Varicose veins are one of those diseases that do not understand who to choose as a victim because both young and old suffer from it.
Few rush to the doctors after the development of the disease without believing that it is much easier to get rid of the problem in the early stages.
To seek help immediately, know what varicose veins on the legs look like, symptoms and treatment, the image also helps to identify the disease and respond immediately.
What are the symptoms of varicose veins in the legs
It is believed that only women are usually concerned about varicose veins on the legs, while the symptoms are inherent in both men and the fairer sex because they are almost the same. You should not wait until the disease starts to develop, so you should contact your doctor immediately as soon as the first signs of an insidious disease appear.
What symptoms of varicose veins in the legs should be alarming? There are not that many of them:
- venous patterns on legs, thighs
- feeling of fullness and heaviness in the lower legs;
- night cramps (they often manifest during the day);
- swelling appears after a hard day's work;
- fatigue increases sharply;
- there is discomfort in the legs.
Even an alarm signal is enough to send medical attention immediately, the earlier it is done, the greater the chances of a successful treatment.
Varicose veins in the legs, symptoms during pregnancy
Problems with the veins in the lower extremities often occur in women who are in an interesting position because there is an extra strain on the legs. There is a significant difficulty here - treatment should not harm the fetus, so you should not try to overcome the disease alone. Only a doctor can diagnose the disease accurately and prescribe the safest treatment option for the child.
If varicose veins in the legs are suspected, the symptoms during pregnancy differ slightly from the most common signs of the disease. These include:
- small "stars" appear on the legs;
- unpleasant discomfort felt in the lower extremities not only in the evening but throughout the day;
- severe swelling that can form not only in the lower legs but also from the thighs
- aches and pains when walking
- changes in the skin (peeling, the appearance of age spots, a change in the natural shade);
- veins begin to protrude beyond the skin, when pressed, severe pain occurs.
Although there is no guarantee that it is precisely varicose veins on the legs, the symptoms should definitely be reported to the doctor - only a specialist can diagnose the disease accurately and determine the degree of its development.
Symptoms of internal varicose veins in the legs
According to doctors, internal varicose veins can lead to serious complications, so it is especially important to recognize it in time. Even this does not guarantee that the treatment will be successful.
Symptoms of internal varicose veins in the legs:
- pain or dull pain in the lower extremities
- heaviness and combustion that hardly stops;
- seals are visible on the skin
- red or blue "stars" are displayed;
- veins under the skin expand in places resembling grapes;
- ulcers appear that practically do not heal, possibly even the development of gangrene, this can lead to loss of limbs.
The most dangerous stage is when muscles and bone mass begin to deform. If left untreated, this can be fatal.
Varicose veins in the legs, symptoms
No less life-threatening are varicose veins in the deep veins of the legs, whose symptoms are not as marked as in a common disease. How to independently determine the presence of a serious illness?
There are many signs of the disease and almost every one of them can be detected independently if you know what to look for:
- discomfort in the lower extremities (burning, heaviness, pain)
- the skin becomes dry, scaly areas may appear;
- seizures appear at night, which may last until morning;
- saphenous veins expand and increase in diameter several times;
- there are many small wounds that do not respond to treatment and do not heal themselves.
Without immediate treatment, ulcers and eczema may soon develop followed by gangrene. Blood clots with subsequent death are also possible.
Which doctor should I contact if there are symptoms of varicose veins
Although dangerous signs were identified in a timely manner, patients do not rush to the hospital without knowing which doctor to contact if varicose vein symptoms are detected. There are no options here - only a doctor is able to stop the development of the disease. An immediate visit to a phlebologist significantly reduces the risk of complications.
If you are late to go to the doctor, it is very possible that the disease has spread to the lower extremities, so you can not do it with the help of a phlebologist. If the specialist finds it necessary, he can turn to colleagues.
Among the specialists who will help treat varicose veins are:
- heart surgeon;
- angiosurgeon (specializing in the treatment of pathologies by surgery);
- physiotherapist;
- dermatologist.
A multispecialist treatment can take many months or even years. If the phlebologist cannot cope with the disease alone, this indicates that it has already grown out of the initial phase.
Treatment with ointments: what drugs to use to effectively get rid of the disease
At home, treatment with ointments is most often prescribed, but only if there are no complications or contraindications. It is better not to use such drugs alone, it is imperative first to agree on a procedure for the disease with a doctor.
Treatment of varicose veins with folk medicine
In the initial stages of the disease you can practice treatment with folk remedies, but only with the permission of the doctor. The most effective here is compaction and rubbing, which you can prepare yourself from plant materials.
Green walnuts have proven successful in the fight against varicose veins. Grind around a glass of unripe fruit, pour olive oil into equal parts. Insist fragrant liquid for about a month and a half. Then use as a rub, daily rubbing a small amount of oily liquid into the affected areas.
Horse chestnut infusion can also be used, which works locally. To prepare the medicine, you need to have inflorescences and leaves on the plant. Grind them, pour high-quality vodka or alcohol (based on one part of plant materials, 6-8 parts of alcohol). Insist a week, rubbing into the legs of the skin before bedtime.
Consequences of varicose veins on the legs
Knowing the consequences of varicose veins on the legs threatens health will help start treatment faster. The disease can develop in the absence of treatment at an incredible rate and end in thromboembolism. At best, this will lead to disability, but statistics show that the disease ends in death in almost a third of patients.
Trophic gastric ulcers may occur that are virtually untreated. The size and depth of the lesions may increase and soon spread to large areas of the lower extremities. This inevitably leads to gangrene. Even if you resort to treatment, therapy can last for a long time and without any guarantee of a successful outcome.
Varicose veins in the legs, symptoms and treatment, photos and consequences - all this information can be studied alone to prevent a dangerous disorder. You should not hope that it will be possible to avoid it at midnight, but even timely treatment will be enough to not worry about the consequences or complications.