The varicose veins (from the Latin word "swelling") are a disease of the blood vessels in the lower extremities in which the outflow of blood is disrupted due to a malfunction of the venous valves: the veins dilate. , lengthens, begins to bulge under the skin, lumps form. Varicose veins cause great discomfort due to edema, pain and dangerous blood clots and trophic ulcers. Unfortunately, this disease can lead to disability in severe cases.
This disease is extremely common - more than 60% of the world’s population suffers from it). It has obviously haunted humanity since its inception: the Old Testament mentions varicose veins, during Egyptian excavations archaeologists found a mummy with trophic ulcers on his feet, traces of treatment, signs of varicose veins on the legs of ancient statues, and written evidence from ancient doctorsand Hippocrates sought ways to treat varicose veins. Scientists say this is the price of humanity for walking straight, as this disease is much less common in other species.
Although women suffer from varicose veins more often than men - due to hormone problems during childbirth and menopause - men often develop leg shocks faster and with much more severe consequences. This is due to the fact that so-called "male" jobs are often associated with regular heavy lifting, and traditional stereotypes encourage men to ignore minor pains.
Causes of the disease
Because varicose veins in the legs are caused by high blood pressure in the blood vessels, the following factors, as well as congenital weakness of the connective tissue, can cause:
- to be on your feet for a long time, at work. Leg varicose veins are considered an occupational disease of waiters because they have to walk with heavy trays, hairdressers, surgeons who have to do their job standing for many hours in a row;
- a long sitting in a chair and a long stay with the legs retracted, during which the blood vessels become pinched and the blood circulation is damaged;
- overweight,
- pregnancy - a woman's weight increases quite rapidly and at the same time the pressure on the legs increases, hormonal changes during pregnancy also affect the walls of the veins;
- wearing tight stockings, socks with rubber bands and the like;
- hypodynamics;
- overloading the body during sports with frequent weight lifting work;
- endocrine disorders as well as various hormonal disorders that are common causes of varicose veins in women in the legs;
- foot injuries, foot deformities.
The legs return
Varicose veins occur:
- He was born.The probability of inheriting this disease from parents is more than 70%. Congenital varicose veins can occur at any age, but usually occur at a young age, and in rare cases occur in infants. There are other unpleasant symptoms of this form of the disease: a noticeable increase in one leg, sometimes hemangiomas (squamous cell carcinomas) appear all over the body. Hereditary varicose veins may also appear in the veins of the internal organs;
- Primary varicose veins. This type of disease develops due to the reasons listed above;
- Secondary varicose veinsit usually begins as a complication of venous thrombosis or as a result of trauma.
The disease is usually divided into the following stages:
- 0- asymptomatic when the abnormalities begin to appear at the cellular level but do not yet manifest as symptoms;
- 1- the appearance of noticeable symptoms, which, however, still have a small effect on the ability to work;
- 2- at this stage, severe edema persists, lumps and trophic ulcers appear. The sick person should not be without special support during the day;
- 3- serious complications, disability.
As you can see, varicose veins in the legs are a fairly serious condition that needs to be started at the first sign to prevent serious consequences.
Symptoms
Although the symptoms are varied in each case, it will not be difficult to recognize varicose veins in the foot. Its main manifestation, which gave the disease its name, is dilation of the veins in the legs. There may be "cobwebs" or "stars" from the blood vessels under the skin - by the way, they will be more noticeable on women's feet. This is due to the fact that men have more "vegetation" on their feet, so thin veins can go unnoticed.
The disease progresses slowly, over years or even decades. In the first stage of the disease, the symptoms are mild and usually not specific: heaviness, bloating, leg pain, sometimes a burning sensation, and night cramps. Swelling of the legs and ankles, pain in the veins is a particularly common symptom of varicose veins in the legs. At first, edema occurs infrequently, resolves after mild and horizontal rest, but if no therapeutic and prophylactic measures are taken, venous insufficiency becomes chronic and edema occurs regularly for no particular reason. These manifestations usually intensify in the evening, after a day of work, and in warm weather.
What is the danger of varicose veins?
The first signs of varicose veins in the legs are often overlooked, the disease takes off and irreversible processes start with extremely unpleasant consequences: trophic ulcers and thrombophlebitis.
Trophic ulcers are painful, non-healing sores on the foot or leg that result from a poor blood supply to the tissues. This rather painful disease is more common in old age and can be treated for a lifetime.
Thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of the wall of a vein in which blood clots form a blood clot that closes the lumen of a vein.
Signs of thrombophlebitis that have developed in the background of varicose veins include:
- fever, chills;
- lumps along the veins, quite painful
- swelling of the limbs
Thrombophlebitis can continue chronically, with intermittent exacerbations, or a so-called purulent fusion of the thrombus that has formed (septic thrombophlebitis) - in which case the infection spreads quickly in 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 leave the disease running and do not neglect the supervision of a specialist!
Diagnosis and treatment
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. ) determine venous involvement and prescribe appropriate treatment.
In the treatment of varicose veins, a combination of medication and compression therapy is used, as well as the most effective surgical methods.
There are a number of drugs that increase the tone of venous walls, reduce their permeability, and improve microcirculation and lymphatic drainage. There may be ointments, gels, tablets of various active ingredients, whether of natural or synthetic origin.
In home therapy, gels, ointments and creams are used, applied to the affected areas of the vascular network. These medicines are divided into groups:
- Heparin ointments. Heparin is absorbed, preventing blood stagnation.
- Ointments and gels made from natural ingredients relieve fatigue and pain, strengthen blood vessels, and are recommended during pregnancy.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat thrombophlebitis.
- Ointments and gels based on hormonal drugs also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
In combination with topical medications, venotonics, phlebotonics, blood thinners are prescribed and, if necessary, anti-inflammatory drugs are given orally or by injection.
Compression therapy has been used since ancient times to dilate the legs: Roman legionnaires 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, which causes the blood flow to accelerate and the amount of "ballast" blood in the legs to decrease.
Nowadays, not only elastic bandages are used, but also more comfortable compression stockings. The bandage is applied from the toes to the middle of the thigh. Both the bandage and the compression stocking are worn horizontally in the morning, worn all day, and removed in the evening.
Treatment with folk remedies can be combined with these drugs. Popular and to some extent effective remedies are horse chestnut scalding, garlic and lemon decoction, green tomato compress.
Compressing green tomatoes is good for treating varicose veins on the legs.
However, you should be careful when treating with folk remedies and approach this process with healthy criticism. If you visit any forum on the subject, you can find plenty of amazing ideas in addition to really good, tried-and-tested recipes - from horse manure compresses to ingestion of poisonous plant decoctions. it is just as useless and harmless, and can cause serious damage to the body, as not only a professional but also an ordinary "internet troll" or just an unhealthy psychic can write on the forum.
Important!Once you have discovered a new prescription online, be sure to consult your doctor before using the recommended treatment.
It should be noted that conservative treatment, like treatment with folk remedies, cannot cure varicose veins, it only slows its development and relieves symptoms.
Surgery
As a minimally invasive and highly effective surgical method, laser treatment or endovascular laser coagulation is used - this method does not require incisions and does not require hospitalization for inpatient treatment. Under the influence of the laser beam, a sick vessel is "glued together" and the load is transferred to the healthy blood vessels. Laser coagulation can be performed in the early stages of the disease. It was performed under local anesthesia.
In addition to laser therapy, the patient's blood vessels are coagulated (glued) with radiofrequency waves (radiofrequency coagulation) and injected with a special substance (sclerotherapy).
Phlebectomy is usually a simple operation that removes dilated veins.
In case of varicose veins, a salt-free diet is prescribed and a proper diet is required if the causes of varicose veins are overweight or diseases of the endocrine system.
Recurrent sports are undesirable, therapeutic and prophylactic physical education, cycling and swimming are recommended. There are special exercises for varicose veins.
It is contraindicated to visit the spa, sauna, long stays in hot water.
Massage of varicose veins is not used.
Prophylaxis
Preventing varicose veins on the feet is extremely important for all people, as varicose veins are extremely difficult to completely cure, it takes a lot of time and effort to fight them, and the cost of treatment is quite high.
First, if possible, you should try to prevent or eliminate the causes that affect your development:
- avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time if this is not possible - warm your feet as often as possible;
- refuse to wear tight clothes, tight pants or trousers;
- choose shoes carefully;
- do not allow overweight;
- it is important for pregnant women not to allow their feet to overload and to rest in a horizontal position during the day;
Recommended:
- active lifestyle, moderate physical activity, cardio exercise, "reverse" exercises (e. g. , "birch" is a simple but very effective tool to prevent varicose veins);
- hardening, contrast shower;
- good nutrition;
- relax in a horizontal position during the day.
Advice!A good way to prevent this is to raise your feet slightly above head level, place a pillow or roller under horizontal rest, and stay in this position for 3-5 minutes, but no longer.