Varicose veins of the lower extremities - the appearance of spider veins (nets) and dilated saphenous veins in the legs. The disease, prevalent in the adult population, is more common in women than in men.
The disease got this name when translated from Latin, literally meaning: bloating, enlargement.
The first sensations with this disease are very different for each patient, but the feeling of heaviness in the legs, rapid fatigue, aching pain along the length of the vein unites them all.
Treatment should be chosen by an experienced physician who can objectively assess the stage and development of the disease.
The pathology, which is often just a cosmetic defect, however, in some cases, can lead to serious complications and persistent disability.
What is varicose veins, the mechanisms of development of pathology
Some people after 40 years can face a rather unpleasant situation - the appearance of varicose veins on their legs. Small purple vessels that penetrate the skin, are netted or resemble a densely branched tree, are a serious cosmetic problem for many people, especially women. Vascular networks "out of nowhere" (in medicine, the term telangiectasia is used) is the expansion of small veins less than 1 millimeter in diameter located in the thickness of the skin. This is one of the signs that a person has varicose veins of the legs.
If the joints begin to appear on the surface of the skin, soft to the touch, which become more visible when a person stands, then we can talk about another manifestation. This is already a more serious pathology - varicose veins of large and small saphenous veins, as well as their branches.
The veins in the legs are soft, thin-walled canals that return blood to the heart. To counteract the force of gravity, nature has provided them with valves, which prevent reverse blood flow (reflux). There are two venous systems in the lower limbs: superficial and deep. The first is represented by the vessels that are under the skin, so they can be seen. The second is the deep veins of the legs, located near the bones in the thickness of the muscles. There are communications between these systems - perforating veins.
The inability of the valves to perform their function leads to stagnation of blood in the lower parts, discharging its "excess" through the perforating veins from the depth to the surface. This, in turn, creates increased pressure on the venous system of the legs, located under the skin. What makes its ships react to this is "wrinkling and elongation". And that is why varicose veins appear on the legs.
Reasons for development
There are many conditions that lead to valve damage and loss of elasticity in the vessel wall. There are crucial causes of varicose veins in the legs, which are most often associated with this disease:
- Mosha. Over the years, our veins lose their elasticity and begin to dilate. Valves also "thicken", lose elasticity and cease to perform their function normally.
- Pregnancy is associated with an increase in blood volume in the body, and also helps to slow down its movement in the lower limbs (the large uterus presses on the veins of the small pelvis). Changes in hormonal levels during pregnancy also play a role. As a rule, the symptoms of varicose veins without treatment resolve within 12 months after birth.
The resulting telangiectasias (or, as many doctors mistakenly call them, varicose capillary veins), the causes of the appearance on the face and feet are often related to exposure to sunlight. Therefore, women who want to avoid this cosmetic problem should choose - either a beautiful tan or a vascular mesh.
Risk factors
Varicose veins are a multifactorial pathology.
- KatiWomen are more likely to develop this disease. Hormonal imbalances that occur during pregnancy, premenstrual period and menopause can be considered a risk factor because it relaxes the vein wall for a long time. Hormone replacement therapy or long-term use of birth control pills also increases the risk of "getting" varicose veins.
- Inheritance.
- Obesity.
- Prolonged stay or sitting (office workers, surgeons, drivers).
- Alcohol abuse. Alcohol and varicose veins also have a certain connection.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
At first, the disease may not cause any discomfort, it can be suspected when the following symptoms appear:
- formation of spider veins, nets in the legs (dilation of intradermal vessels of pink, blue, purple);
- veins "twist", protrude above the surface of the skin, like ropes, interrupted by joints.
Later, the following symptoms may join:
- tired legs;
- burning, throbbing, muscle cramps and swelling in the lower extremities;
- worsening of the manifestations of the disease if a person is in a standing position or sitting for a long time;
- itching around "swollen" vessels;
- bleeding from varicose veins;
- painful, local hardening of the vessel site;
- changes in skin color or ulcers in the ankle area.
The disease is diagnosed on the basis of data obtained during the examination and interrogation of the patient. To assess the severity of the pathology (how the valves work, the presence of a blood clot in the veins), Doppler ultrasound is usually sufficient.
Treatment of pathology
If a diagnosis of "varicose veins of the legs" is made, it does not mean that there is a need for a long stay in the hospital. Thanks to modern minimally invasive procedures, the pathology is usually treated on an outpatient basis.
Change your lifestyle or help yourself
There are several self-help methods that reduce the discomfort of varicose veins and help prevent other varicose veins. Here are some of them:
- Regular exercise. Move as much as possible. Regular walking is a great physical activity that can improve blood circulation to your legs. How much load will be optimal - you can ask your doctor about this.
- Constant control over your weight, the excess of which has a detrimental effect on the vessels of the legs. Remember salt, the excessive intake of which in the body causes fluid retention, which increases the load on the veins.
- Pay attention to what you are wearing. Low-heeled shoes, in contrast to high heels, cause the gastric-venous muscular pump to function - the gastrocnemius muscle. Avoid wearing tight pants around the hips and waist as this can impair blood flow.
- Keep your feet up as often as possible. To do this, several times a day, you need to take breaks and raise your legs above heart level, for example, lie down and place them on pillows.
- Avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time.
Compression therapy
Usually, the initial stages of varicose veins of the lower extremities are treated with compression stockings. External compression prevents the swelling of the veins, which in turn improves the movement of blood through the vessels.
Additional treatments for a more serious situation
If lifestyle modification and the use of compression stockings do not improve symptoms, and also if the varicose vein stages (undercompensation and decompensation) do not allow coping with the pathology on their own, the following treatment options come to the rescue:
- Sclerotherapy.The procedure, which does not require major anesthesia, is performed on an outpatient basis. The doctor injects a special substance (sclerosant) into the varicose veins, which sticks to the walls.
- Foam sclerotherapy.In contrast to the usual technique, in this technique, sclerosant is injected into a vein after mixing it with gas (usually air), which makes it possible to treat larger diameter veins.
- Laser surgery. . . The new technology, which removes small varicose veins and vascular networks, is performed without skin incisions and vessel drilling.
- Intravenous radiofrequency or laser ablation. . . A technique that involves inserting a catheter into the lumen of a vein, on top of which is a radio frequency or laser energy emitter.
- Safeno-femoral ligation and stripping of the great saphenous vein. . . The first procedure involves bandaging and removing the upper part of the vein. During the second, a special probe is inserted into the lumen of the vessel (two incisions are made in advance: one in the hip area, the second at the level of one upper third of the lower leg) and extends along its entire length. It is then removed along with the enlarged vein.
- Ambulatory phlebectomy. . . The doctor removes the small dilated veins while doing some micro-incisions in the skin. The marks are usually almost invisible.
- Endoscopic venous surgery. . . It is usually performed when the patient has an advanced stage of varicose veins of the lower extremities (ulcers appear) or, previous methods of treatment were ineffective.
Varicose veins that appear during pregnancy usually disappear without any treatment within 12 months after birth.
Alternative medicine
There is a wide arsenal of alternative treatments for chronic venous insufficiency, a condition associated with varicose veins. The following tools are most often used for this pathology:
- butcher broom;
- grapes (leaves, juice, seed extract);
- horse chestnut;
- sweet clover.
Before using any herb or dietary supplement, you should make sure that these complementary medicines are compatible with the medicines prescribed by your doctor and are safe for your specific situation. Therefore, before taking them, you should consult your doctor.
Prophylaxis
There is no universal, guaranteed way that can prevent the development of varicose veins in the legs. However, there are preventive measures that help reduce the chances of the appearance of new manifestations of the disease, improve its symptoms. Here are some of them:
- Physical activity (regular sports, where the legs are "involved", for example, walking or running, improves blood circulation to the lower limbs, strengthens blood vessels).
- Weight control (extra pounds increase the load on the lower limbs (pressure in the veins).
- Do not cross your legs while sitting.
- During rest, raise them above heart level.
- Try to avoid standing or sitting still.
- Diet (less salt and more fiber).
It is also worth rinsing your feet with cold water after a shower or bath. Try to visit the baths or saunas less often.
Varicose veins in the legs are a widespread problem, the incidence in men varies from 10 to 20%, and in women it reaches 33%. Unfortunately, it is impossible to fully recover from this disease. But new minimally invasive techniques used in medicine can improve symptoms. Early treatment in the early stages of the disease can prevent the development of serious complications.