Varicose veins usually affect the lower extremities, may develop years and even decades. Varicose veins (varicose veins) on the legs, is always a disturbance in the venous valves and blood flow. The correct flow of blood is characteristic of blood flow through the veins of the legs, from the bottom up (reverse gravity). A lot of this process is possible because of venous valves, which prevent backflow of blood. Interference of these valves lead to impaired venous blood flow and as a consequence to elongation of the veins. In such veins the blood begins to flow in a chaotic way, often zastaivayas in the the veins of the legs. Due to this background of significant pressure on the vascular wall, does not stand up, expand and become thinner. So the enlarged veins with the naked eye visible under the skin in the form of nodes. Often, due to the slowing of the blood flow in varicose veins is thrombosis. Violation of the processes of nutrition of the skin, causes the formation of venous ulcers.
The reasons for development of varicose veins on the legs very much:
- Genetic predisposition (an inherited disease predisposing factors – congenital weakness of the venous wall and valvular apparatus, loss of elasticity).
- Violation of blood circulation against the background of constipation, wearing tight shoes, Smoking, lack of physical activity.
- Hormonal medications (birth control monophasic pill with a high dose of estrogen causes thickening of the blood).
- The increased pressure of the venous type, provocaverunt obesity, pregnancy, sedentary lifestyle (sedentary work), a permanent vertical load (workers, whole day staying on his feet).
- Hormonal changes in old age.
These reasons can also lead to incorrect pathological blood flow through the veins in the lower extremities – refluxus or backflow of blood from the deeper veins to the superficial veins. These reasons have contributed to the deterioration of the situation in the future.
Symptoms of varicose veins on the legs
- extension of saphenous veins;
- burning sensation or heat in the context of the veins in the lower extremities;
- the feeling of weight in feet;
- swelling of the soft tissues of the lower extremities in the evening (the area of the feet, ankles, lower legs);
- night cramps in the calf muscles;
- darkening and hardening of the skin on the lower part of the leg;
- pain along the veins;
- trophic ulcers.
Each patient has symptoms of varicose veins may be different, but one element remains constant – the feeling of weight in legs, which is also called the "syndrome of heavy legs". The most often symptomatic of the complex is most pronounced in the evening and also in the heat.
If the disease is started, the skin on the legs became cyanotic hue, and the patient at this stage treatment does not age and does not rarely observed hyperpigmentation of the skin, and lipodermatosclerosis, and in more serious cases, the development of the sores.
The danger is not of varicose veins and development, on the basis of this complication is thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the inner vein wall) which leads to the formation of blood clots. The blood clots often block the lumen in the vein (phlebothrombosis), and can also break away and enter the lungs. Due to the serious complications of varicose veins, among patients with lethal outcome.
The diagnosis of varicose veins on the legs
When discovering for themselves the above symptoms or some of them, it is necessary to go to the doctor phlebologist or vascular surgeon. The timeliness of detection of disease is dependent on the nature of the treatment and the prevention of complications.
For the diagnosis of varicose veins prescribed the following studies.
- An ultrasound or venous duplex imaging – evaluation of the patency and extensio veins, direction of blood flow and detect blood clots in the veins.
- Contrast venography – assessment sheet, identifying the presence of tumors and thrombi with the aid of the reconstruction of a precise "snapshot" of the veins of the patient on x-ray. Typically, this method is replaced by the ultrasound, since the latter is considered to be more simple to use.
When you need to immediately consult a doctor
If these symptoms a visit to the doctor should be immediate:
- The occurrence of acute pain in the lower limbs with every movement. While the legs look swollen and very tight, the skin is like fire.
- A feeling of nausea, accompanied by shortness of breath, feeling of lack of oxygen.
- For the diseased veins began to ooze blood.
Treatment of varicose veins on the legs
Conservative treatment for varicose veins.
Non-surgical treatment, which is used in the initial phase of the development of the disease, when there are no complications. Conservative methods include receiving specialised medication (angioprotectors, anticoagulants, venotoniki, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets, ointments, and gels), which will help relieve pain as well as prevention of complications.
Great importance in the treatment of varicose veins is the restoration of the tone of the blood vessels. Exercise is possible with the help of special tools. Means the domestic producers does not contain dyes, the film is, in the shell, without any preservatives, so the active substance is diosmin absorbs more quickly, reducing the likelihood of manifestations of the allergic reaction.
Non-surgical treatment of varicose veins in addition, it includes wearing compression underwear, according to a special diet, systematic physical activity (a complex of therapeutic exercises).
These measures reduce the venous insufficiency, which prevent the development of thrombosis. Then the doctor, in addition to the above measures of treatment of varicose veins can be called a course manual or the hardware lymphatic drainage, treatment, improvement of the outflow of blood from the lower limbs, reducing swelling. The effect of the procedure is not long-lasting.
Treatment of varicose veins with leeches.
Leech therapy is a very effective method of dealing with varicose veins. Once inside the diseased vein, the saliva of leeches, because the content of hirudin (natural heparin), promote liquefactionibus the blood and prevents the formation of blood clots. Today, on the basis hirudin drugs were created, making contact with the leeches" can be avoided.
Bezoperatsionnye modern methods of treatment of varicose veins on the legs.
Sclerotherapy.
Sclerotherapy is the most effective, non-surgical treatment of varicose veins. During the process in the lumen of the container by the patient, the doctor injected a special drug that causes agglutination of its walls in the future (for 1.5 years), and their resorption. Usually the treatment in the stage of spider veins contains from 3 to 6 treatments on each leg. The result will be noticeable after 2-8 weeks, during which time they can be a pain, bruising slight tingle, that are slowly passing by. The injected drug is in each case selected individually, so the risk of complications is minimal. During treatment the patient must wear compression hosiery.
The effectiveness of sclerotherapy in treatment of varicose veins can be in comparison with classic surgery, giving it only the most modern techniques - endovenous laser coagulation, due to a phenomenon of "foam form" (foam) sclerotherapy, and the procedure in an ultrasound or translyuministsentnoy light. All of this greatly reduces the number of side effects.
Sclerotherapy can be performed with the ultrasonic scanner, then the process is called echosclerotherapy. Additional scanner application enables the physician to fully control the movement of the needle in Vienna and the distribution of the drug.
If the medicinal product is placed on the altered vein in the form of a microfoam, the procedure is called the foam-form sclerotherapy. After closer contact microfoam with the venous wall, the method has a high efficiency. Displacing blood from the vessel, microfoam promote early bonding and blocking features.
endovasal or endovenous laser coagulation.
One of the modern and minimally invasive treatments of varicose veins on the legs. Effects of laser light on the damaged vein is performed under local anesthesia. Results are visible after one month after the procedure. This method is quite costly.
Medical treatment of varicose veins of the legs compliment the folk remedies that will not only improve the tone and elasticity of venous walls, but also prevent further progression of the disease. Recipes of traditional medicine with regular use help to cure very advanced cases of the disease (skin ulcers, thrombosis).
Before treatment, it is important to identify the cause of the disease, consult your doctor, do not tighten and do not wait for complications (skin ulcers, thrombosis), start treatment as soon as possible, while the thickness of the veins on the surface do not exceed 5 mm, and the nodes not more than 7 mm. During the therapeutic course, it is recommended that you wear clothing and footwear that does not hinder the movement, to abandon the heavy physical activity and the habit to throw a leg over the other.
Modern business methods (surgical) treatment of varicose veins on the legs
In the absence of the desired result as a result of conservative treatment of varicose veins require surgical intervention. Surgery is a radical method of treatment of diseases in which the removal of changed veins. Today this is done under tumescent anesthesia (local anesthesia from a blend of natural anesthetics). The advantages of the method is that the patient can leave the clinic two hours after surgery, no postoperative hematomas, better tolerated, no poison, both during operations under General anesthesia.
Phlebectomy – through special holes to remove modified diseases of the veins to normalize blood flow in the deep veins. Operation in some cases it is better to sclerotherapy. Among the advantages is the rapid recovery of the patient, small scars, in addition to the effect maintained over the years.
Short Stripping – the removal of only the changed area of the vein through two small incisions. Pre-determined location, and the length of affected veins. In this method, the soft tissue of the patient do not suffer the rapid recovery, no pain after the surgery.
Endoscopic vein dissectione - in this way the doctor with a small size, affected by the Vienna introduces in this is the endoscope, which allows to obtain information about the internal condition of varicose veins, the extent of the affected area, as well as the accuracy of control over their actions in the cut-off section in a manner to minimize damage.
The prevention of varicose veins in the legs
- Restricting access to the sauna, taking a hot bath, spending time in the sun (all of this leads to a decrease in venous tone and blood stasis).
- More physical activity (moderate Jogging, swimming, Walking, aerobics, Cycling, skiing).
- Control of your weight.
- Reject tight, tight clothes and narrow and tight shoes.
- Get rid of the habit to sit "foot to foot".
- Prevent constipation (eat right, keep drinking regime).
- Evenly distributes the load on the legs (do not sit or stand too long in one position).
- Contrast shower with cold water and cold feet.
- Wearing compression underwear people at risk (pregnant women with a hereditary predisposition, the employees who have sedentary work, or whose work is associated with serious physical exertion, or you need to spend the whole day on their feet).
- Physiotherapy.
During treatment of varicose veins, any physical exercise is only for the purpose of prevention.
Diet for varicose veins
- Limit salty, spicy and smoked food.
- Abstinence from alcohol.
- Restriction of meat products.
- Enrichment of the diet, fresh fruits and vegetables, food that promotes strengthening of vascular walls (carrot, olive oil, walnuts, rosehips, green tea, sprouted wheat, beans, green onions).
- Daily intake of Apple cider vinegar (per Cup of water 2 tsp.).
Upon detection of the first signs of varicose veins immediately contact a specialist. People included in the risk group (those which are predisposing factors), and have a genetic predisposition to varicose veins, it is recommended that every two years, to visit a phlebologist with the mandatory ultrasound.