Being a fairly common disease of the veins and arteries, varicose veins are accompanied by characteristic manifestations that make it possible to diagnose the disease in a timely manner and prevent its exacerbation. There are certain stages of varicose veins that are accompanied by certain symptoms and can become indicators of both neglect of the pathological process and the ability to identify current changes.
However, phlebologists today do not agree on the isolation of the stages of the disease, as emissions of manifestations and their characteristic course are not constant values: each case has its own characteristics of the manifestation and course of this disease and against the background of parallel current damage in the body is therehigh probability of lubrication manifestations, which can interfere with the correct diagnosis.
The main parameters for determining the stage of varicose veins
The stages of varicose veins are usually formed depending on the set of certain manifestations that characterize the degree of neglect of the current pathological process as well as their effect on the patient's body as a whole. The classification of the manifestation of this disease is the simplest method of preliminary diagnosis and determination of the treatment schedule.
In order to determine the stage of this disease, answers must be given to a number of specific questions that make it possible to understand the existing symptoms and with their help determine the degree of exacerbation of the process, which largely determines the possibilities of treatment.
These questions include:
- the presence of characteristic manifestations of varicose veins and the degree of their manifestation;
- location and severity of symptoms
- the presence of external manifestations of changes in the condition of veins and large arteries;
- identification of concomitant manifestations that aggravate the patient's condition.
However, even without a detailed diagnosis by a phlebologist during an external examination of the patient, it is possible to make a preliminary diagnosis, which makes it possible to prepare a schedule with therapeutic effects and, depending on the individual specific characteristics of the patient's body, the presence of current contemporariesdiseases and susceptibility to the ongoing exposure make certain adjustments to the treatment. It is important during the diagnosis of the patient's condition to determine the types of varicose veins that occur, their location and the degree of neglect of the pathological process.
Varicose veins most often affect the lower extremities, as it is this area of the human body that receives the most significant loads. At the same time, not everyone is aware of this strain on the legs and does not protect them even in the presence of a series of manifestations that signal the need for a more attentive attitude to limbs and veins. To understand how varicose veins vary, it is necessary to get at least general ideas about the manifestations of this pathology, which are characterized by its severity and great dangers to the legs and the human body as a whole.
Specifications for classification of varicose veins
The stages of varicose veins can vary in the shape and location of the current pathological process in the veins. This approach is most convenient for understanding the degree of neglect of the disease and also makes it possible to determine the cause of the onset, which will more quickly eliminate the current manifestations of this condition and the characteristic symptoms.
The types of varicose veins differ in several specific parameters. Using a specific classification allows you to determine whether an existing disease belongs to a group, which further facilitates diagnosis and the choice of a treatment system. The modern classification according to the location of the main nodules of the varicose veins is as follows:
- Varicose veins located in the superficial layer of the skin and deep veins, while the external manifestations are characterized by segmentation - changes in the condition of the veins are noticed only in a certain area of the veins.
- Varicose veins in superficial and perforating veins, which are also noticed in certain skin segments.
- Changes in the condition of the veins, where varicose vein enlargement and pathological changes in superficial veins in unexpressed form are diagnosed, reflux.
- Varicose veins, noticed in the deep veins, the development of reflux.
The presence of reflux indicates the presence of a particular pathology, as with reflux blood flows in the opposite direction. This phenomenon usually exacerbates the pathological process of changes in veins, stimulates exacerbation of varicose veins followed by coverage of an ever-increasing area of veins and arteries. All types of varicose veins can have signs of reflux, which is already a specific pathology and requires medical intervention.
Understanding the severity of the disease makes it possible to start treatment in time, as even the initial phase of the process, which has a relatively small number of external manifestations, is dangerous to bone health. Varicose veins in the 1st degree may be practically asymptomatic, but this does not mean that there is no need to treat the disease.
An external examination of the affected veins with altered veins will allow the specialist to roughly determine the probable cause of this disease. To clarify the diagnosis, however, one must undergo a whole series of diagnostic procedures that make it possible to determine the degree of prevalence of the autologous process as well as to correct the intended therapeutic effect to achieve the most pronounced and long-good positive results. The classification helps to make a diagnosis in accordance with the external manifestations of the disease as well as to determine the system of therapeutic effects.
Classification by degree of deterioration
Today, the generally accepted classification method must be considered as a variant that divides the course of the disease into certain stages. Each of them has characteristic manifestations, with the beginning of the subsequent step noted a greater degree and intensity of symptoms, a large occurrence of the affected area.
The classification of the disease performed depending on the degree of neglect is as follows:
- early stage of varicose veins - in the initial stage of the pathological process there is a gradual accumulation of characteristic manifestations of the disease, which are not always noted by the patient. This phase is often called latent: a person can write off the unpleasant sensations after a whole day spent on their feet for elemental fatigue, the presence of some overweight. But if we add to the stated factors the child's expected period, heredity (if there is at least one close relative with existing varicose veins, one can probably assume one's own tendency to develop this disease in oneself), then one can ignore the manifested pathological changesin the veins of the lower for a long time.
- the first phase is already characterized by such manifestations as periodic numbness in the legs (especially with prolonged maintenance of a position and standing position), soreness in certain parts of the legs, a feeling of tension in the legs and veins due to the deterioration of the quality of blood circulation process, the veins dilate at the same time and strengthen their tension. Outwardly, the first stage of the disease manifests itself in the appearance of small areas of visible veins and blood vessels, which can disturb the patient when he presses on such an area;
- varicose veins in the 2nd degree may have the following characteristic manifestations:
- tenderness becomes more pronounced, increasing at the end of the day;
- bruises and areas of altered veins and capillaries appear on the skin, which are visible even to the naked eye;
- the degree of lesion increases, which is revealed by an increase in the area of the lesion.
- varicose veins in the 3rd degree are less curable. All characteristic symptoms worsen, soreness becomes more severe, and the affected area covers most of the leg. The skin condition and color of the legs change: they get a darker shade, the skin itself becomes an unhealthy structure that more and more resembles dead skin. At this stage, varicose veins almost always require surgery, as there is a high risk of a thrombus developing and separating from the vessel wall, which can clog the vessel lumen and lead to serious consequences in the form of a risk of limb amputation. The third stage is the most dangerous due to the high probability of concomitant negative manifestations during treatment.
In the second degree of this pathological process there is a strong heaviness in the legs, a feeling of rupture of veins and skin, so-called goosebumps on the legs and in the popliteal area may occur, which is not associated with external factors. Varicose veins in 2nd degree can still be treated; at later stages, the process of exacerbation of the disease continues at an ever faster pace, affecting more and more areas of the lower extremities, while the treatment process is difficult and does not always yield positive results;
There are also capillary varicose veins where small blood vessels receive a load, the quality of blood circulation gradually deteriorates, characteristic signs appear in the form of increased fatigue in the limbs, the appearance of swelling of the affected tissue and a change in the color of the skin at the lesion site.
Varicose veins have stages that gradually become more complicated, while the method of treatment is determined both by the location of the lesion site and by the subjective manifestations of the disease. Anyone who has noticed at least one of the signs of this formidable disease should remember that the likelihood of the disease transitioning in a short time to a deeper stage and a significant deterioration of the health of the lower extremities is high. In the absence of the necessary treatment, the patient can also become disabled - as can be seen from medical statistics, this takes on average approx. 11 years from the moment the first characteristic manifestations of the disease appear.
Why is treatment necessary?
Varicose veins in the lower extremities, or VBNK, accompanied by a gradual deterioration of blood circulation, the appearance of more and more profound symptoms, require immediate medical response. Upon detection of varicose veins in the lower extremities, a more detailed diagnosis of veins and blood vessels is performed, the degree of neglect of the process is determined.
The disease of the lower extremities needs treatment due to the rapid deterioration of the current pathological process affecting more and more areas. The probability of remaining disabled is high, especially at an older age, when there is a general suppression of the basic functions of the body and a decrease in disease resistance. And in the presence of concomitant lesions, the treatment of varicose veins on the legs is even more difficult.
As the disease is characterized by different types (or stages), which differ in the degree of exacerbation of the pathological process, treatment should be carried out in accordance with the results of the diagnostics performed as well as taking into account the individual characteristics of the organism.