Varicose veins in the legs, or varicose veins (from Latin varicis - "swelling") is a disease of the blood vessels in the lower extremities, where the outflow of blood is disturbed due to dysfunction of the venous valves: the veins dilate, lengthen, begin to bulge from under the skin, nodulesdannes. Varicose veins cause great discomfort due to edema, pain and dangerous formation of blood clots and trophic ulcers. This disease in severe cases, unfortunately, can lead to disability.
This disease is extremely common - more than 60% of the world's population suffers from it). It has persecuted mankind, apparently since its inception: varicose veins are mentioned in the Old Testament, archaeologists found during excavations in Egypt a mummy with a trophic wound on the leg with traces of treatment, signs of varicose veins can be seen on the legs of ancient statues, and according towritten evidence led ancient physicians Avicenna and Hippocrates to methods of treating varicose veins. Scientists suggest that it is the price of humanity to walk upright, as this disease is much less common in other species.
Although women more often suffer from varicose veins than men - due to childbirth and hormonal problems during menopause - varicose veins in the legs of men often progress faster and have much more serious consequences. This is because so-called "male" jobs are often associated with ordinary heavy lifting, and traditional stereotypes encourage men to ignore minor pain.
Causes of the disease
Because varicose veins in the legs are caused by high blood pressure in the vessels, the following factors, along with congenital weakness in the connective tissue, can cause it:
- be on your feet for a long time, standing work. Varicose veins in the legs are considered an occupational disease of servants because they have to walk with heavy trays, hairdressers and surgeons who have to perform their work standing for many hours in a row;
- long sitting on a chair and long stays with tucked legs, where the vessels are pinched and blood circulation is reduced;
- overweight,
- pregnancy - a woman's weight grows quite fast, and at the same time the pressure on the legs increases, hormonal changes during pregnancy also affect the walls of the veins;
- wearing tight tights, socks with elastic and similar factors;
- hypodynamics;
- overload of the body during sports, during work associated with frequent weight lifting;
- dysfunction of the endocrine system, as well as various hormonal disorders, which are a common cause of varicose veins on the legs in women;
- leg injuries, foot deformities.
Varicose veins in the legs
Varicose veins occur:
- Innate.The probability of inheriting this disease from parents is over 70%. Congenital varicose veins can manifest at any age, but usually it manifests itself at a young age, and in rare cases it even occurs in infants. This type of disease has additional unpleasant symptoms: a noticeable increase in one leg, sometimes hemangiomas (vascular tumors) occur throughout the body. Hereditary varicose veins can also occur on the veins of internal organs;
- Primary varicose veins.This type of disorder develops as a consequence of the above causes;
- 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:
- 0asymptomatic when disorders begin to occur at the cellular level but do not yet manifest themselves in the form of symptoms formed;
- 1the occurrence of noticeable symptoms, which, however, still have little effect on the ability to work;
- 2- at this stage, severe edema becomes permanent, nodules and trophic ulcers appear. A sick person can not do without special support equipment during the day;
- 3- serious complications, disability.
As you can see, varicose veins in the legs are a rather serious disease, the treatment of which should be started when the first signs appear, to prevent serious 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 in the legs. There may be "cobwebs" or "stars" from the subcutaneous vessels - by the way, they will be more noticeable on women's legs. This is because men have more "vegetation" on their legs so thin threads of blood vessels can go unnoticed.
The disease develops slowly over many years or even decades. In the early stages of the disease, the symptoms are few and generally nonspecific: there is a feeling of heaviness, bloating, pain in the legs, sometimes burning and nocturnal cramps. Swelling of the feet and ankles, soreness in the veins are especially common symptoms of varicose veins in the legs. In the beginning, edema rarely occurs, is mild and disappears after resting in a horizontal position, but if you do not take therapeutic and prophylactic measures, venous insufficiency becomes chronic and the edema occurs regularly for no particular reason. These manifestations 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 in the legs are ignored, the disease picks up speed and irreversible processes begin, leading to extremely unpleasant consequences: trophic ulcers and thrombophlebitis.
Trophic ulcer is a painful, non-healing wound on the foot or lower leg due to poor blood supply to the tissues. This rather painful disease shows up more often at an older age and the treatment can drag out the rest of your life.
Thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of the vein wall where blood clots form a blood clot that blocks the lumen of the vein.
Signs of thrombophlebitis, which developed on the background of varicose veins, are as follows:
- fever, chills;
- lumps along the veins, quite painful
- swelling of limbs
Thrombophlebitis can proceed chronically with periodic exacerbations, possibly 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 torn blood clot or part of it can enter the pulmonary artery, leading to pulmonary embolism and often death. Do not let the disease go its course and do not neglect the supervision of a specialist!
Diagnosis and treatment
The 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 angioscanning, Doppler ultrasound, etc. ) will determine how much the veins are affected and prescribe the correct treatment.
In the treatment of varicose veins, drug treatment and compression therapy are used in combination, as well as surgical methods that are considered to be the most effective.
There are many drugs that increase the tone of the venous walls, reduce their permeability, improve microcirculation and lymph drainage. It can be ointments, gels, tablets with various active ingredients - natural or synthetic origin.
Gels, ointments and creams are used in home therapy, applied to the affected areas of the vascular network. These medicines are divided into groups:
- Heparin ointment. Heparin has a resorbing effect, prevents blood stagnation.
- Ointments and gels made on the basis of natural ingredients relieve fatigue, pain, strengthen blood vessels, they are recommended during pregnancy.
- In the treatment of thrombophlebitis, drugs based on anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs are used.
- Ointments and gels based on hormonal drugs also have anti-inflammatory effects.
Together with local drugs, to achieve the best effect, venotonics, phlebotonics, blood-thinning drugs 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 tightened their calves with strips of skin to prevent swelling and pain during long military transitions, and Egyptian pharaohs were sometimes depicted with elastic bandages in their hands. This simple method works by reducing the diameter of the superficial veins, causing an acceleration of blood flow and a decrease in the amount of "ballast" blood in the legs.
Today, 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 the bandage and the compression stocking are worn in the morning in a horizontal position and worn all day and removed at night.
Treatment with folk remedies can be used in combination with these drugs. Popular and to some extent effective remedies are horse chestnut infusion, garlic and lemon infusion, green tomato compresses.
Green tomato compresses are good for treating varicose veins on the legs.
However, when treating with folk remedies, 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, proven recipes you can find a lot of great ideas - from compresses from horse manure to consuming a decoction of poisonous plants, which can be just as useless and harmless and canlead to serious injury to the body, as not only a specialist but also an ordinary "internet troll" or just someone with an unhealthy psyche can write to the forum.
Important!After discovering a new prescription on the internet before using the suggested remedy, 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 slow its development and relieve the symptoms.
Surgery
As a minimally invasive and very effective surgical method, laser treatment or endovasal laser coagulation is used - this method does not need to make incisions and there is no need for inpatient treatment. Under the influence of a laser beam, a diseased vessel is "glued together" and the load is transferred to healthy vessels. Laser coagulation can be performed in the initial stages of the disease. Made under local anesthesia.
In addition to laser therapy, coagulation (gluing) of diseased vessels is also performed using radio frequency waves (radio frequency coagulation) and by injecting a special substance (sclerotherapy).
Phlebectomy is usually a simple operation that removes the dilated veins.
For varicose veins, a salt-free diet is prescribed, and an appropriate diet is also necessary if the causes of varicose veins are obesity 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.
It is contraindicated to visit a bath, a sauna, a long stay in hot water.
Massage against 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 cure varicose veins completely, the fight against it takes a lot of time and effort and the cost of treatment is quite high.
First of all, try, if possible, to prevent or eliminate the causes that affect its development:
- avoid standing or sitting for a long time if this is not possible - warm up your legs as often as possible;
- refuse to wear tight-fitting clothing, tight-fitting tights or trousers;
- choose shoes carefully;
- do not allow excess weight;
- for pregnant women it is important not to allow overexertion of the legs, to rest in a horizontal position during the day;
Recommended:
- an active lifestyle, moderate physical activity, cardio, "reverse" 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 height while resting in a horizontal position, place a pillow or roll under them and stay in this position for 3-5 minutes, but no longer.