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 disturbed due to malfunction of the venous valves: the veins dilate. , elongate, begin to swell from under the skin, nodules form. Varicose veins bring great concern due to edema, pain and dangerous formation of blood clots and trophic ulcers. This disease in severe cases, alas, can lead to disability.
This disease is extremely common - more than 60% of the population worldwide suffer from it). It has haunted humanity, apparently since the time of its appearance: varicose veins are mentioned in the Old Testament, archaeologists found during excavations in Egypt a zombie with a trophic ulcer on the foot with traces of treatment, signs of varicose veins canseen at the feet of ancient statues, and according to written evidence, the ancient physicians Avicenna and Hippocrates were looking for methods for treating varicose veins. Scientists suggest that such is the price of humanity to walk straight, as this disease is much less common in other species.
Although women suffer from varicose veins more often than men - due to childbirth and hormonal problems during menopause - varicose veins in the legs in men often progress faster and have much more serious consequences. This is due to the fact that so-called "masculine" jobs are often associated with regular weight lifting, and traditional stereotypes encourage men to ignore minor aches and pains.
Causes of the disease
Since varicose veins in the legs are caused by excessive blood pressure in the blood vessels, the following factors, along with congenital connective tissue weakness, can cause it:
- standing for a long time, working on foot. Varicose veins of the feet are considered a professional disease of waiters because they have to walk with heavy trays, hairdressers and surgeons who have to do their work on foot for many hours in a row;
- sitting long in a chair and long stands with rolled legs, in which the vessels are constricted and the blood circulation is impaired;
- overweight,
- pregnancy - a woman's weight increases quite rapidly, and at the same time increases the pressure on the legs, hormonal changes during pregnancy also affect the walls of the veins;
- wearing tight tights, stockings with elastic waistband and similar factors;
- hypodynamics;
- body overload during sports, during work associated with frequent weight lifting;
- endocrine system dysfunctions, as well as various hormonal disorders, which are a common cause of varicose veins in women;
- foot injuries, foot deformities.
Varicose veins of the legs
Varicose veins occur:
- Congenital.The probability of inheriting this disease from parents is over 70%. Congenital varicose veins can appear at any age, but, as a rule, they appear at a young age, and in rare cases it even appears in infants. This form of the disease has additional unpleasant symptoms: a noticeable increase in one leg, sometimes hemangiomas (vascular tumors) appear all over the body. Inherited varicose veins can also appear in the veins of internal organs;
- Primary varicose veins.This type of disease develops as a result of the reasons listed above;
- Secondary varicose veinsusually begins as a complication of venous thrombosis or as a consequence of trauma.
The disease is usually divided into the following stages:
- 0- asymptomatic, when the disorders begin to appear at the cellular level, but are not yet manifested in the form of symptoms formed;
- 1- the appearance of obvious symptoms, which however have little effect on the ability to work;
- 2- at this stage, severe edema becomes permanent, trophic joints and ulcers appear. A sick person can not do without special support equipment during the day;
- 3- severe complications, disability.
As you can see, varicose veins on the legs are a very serious disease, the treatment of which should begin with the appearance of the first signs to prevent serious consequences.
Symptoms
Despite the variability of symptoms in each case, it will not be difficult to distinguish varicose veins from the legs. Its main manifestation, due to which the disease got its name, is the dilation of the leg veins. There may be "cobwebs" or "stars" from the subcutaneous vessels - by the way, they will be more visible on women's feet. This is due to the fact that men have more "plants" in their legs, so the thin fibers of blood vessels can pass unnoticed.
The disease progresses slowly over many years or even decades. In the early stages of the disease, the symptoms are few and generally non-specific: there is a feeling of heaviness, bloating, pain in the legs, sometimes burning and cramping at night. Swelling of the legs and joints, pain in the veins are especially common symptoms with varicose veins in the legs. At first, edema rarely occurs, it is mild and disappears after resting in a horizontal position, but if therapeutic and prophylactic measures are not taken, venous insufficiency becomes chronic and edema appears regularly for no particular reason. These manifestations usually intensify in the evening, after a day of work, as well as in hot weather.
What is the risk of varicose veins?
Often, the first signs of varicose veins of the legs are ignored, the disease is gaining momentum and irreversible processes begin, which lead to extremely unpleasant consequences: trophic ulcers and thrombophlebitis.
Trophic ulcers are a painful, non-healing wound on the foot or lower leg, resulting from poor blood supply to the tissues. This rather painful disease appears more often at an older age and its treatment can drag on for the rest of life.
Thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of the vein wall, in which blood clots form a blood clot that blocks the lumen of the vein.
Signs of thrombophlebitis, developed against the background of varicose veins, are as follows:
- fever, chills;
- lumps along the veins, quite painful
- swelling of the limbs
Thrombophlebitis can continue chronically with periodic exacerbations, perhaps the so-called purulent fusion of the formed thrombus (septic thrombophlebitis) - then the infection spreads rapidly throughout the body along with the blood.
Important!A ruptured blood clot or part of it can enter the pulmonary artery, leading to 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
Diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins is performed by a phlebologist, who should be consulted if there are symptoms of this disease. Modern diagnostic methods (ultrasound angiography, Doppler ultrasonography, etc. ) will determine how much the veins are affected and prescribe appropriate treatment.
In the treatment of varicose veins, drug treatment and compression therapy are used in combination, as well as surgical methods that are considered the most effective.
There are many drugs that increase the tone of the venous walls, reduce their permeability, improve microcirculation and lymphatic drainage. They can be ointments, gels, tablets with different active ingredients - of natural or synthetic origin.
Gels, ointments and creams are used in home therapy, applied to the affected areas of the vascular network. These drugs are divided into groups:
- Heparin ointments. Heparin has a resorptive effect, prevents blood stagnation.
- Ointments and gels made on the basis of natural ingredients relieve fatigue, pain, strengthen blood vessels, are recommended during pregnancy.
- In the treatment of thrombophlebitis, drugs based on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
- Ointments and gels based on hormonal drugs also have anti-inflammatory effects.
Along with topical medications, to achieve the best effect, venotonics, phlebotonics, blood thinners are prescribed and, if necessary, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed orally or in the form of injections.
Compression therapy has been used for varicose veins in the legs since ancient times: Roman legionaries fastened their calves with leather straps to prevent swelling and pain during long military transitions, and Egyptian pharaohs were sometimes depicted with elastic bandages. This simple method works by reducing the diameter of the superficial veins, which provokes an acceleration of blood circulation and a reduction in the amount of "ballast" blood in the legs.
Nowadays, they use not only an elastic bandage, but also a more comfortable compression stocking. The bandage is applied from the toes to the middle of the thigh. Both bandages and compression stockings are worn in the morning in a horizontal position and are worn throughout the day and removed at night.
Treatment with folk remedies can be used in combination with these drugs. Popular and somewhat effective remedies are the infusion of horse chestnut, the infusion of garlic and lemon, green tomato compresses.
Green tomato compresses are good for treating varicose veins in the legs.
However, when dealing with folk remedies, you need to be careful and approach this process with sound criticism. If you go to a forum dedicated to this topic, then, in addition to really good, tried and tested recipes, you can find many amazing ideas - from compresses from horse manure to swallowing a decoction of poisonous herbs, which canbe just as useless and harmless, and can lead to causing serious damage to the body, as not only a specialist, but also an ordinary "troll" on the Internet or just a person with an unhealthy psyche can writein the forum.
Important!Once you have discovered a new prescription online, before using the proposed medicine, be sure to consult your doctor.
It should be noted that conservative treatment, like 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 highly effective surgical method - this method does not require incision and does not require hospitalization for inpatient treatment. Under the influence of a laser beam, a diseased vessel "sticks together" and the cargo 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, coagulation (adhesion) of diseased vessels is performed using radiofrequency waves (radiofrequency coagulation) and by injecting a special substance (sclerotherapy).
Phlebectomy is usually a simple operation that removes varicose veins.
With varicose veins, a salt-free diet is prescribed, and a proper diet is also necessary if the causes of varicose veins are overweight or diseases of the endocrine system.
Varicose veins sports are undesirable, therapeutic and prophylactic physical education, cycling, swimming are recommended. There are special exercises for varicose veins.
It is contraindicated to visit a bath, a sauna, a long stay in hot water.
Massage for varicose veins is not used.
Prophylaxis
Prevention of varicose veins in the legs is extremely important for any person, as it is extremely difficult to completely cure varicose veins, fighting it requires a lot of time and effort, and the cost of treatment is quite high.
First of all, you should try, if possible, to prevent or eliminate the reasons that affect its development:
- avoid standing or sitting for a long time, if this is not possible - warm your feet as often as possible;
- refuse to wear tight clothes, tights or tight pants;
- choose shoes carefully;
- do not allow excess weight;
- for pregnant women, it is important not to allow excessive work of the legs, to rest in a horizontal position during the day;
Recommended:
- an active lifestyle, moderate physical activity, cardio exercises, "inverted" exercises (for example, "birch" is a simple but very effective tool for the prevention of varicose veins);
- hardening, contrast bath;
- good food;
- rest in a horizontal position during the day.
Advice!A good way to prevent this is to raise your legs slightly above head level by resting in a horizontal position, placing a pillow or roller under them and staying in this position for 3-5 minutes, but no longer.