Varicose veins of the legs or varicose veins (from the Latin varicis - "swelling") is a disease of the blood vessels of the lower extremities, in which blood flow is disrupted due to improper functioning of the venous valves: the veins dilate, lengthen, begin to protrudeskin, nodules form. Varicose veins cause great discomfort due to swelling, pain and dangerous 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 world's population suffers from it). It has haunted humanity since its inception: varicose veins are mentioned in the Old Testament, archaeologists have discovered during excavations in Egypt a mummy with a trophic leg ulcer with traces of healing, signs of varicose veins can be seen on the legs of ancientstatues, and according to written evidence, the ancient physicians Avicenna and Hippocrates sought methods to treat varicose veins. Scientists suggest that this is the cost of humanity for upright walking, 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 men often progress faster and have much more severe consequences. This is due to the fact that so-called "male" jobs are often associated with regular weight lifting, and traditional stereotypes call for men to ignore mild pain.
Causes of the disease
Because varicose veins of the legs are caused by excessive blood pressure in the vessels, the following factors, along with congenital connective tissue weakness, can cause it:
- to be on your feet for a long time, working in an upright position. Varicose veins of the legs are considered an occupational disease of waiters, as they have to walk with heavy trays, hairdressers and surgeons who have to do their job, standing for many hours in a row;
- prolonged sitting in a chair and prolonged stay with legs folded, in which the vessels are pinched and blood circulation is disturbed;
- Overweight,
- pregnancy - a woman's weight grows quite rapidly and at the same time the pressure on the legs increases, hormonal changes during pregnancy also affect the walls of the veins;
- wearing tights, elastic stockings and similar factors;
- hypodynamia;
- overload of the body during sports, during work associated with frequent weight lifting;
- endocrine system disorders, as well as various hormonal disorders, which are a common cause of varicose veins in the legs in women;
- leg 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 occur at any age, but usually occur at an early age, and in rare cases occurs even in infants. This form of the disease has additional unpleasant symptoms: noticeable enlargement of one leg, sometimes hemangiomas (vascular tumors) appear all over the body. Hereditary varicose veins can also occur in the veins of the 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 result of trauma.
The disease is usually divided into the following stages:
- 0- asymptomatic, when the disorders begin to appear at the cellular level, but still do not manifest themselves in the form of formed symptoms;
- 1- the appearance of noticeable symptoms, which, however, still have little effect on performance;
- 2- at this stage the severe swelling becomes permanent, nodules and trophic ulcers appear. A sick person cannot do without special support equipment during the day;
- 3- serious complications, damage.
As you can see, varicose veins of the legs is quite a serious disease, the treatment of which should begin at the first signs to prevent severe consequences.
Symptoms
Despite the variability of symptoms in each case, it will not be difficult to recognize varicose veins in the legs. Its main manifestation, due to which the disease got its name, is the dilation of the veins of the legs. There may be "cobwebs" or "stars" from the subcutaneous vessels - 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 legs, so the thin threads of blood vessels can go 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, leg pain, sometimes burning and night cramps. Swelling of the feet and ankles, sore veins are especially common symptoms of varicose veins of the legs. Initially, edema is rare, mild, and disappears after resting in a horizontal position, but if therapeutic and prophylactic measures are not taken, venous insufficiency becomes chronic and edema occurs regularly for no particular reason. These symptoms 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 of the legs are ignored, the disease gains momentum and irreversible processes begin, which lead to extremely unpleasant consequences: trophic ulcers and thrombophlebitis.
Trophic ulcers are painful, non-healing wounds on the foot or lower leg as a result of poor blood supply to the tissues. This rather painful disease is more common in old age and its treatment can last for the rest of your life.
Thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of the vein wall in which blood clots form a blood clot that blocks the lumen of the vein.
The signs of thrombophlebitis, which develops against the background of varicose veins, are as follows:
- fever, chills;
- lumps in the veins, quite painful
- swelling of the limbs
Thrombophlebitis can be chronic with periodic exacerbations, probably the so-called purulent fusion of the formed thrombus (septic thrombophlebitis) - then the infection spreads rapidly in the body along with the blood.
Important!A detached blood clot or part of it can get into the pulmonary artery, leading to pulmonary embolism and often death. Do not allow the disease to develop and do not neglect the supervision of a specialist!
Diagnosis and treatment
The diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins is made by a phlebologist, who should be consulted if there are symptoms of this disease. Modern diagnostic methods (ultrasound angioscanning, Doppler ultrasound, etc. ) will determine how much the veins are affected and will prescribe the right treatment.
In the treatment of varicose veins, combined drug treatment and compression therapy are used, 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. These can be ointments, gels, tablets with various active ingredients - natural or synthetic origin.
Gels, ointments and creams applied to the affected areas of the vascular network are used in home therapy. These drugs are divided into groups:
- Heparin ointments. Heparin has a resorbing 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 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
- Ointments and gels based on hormonal drugs also have anti-inflammatory action.
Along with topical medications, venotonics, phlebotonics, blood thinners and, if necessary, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed orally or in the form of injections to achieve the best effect.
Compression therapy has been used for varicose veins of the legs since ancient times: Roman legionaries tightened their calves with strips of skin to prevent swelling and pain during long military campaigns, and Egyptian pharaohs were sometimes depicted with elastic bandages in their hands. This simple method works by reducing the diameter of the superficial veins, which provokes an acceleration of blood flow 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 jersey. The bandage is placed from the toes to the middle of the thigh. Both the bandage and the compression stockings are worn in the morning in a horizontal position and are worn throughout the day and removed at night.
Folk remedies can be used in combination with these drugs. Popular and to some extent effective means are horse chestnut infusion, garlic and lemon infusion, green tomato compresses.
Green tomato compresses are good for treating varicose veins in the legs.
However, when treating with folk remedies, you must be careful and approach this process with healthy criticism. If you go to any forum dedicated to this topic, then in addition to really good, tried and tested recipes, you can find many amazing ideas - from compresses of horse manure to ingesting a decoction of poisonous plants, which can be equally useless and harmless and canlead to causing serious harm to the body, as not only a specialist, but also an ordinary "internet troll" or just a person with an unhealthy psyche can write in the forum.
Important!Once you find a new prescription on the Internet, before using the proposed drug, be sure to consult your doctor.
It should be noted that conservative treatment, like folk remedies, can not cure varicose veins, but only slows its development and relieves symptoms.
Surgery
Laser treatment or endovasal laser coagulation is used as a minimally invasive and very effective surgical method - this method does not require incisions and does not require hospitalization for inpatient treatment. Under the influence of a laser beam, the diseased vessel is "glued" and the load is transferred to healthy vessels. Laser coagulation can be done in the initial stages of the disease. It is performed under local anesthesia.
Also, in addition to laser therapy, coagulation (gluing) of diseased vessels is performed using radio frequency waves (radiofrequency coagulation) and by injecting a special substance (sclerotherapy).
Phlebectomy is usually a simple operation that removes varicose veins.
For varicose veins, a salt-free diet is prescribed, and an appropriate diet is also needed if the causes of 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 is a visit to the bath, sauna, long stay in hot water.
Massage for varicose veins is not used.
Prevention
Prevention of varicose veins of the legs is extremely important for every person, as it is extremely difficult to completely cure varicose veins, the fight against it takes 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 causes that affect its development:
- avoid prolonged standing or sitting, if this is not possible - warm your feet as often as possible;
- refuse to wear tight clothing, tight-fitting tights or pants;
- choose shoes carefully;
- do not allow overweight;
- for pregnant women it is important not to overload the legs, to rest in a horizontal position during the day;
It is recommended:
- active lifestyle, moderate physical activity, cardio exercises, "inverted" exercises (for example, "birch" is a simple but very effective means of preventing varicose veins);
- hardening, contrast shower;
- good nutrition;
- rest in a horizontal position during the day.
Advice!A good way to prevent this is to raise your legs slightly above head level while resting in a horizontal position by placing a pillow or roller under them and staying in that position for 3-5 minutes, but no longer.