In women, signs of leg varicose veins are common - a pathology seen in almost one in three women. This disease is accompanied by dilation of the lumen and thinning of the walls of the venous vessels, leading not only to the appearance of cosmetic defects, but also to pain and malnutrition of the tissues of the lower extremities. As a result, if a woman is not treated, trophic ulcers can develop on her legs, leading to even more serious complications. Therefore, the start of varicose vein treatment should always be timely.
Signs of leg varicose veins are not always seen in women in the initial stages - sometimes the disease lasts for a long time.
Causes and early signs
The blood vessels in the legs are affected by varicose veins due to the following factors:
- overweight;
- inheritance;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- long stay in a static position;
- pregnancy;
- childbirth;
- taking high-dose contraceptives;
- increased abdominal pressure with frequent or prolonged coughing, sneezing or constipation;
- overload during physical training or exercise;
- leg injuries;
- pelvic pathology;
- Excessive use of tanning or heat treatments;
- wearing uncomfortable shoes;
- the habit of sitting cross-legged;
- alcohol consumption;
- old age.
As the pressure in the venous blood vessels increases and the blood stagnates, the blood vessels lengthen, the blood flow in them changes direction and the flow rate as the walls of the vessels change their sound and the valves cease to function normally. As a result, changes in the veins lead to the formation of a vicious circle in hemodynamics and other functions of venous vessels.
In the initial stages of varicose veins, blood flow can still be compensated by conservative means - wearing compression underwear, gymnastics and venotonic medications. However, as the disease progresses, changes in the structure of the veins become irreversible and can only be removed surgically.
Varicose veins can significantly disrupt your normal rhythm of life.
The first signs of leg varicose veins may be:
- difficulty in the legs;
- appearance of telangiectasias - poker and nets of different colors (bluish, red, black);
- feeling of fullness during a long immobile position (sitting, standing);
- cramps at night;
- Relieve symptoms after walking or resting in a horizontal position.
The first manifestation of this common illness is often attributed to fatigue, and a visit to the doctor can be postponed until the severe consequences of the illness appear. As the venous walls expand, the symptoms become more pronounced and then new ones are added to the above manifestations.
Symptoms
Varicose vein enlargement in later stages is manifested by the following symptoms:
- rapid leg fatigue;
- pain;
- feeling full of fluid;
- swelling of soft tissues after exercise;
- transparency and prominence of large veins above the skin;
- itchy skin;
- bruising due to rupture of large blood vessels;
- exfoliation of the skin;
- hair loss;
- trophic ulcers.
Against the background of varicose veins, blood clots can form in the lumen of veins in women. When they migrate through the bloodstream, they develop consequences of varying severity: thrombosis, flembothrombosis, the development of cardiovascular disease, the opening and inflammation of ulcers, and the entry of blood clots into the blood vessels of the heart or lungs.
Diagnostics and Treatment
To confirm the diagnosis, a woman should contact a vascular surgeon and undergo an examination. The diagnostic plan includes a test with instrumental tests:
- Doppler ultrasound of the legs;
- duplex angioscanning;
- reovasography;
- X-ray and radionuclide methods.
Tactics for treating varicose veins in the foot are determined by the stage of the disease. Conservative tools can be applied early:
- Compression stockings or elastic bandage;
- sufficient physical activity;
- wears comfortable shoes;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- eliminate static load on the legs; Use of
- venotonics.
The duration of conservative therapy is unique and depends on the rate of disease progression and adherence to physician recommendations. It can be supplemented with a special diet, which means that foods are introduced into the diet that help strengthen the walls of the blood vessels.
The likelihood of varicose recurrence during an attack of conservative treatments is determined by each clinical case. The success of therapy depends in many ways on the timeliness of the doctor’s visit.
These therapies are also recommended during the preparation phase of surgical treatment or in patients who have contraindicated the invasive procedure.
Sometimes prevention of varicose veins can consist of performing minimally invasive interventions. They should only be used in strict indications, which will be determined during the patient's examination.
Treatment of varicose veins at an advanced stage usually involves a surgical procedure - minimally invasive or classic.
If possible, a woman is advised to radically treat leg varicose veins:
- compression sclerotherapy;
- laser coagulation;
- photocoagulation;
- radiofrequency coagulation.
If the effect of these minimally invasive techniques is not sufficient, classic procedures will be performed for more radical surgical treatment:
- miniflebectomy;
- phlebectomy;
- Trendelenburg method (for thrombotic and infectious complications).
Sometimes classical surgical techniques are supplemented with minimally invasive methods. Such a combination makes it possible to reduce the trauma of surgeries and shortens the period of postoperative rehabilitation.
Varicose veins in the lower extremities can be successfully treated, especially in the early stages. Therefore, the first signs of this disease should always be the reason to visit a vascular surgeon. Varicose veins can occur at different ages, and observations show that women are more likely to suffer from this disease. In women, the signs of varicose veins in the legs are the same as in men.