Varicose veins in the lower extremities - the appearance of spider veins (nets) and dilated saphenous veins in the legs. The disease, which is common in the adult population, is more common in women than in men.
The disease got this name when it was translated from Latin, it literally means bloating, dilation.
The first feelings with this disease are very different in each patient, but the difficulty of the legs, rapid fatigue, painful pains along the vein unite everyone.
Treatment should be selected by an experienced physician who can objectively assess the stage and development of the disease.
However, pathology, which is often just a cosmetic defect, can in some cases lead to serious complications and permanent disability.
What are the mechanisms of varicose veins, the pathology
Some people may find themselves in a rather uncomfortable position after 40 years - the appearance of varicose veins on their feet. Small purple pots that resemble skin, penetrate cobwebs, or densely branched wood are a serious cosmetic problem for many, especially women. "From scratch" vascular networks (the term telangiectasia is used in medicine) are dilations of small veins less than 1 mm in diameter in the thickness of the skin. This is one sign that a person has varicose legs.
If the nodes begin to protrude above the surface of the skin, they are soft to the touch and become more noticeable when one person is standing, then we can talk about another manifestation. This is a more serious pathology - varicose enlargement of the large and small saphenous veins and their branches.
The veins in the legs are soft, thin-walled channels that deliver blood back to the heart. To counteract the force of gravity, nature has provided them with valves that prevent blood from flowing back (reflux). There are two venous systems in the lower extremities: superficial and deep. The first is represented by the vessels under the skin, so they are visible. The second is the deep veins of the legs, which are located next to the bones in the thickness of the muscles. There is communication between these systems - perforating veins.
The inability of the valves to perform their function leads to stagnation of blood in the lower parts, draining of "excess" from the surface deep through the perforating veins. This in turn increases the pressure in the venous system of the legs under the skin. The blood vessels force it to respond and prolong it. And that is why varicose veins occur in the legs.
Reasons for development
There are many conditions that lead to valve damage and loss of vascular wall elasticity. There are major causes of leg varicose veins that are most commonly associated with this disease:
- Disease. Over the years, our veins lose their elasticity and begin to dilate. Valves are also "rough", lose their flexibility, and cease to perform their function normally.
- Pregnancy is accompanied by an increase in the volume of blood in the body and helps to slow down its movement in the lower extremities (the large uterus presses on the veins in the pelvis). Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy also play a role. As a general rule, varicose veins resolve without treatment within 12 months of delivery.
The resulting telangiectasias (or as many doctors incorrectly call them, capillary varicose veins), the causes of the appearance of the face and legs, are often exposed to sunlight. Therefore, women who want to avoid this cosmetic problem have to choose - either a nice tan or a vascular mesh.
Risk factors
Varicose veins are multifactorial pathology.
- Floor. Women are more likely to develop this disease. Hormonal imbalances during pregnancy, the premenstrual period, and menopause can be considered a risk factor because they relax the vessel wall for long periods of time. Long-term use of hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills also increases the risk of varicose veins.
- Heredity.
- Obesity.
- Long-term job or meeting (office workers, surgeons, drivers).
- Alcohol abuse. Alcohol and varicose veins are also strongly associated.
Symptoms and diagnosis
At first, the disease does not cause discomfort, it is suspected if the following symptoms occur:
- formation of spider veins, meshes on the legs (enlargement of pink, blue, purple intradermal vessels);
- the blood vessels "twist, " extend above the surface of the skin like cords, lumps.
The following symptoms may occur later:
- tired legs;
- burning, throbbing, muscle cramps and swelling in the lower extremities;
- aggravation of the onset of the disease when a person is in a standing or sitting position for a long time;
- itching around the "swollen" blood vessels;
- bleeding from varicose veins;
- painful, local hardening of the site of the vessel;
- skin discoloration or ulceration in the ankle area.
The disease is diagnosed on the basis of data obtained during the examination and interview of the patient. Doppler ultrasound is usually sufficient to assess the severity of the pathology (valve function, presence of blood clots in the veins).
Pathological treatment
If a diagnosis is made of "varicose veins in the legs, " that doesn't mean a long hospital stay is required. Thanks to modern, minimally invasive procedures, the pathology is usually treated on an outpatient basis.
Change your lifestyle or help yourself
There are a number of self-help methods that reduce the discomfort of varicose veins and help prevent the further development of varicose veins. Here are some of them:
- Regular exercise. Move as far as possible. Regular walking is a great physical activity that can improve blood circulation in the legs. How much load will be optimal - ask your doctor about this.
- Continuous control over weight, the predominance of which has a detrimental effect on the blood vessels in the legs. Let’s not forget the salt, the excessive intake of which in the body causes fluid retention, which increases the load on the veins.
- Pay attention to what you are wearing. Low-heeled shoes, unlike high-heeled shoes, activate the muscle — the venous pump — in the legs, the gastrocnemius muscle. Avoid wearing tight pants around the groin and waist as this can damage blood flow.
- Keep your feet up as often as possible. To do this, you need to take a break several times a day and raise your leg above heart level, such as lying down and placing it on a pillow.
- Avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time.
Compression therapy
Usually, the initial stage of varicose veins in the lower extremities is treated with compression stockings. External compression prevents the veins from swelling, which improves the movement of blood through the blood vessels.
Additional treatments in more severe situations
If lifestyle changes and the use of compression stockings do not improve symptoms, and if the stages of varicose veins (undercompensation and decompensation) do not allow the pathology to cope on its own, the following treatment options will help:
- Sclerotherapy.The procedure, which does not require major anesthesia, is performed on an outpatient basis. The doctor injects a special substance (sclerosing agent) into the vein that sticks to the walls.
- Foam sclerotherapy.In contrast to the conventional technique, in this technique, the sclerosant is injected into a vein after it is mixed with a gas (usually air), which allows the treatment of larger diameter veins.
- Laser surgery. . . The new technology, which removes small varicose veins and vascular networks, is implemented without skin incisions and punctures.
- Intravenous radiofrequency or laser ablation. . . A technique that involves inserting a catheter into a lumen of a vein at the end of which there is a radio frequency or laser energy emitter.
- Safeno-femoral ligation and stripping of the large saphenous vein. . . The first procedure involves suturing and removing the upper part of the vein. In the second, a special probe is inserted into the lumen of the vessel (two incisions are made beforehand: one in the lumbar region, the second in the upper third of the lower leg) and extending its full length. It is then removed along with the dilated vein.
- Outpatient phlebectomy. . . The doctor removes the small dilated veins while making a number of micro-incisions in the skin. Scars are usually almost invisible.
- Endoscopic venous surgery. . . It is usually performed when the patient has advanced varicose veins in the lower extremities (ulcers appear) or previous treatments have been ineffective.
Varicose veins that appear during pregnancy usually disappear without treatment within 12 months of delivery.
Alternative medicine
There is a wide arsenal of alternative treatments for chronic venous insufficiency, a condition associated with varicose veins. The following drugs are most commonly used to treat the pathology:
- butcher broom;
- grapes (leaves, juice, seed extract);
- horse chestnuts;
- sweet clover.
Before using any herbs or dietary supplements, you should make sure that these supplements are compatible with the medications prescribed by your doctor and are safe in your situation. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before taking them.
Prophylaxis
There is no universal, guaranteed method that can prevent varicose veins from forming on the legs. Nevertheless, there are preventive measures that help reduce the chances of new manifestations of the disease, improve its symptoms. Here are some of them:
- Physical activity (a regular sport where the legs "participate", such as walking or running, improves blood circulation in the lower extremities, strengthens blood vessels).
- Weight control (extra pounds increase the load on the lower extremities (pressure in the blood vessels).
- Do not cross your legs while sitting.
- While resting, raise them above heart level.
- Try to avoid being stationary or sitting.
- Diet (less salt and more fiber).
You should also rinse your feet with cold water after a shower or bath. Try to visit a spa or sauna less often.
Varicose veins are a widespread problem in the legs, with an incidence of 10-20% in men and 33% in women. Unfortunately, it is impossible to fully recover from this disease. But new, minimally invasive techniques used in medicine can improve symptoms. Early treatment in the early stages of the disease can prevent the development of serious complications.