drugs that increase the tone of the venous walls, reduce their permeability, improve microcirculation and lymphatic drainage. These can be ointments, gels, tablets with various active ingredients - of natural or synthetic origin.
In home therapy, gels, ointments and creams are applied to the damaged areas of the vascular network. These drugs are divided into groups:
- Heparin ointments. Heparin has a resorption effect, prevents blood stagnation.
- Ointments and gels based on natural ingredients relieves fatigue, pain, strengthens blood vessels, is recommended during pregnancy.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat thrombophlebitis.
- Hormone-based ointments and gels also have anti-inflammatory effects.
Venotonics, phlebotonics, blood thinners and, if necessary, anti-inflammatory drugs are given orally or by injection in combination with topical remedies.
Compression therapy has been used for varicose veins in the legs since ancient times: Roman legionaries caught calves with skin strips to prevent swelling and pain during long military transitions, while Egyptian pharaohs were sometimes depicted with elastic bandages on their hands. This simple method works by reducing the diameter of the superficial veins, which accelerates blood flow and reduces the amount of "ballast" blood in the legs.
Nowadays they use not only elastic bandages but also more comfortable compression garments. The bandage is placed from the toes to the middle of the thigh. Wearing both a bandage and a compression garment is in a horizontal position in the morning and is worn all day and unbuttoned at night.
Folk remedies can be used in combination with these drugs. Popular and somewhat effective remedies are horse chestnut infusion, garlic and lemon infusion, green tomato compresses.
Green tomato compresses are good for treating varicose veins on the legs.
However, you should be careful when treating with folk remedies and approach this process with healthy criticism. If you go to any forum dedicated to this topic, then, in addition to really good, proven recipes, you can find many amazing ideas - from compresses to horsetail decoction to decoction of poisonous plants, which can be equally useless and harmless and can cause serious harm to the body. A specialist, but also an ordinary "internet troll" or just someone with an unhealthy psyche can write on the forum.
ᲛImportant!After discovering a new recipe on the Internet, be sure to consult a doctor before using the proposed remedy.
It should be noted that conservative treatment, as well as treatment with folk remedies, can not cure varicose veins, but only slows its development and alleviates the symptoms.
Surgery
Laser treatment or endovasal laser coagulation is used as a minimally invasive and very effective surgical method - this method does not require wound healing and does not require hospitalization for inpatient treatment. Under the influence of the laser beam, the diseased vessels "stick to each other" and the load is transferred to healthy vessels. Laser coagulation can be done in the early stages of the disease. Produced under local anesthesia.
Also, in addition to laser therapy, diseased vessels are coagulated (glued) by injection of radio frequency waves (radiofrequency coagulation) and a special substance (sclerotherapy).
Phlebectomy is usually a simple operation that removes varicose veins.
In case of varicose veins, a salt-free diet is prescribed, and an appropriate diet is also needed if the varicose veins are overweight or diseases of the endocrine system.
Sports with varicose veins are undesirable, therapeutic and prophylactic physical education, cycling, swimming are recommended. There are special exercises for varicose veins.
Contraindicated in the bath, sauna, long stay in hot water.
Varicose vein massage is not used.
Prevention
Prevention of varicose veins in the legs is extremely important for all people, as it is extremely difficult to completely cure varicose veins, it takes a lot of time and effort to fight it, and the cost of treatment is quite high.
First of all, you should try, if possible, to avoid or eliminate the causes that affect its development:
- Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time if this is not possible - warm your legs as often as possible;
- Refrain from wearing tight clothing, tight tights or pants;
- Carefully select shoes;
- Do not allow excess weight;
- It is important for pregnant women not to allow their legs to work too much, to rest in a horizontal position during the day;
Recommended:
- Active lifestyle, moderate physical activity, cardio exercise, "inverted" exercises (for example, "vodka" is a simple but very effective way to prevent varicose veins);
- Hardening, contrast shower;
- Good food;
- Relax in a horizontal position during the day.
Tip!A good way to prevent it is to raise your legs slightly above your level while resting in a horizontal position, put a pillow or roller and stand in this position for 3-5 minutes, but not longer.