Varicose veins of the lower extremities - the appearance of spider veins (nets) and dilated saphenous veins on the legs. The disease, which is widespread in the adult population, is more common in women than in men.
The disease got this name, when translated from Latin, literally: flatulence, distension.
The first sensations in this disease are very different in each patient, but the feeling of heaviness in the legs, rapid fatigue, aching pain along the vein all unite.
Treatment should be selected by an experienced doctor who can objectively assess the stage and development of the disease.
However, the pathology, which is often just a cosmetic defect, can in some cases lead to serious complications and persistent disabilities.
What are varicose veins, the mechanisms of development of pathology?
Some people after 40 years can face a rather uncomfortable situation - the appearance of varicose veins on the legs. Small purple vessels that penetrate the skin, woven into cobwebs, or resemble a densely branched tree are a serious cosmetic problem for many, especially women. "Out of nowhere" vascular network (the term telangiectasia is used in medicine) is the expansion of tiny veins less than 1 millimeter in diameter that are in the thickness of the skin. This is one of the signs that a person has varicose veins of the legs.
If lumps protrude above the surface of the skin that are soft to the touch and become more noticeable when standing, we can talk about a different manifestation. This is already a more serious pathology - varicose vein enlargement of the large and small saphenous veins, as well as their branches.
Veins in the legs are soft, thin-walled channels that bring blood back to the heart. To counteract gravity, nature has provided them with valves that prevent the backflow (reflux) of blood. There are two venous systems on the lower limbs: superficial and deep. The first is represented by the vessels that are located under the skin so that they can be seen. The second are the deep veins of the legs, which are located next to the bones in the thickness of the muscles. There are communications between these systems - perforation veins.
The inability of the valves to perform their function leads to stagnation of blood in the lower parts, the drainage of its "excess" through the perforation veins from deep to superficial. This in turn creates increased pressure in the legs' venous system, which is located under the skin. What makes your vessels react to this is "fidgeting and lengthening. " This is why varicose veins develop in the legs.
Reasons for development
There are many conditions that lead to valve damage and loss of elasticity in the vessel wall. There are key causes of varicose veins in the legs that are most commonly associated with this disease:
- Age. Over the years, our veins lose their elasticity and begin to expand. Even the valves "coarse" lose their elasticity and no longer function normally.
- Pregnancy is accompanied by an increase in the volume of blood in the body, and it also helps to slow down movement in the lower extremities (the large uterus presses on the veins of the small pelvis). Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy also play a role. Typically, symptoms of varicose veins resolve without treatment within 12 months of birth.
The resulting telangiectasias (or, as many doctors mistakenly call them, capillary varicose veins), the causes of their appearance on the face and legs, are often associated with exposure to the sun. Therefore, women who want to avoid this cosmetic problem must choose - either a nice tan or a vascular network.
Risk factors
Varicose veins are a multifactorial pathology.
- Floor. Women are more likely to develop this disease. Hormonal imbalances that occur during pregnancy, the premenstrual period, and menopause can be considered a risk factor because they relax the vein wall for a long time. Hormone replacement therapy or long-term use of birth control pills also increase the risk of "getting" varicose veins.
- Inheritance.
- Obesity.
- Standing or sitting for long periods of time (office workers, surgeons, drivers).
- Alcohol abuse. Alcohol and varicose veins also have a clear connection.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
The disease cannot cause symptoms at first, it can be suspected if the following symptoms appear:
- the formation of spider veins, nets on the legs (enlargement of the intradermal vessels of pink, blue, purple);
- Veins are "twisted", protruding like cords over the surface of the skin, interrupted by knots.
The following symptoms may appear later:
- tired legs;
- Burning, throbbing, muscle spasms, and swelling in the lower extremities;
- exacerbation of the manifestations of the disease when a person is standing or sitting for a long time;
- Itching around "swollen" vessels;
- Bleeding from varicose veins;
- painful, local hardening of the vascular site;
- Changes in skin color or ulcers in the ankle area.
The diagnosis of the disease is made on the basis of the data obtained during the examination and questioning of the patient. To assess the severity of the pathology (such as valve function, the presence of a blood clot in the veins), a Doppler ultrasound scan is usually enough.
Pathological treatment
If the diagnosis "varicose veins of the legs" is made, this does not mean that a longer 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 various self-help methods that alleviate the symptoms of varicose veins and help prevent further varicose veins. Here are some of them:
- Regular exercise. Move as much as you can. Regular walking is a great physical activity that can improve blood flow to the legs. How much load is optimal - you can ask your doctor about it.
- Constant control over your weight, the excess of which will adversely affect the vessels of the legs. Do not forget about salt, excessive absorption of which leads to fluid retention in the body, which increases the load on the veins.
- Be careful what you are wearing. Shoes with low heels, in contrast to high heels, let the muscle-vein pump work on the legs - the gastrocnemius muscle. Avoid wearing tight pants around the groin and waist, as this can affect blood circulation.
- Keep your feet up as often as possible. To do this, you need to take breaks several times a day and raise your legs above the level of your heart, for example, lie down and lie on pillows.
- Avoid long periods of sitting or standing.
Compression therapy
Usually the initial stages of varicose veins of the lower extremities are treated with compression stockings. External compression prevents the veins from swelling, which in turn improves blood flow through the vessels.
Additional treatments for a more serious situation
If a change in lifestyle and the use of compression stockings do not improve the symptoms, and neither the stages of the varicose veins (subcompensation and decompensation) can cope with the disease on their own, the following treatment options will help:
- Sclerotherapy.The procedure, which does not require major anesthesia, is carried out on an outpatient basis. The doctor injects a special substance (sclerosant) into the varicose veins that make the walls sticky.
- Foam sclerotherapy.In contrast to the usual technique, this technique injects the sclerosant into a vein after mixing it with a gas (usually air), which enables the treatment of veins with a larger diameter.
- Laser treatment. . . The new technology, which removes small varicose veins and vascular networks, is performed without skin incisions and vascular piercing.
- Intravenous radiofrequency or laser ablation. . . A technique that involves inserting a catheter into the lumen of a vein with a radio frequency or laser energy transmitter at the tip.
- Safeno-femoral ligature and stripping of the great saphenous vein. . . The first procedure involves connecting and removing the top portion of the vein. In the second, a special probe is inserted into the lumen of the vessel (two incisions are provisionally made: one in the groin, the second at the level of the upper third of the lower leg) and extends along its entire length. Then it is removed along with the enlarged vein.
- Outpatient phlebectomy. . . The doctor removes small dilated veins while making multiple micro-incisions in the skin. Scars are usually almost invisible.
- Endoscopic vein surgery. . . It is usually done when the patient has advanced lower extremity varicose veins (ulcers appear) or previous treatments have not worked.
Varicose veins that appear during pregnancy usually go away 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 funds are most often used for this pathology:
- Butcher's broom;
- grapes (leaves, juice, seed extract);
- Buckeye;
- sweet clover.
Before using herbs or supplements, you need to make sure that these complementary drugs are compatible with the drugs prescribed by your doctor and are safe for your particular situation. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before taking it.
prophylaxis
There is no universal, guaranteed way that can prevent the development of varicose veins on the legs. Still, there are preventive measures that will help reduce the likelihood of new manifestations of the disease and improve symptoms. Here are some of them:
- Physical activity (regular sports that "involve" the legs, such as walking or running, improves blood flow to the lower extremities, strengthens blood vessels).
- Weight control (extra pounds increase the load on the lower limbs (pressure in the veins).
- Do not cross your legs when sitting.
- Calmly raise them above the level of the heart.
- Try to avoid standing or sitting in a motionless position.
- Diet (less salt and more fiber).
Even after showering or bathing, it is worth rinsing your feet with cold water. Try to visit baths or saunas less often.
Varicose veins on the legs are a common problem, with an incidence of 10 to 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 serious complications from developing.