Reticular advanced varicose veins lead to the appearance of a bluish vascular network in the lower extremities. Hence, this form of varicose vein is often referred to as "cosmetic" or "reticular" among people.
What does the term "reticular varicose veins" mean?
Some doctors don't consider reticular varicose veins a disease. They urge it to be treated as a cosmetic defect that does not endanger the patient's health. Men who have a mild form of varicose veins usually don't focus on it.
In Western countries there is no special term "reticular varicose veins of the lower extremities", experts do not think about it.
Other doctors disagree on this issue. Some experts believe that reticular varicose veins are a result of insufficiency of the valves of the venous vessels, so the disease must be treated immediately. Otherwise, a patient with cosmetic varicose veins will develop serious complications. After all, the situation is unlikely to be limited to the defeat of the superficial veins, after a long time varicose veins can spread to the deep vessels of the venous system.
Symptoms of the disease
The signs of reticular or cosmetic varicose veins include:
- Heaviness in the limbs.
- Swelling.
- Increased tiredness.
- The appearance of blue meshes. They are formed from enlarged, superficial, small-caliber vessels and capillaries.
- Cramps in the calf muscles.
- Pain in the localization of the dilated veins.
In the advanced stages of the disease, external bleeding may occur.
Causes of the disease
Reticular varicose veins of the lower extremities occur under the influence of the following reasons:
- Use of contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
- Obesity.
- Pregnancy and childbirth.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Inactive lifestyle.
Hard physical labor often leads to the appearance of a vascular pattern in the limbs. With excessive load on the legs, the walls of the veins gradually lose their elasticity, and blood circulation in the body deteriorates.
Diagnosis of the disease
If reticular varicose veins are suspected, the patient is interviewed. The doctor pays close attention to the following circumstances:
- The type and location of the pain.
- Patient working conditions.
- The presence of comorbidities.
- The patient's lifestyle.
- The presence of a hereditary predisposition to varicose veins.
Then the specialist moves on to a visual examination of the patient. During the procedure, the doctor not only examines the spider veins, but also examines the condition of the skin near them: the presence of seals or edema in the affected area. For example, varicose veins on the face often occur around the eyes. In this case, the doctor may see pale purple bags under the eyes. On closer inspection, small venous and capillary networks can be clearly seen. With varicose veins of the lip, a small nodule appears of a rich shade of red with a light blue.
Other methods of diagnosing the disease are also used. For example, an ultrasound scan will help assess the condition of the venous valves, detect the presence of blood clots.
The MRI for reticular varicose veins is only performed according to individual indications.
General clinical studies are also conducted for varicose veins. This primarily includes blood and urine tests. Thanks to general clinical studies, it is possible to assess the likelihood of thrombophlebitis and thrombosis. They will help in choosing the right tactic for further treatment.
Disease classification
There is a special classification of reticular varicose veins. In addition to the six main stages, his followers also distinguish the zero stage of the disease. It's almost asymptomatic. Few patients have a feeling of heaviness in their legs.
In the first stage of the disease, a thin network of small vessels appears through the skin. The next stage is the widening of the blood vessels. In the third stage of the disease, edema appears, the veins are well above the surface of the skin. In the fourth stage of the disease, the color of the skin changes in the area of the dilated veins. It can turn dark brown. In the next stage, trophic ulcers can form. At the sixth stage of the disease, the patient's condition deteriorates sharply. With the help of drugs, it is impossible to cope with trophic ulcers.
Methods of treating diseases
In the treatment of reticular varicose veins, the following methods are used:
- Taking medication.
- A practice.
- Preparation of decoctions based on medicinal plants.
- Performing laser coagulation or microflebectomy.
It is almost impossible to completely get rid of a pronounced cosmetic defect with the help of drugs, folk remedies or therapeutic exercises. Therefore, the treatment of the disease is practiced with minimally invasive methods (microflebectomy, sclerotherapy).
Laser coagulation and microflebectomy for varicose veins
The microflebectomy is performed under local anesthesia. The essence of this medical manipulation is to pull out the vein damaged by varicose veins. In microflebectomy, the skin is pricked with a thin medical hook. The remaining track is almost invisible to prying eyes. Microflebectomy is not accompanied by discomfort, the patient quickly returns to normal life. It is recommended to wear compression stockings.
In sclerotherapy, a special solution is injected into the vessel. The tool sticks the vessel walls together, which will heal any damage. The duration of the rehabilitation period varies between three and ten days (depending on the patient's well-being). The patient must wear a bandage that is tight around the limb. It is applied to the puncture site. The number of procedures depends on the severity of the disease. The duration of the treatment session varies between 5 and 60 minutes. It is recommended to stop smoking, hot baths, and alcoholic beverages within three days of sclerotherapy.
The use of drugs
In the treatment of reticular varicose veins, drugs are used in various dosage forms:
- Pills.
- Capsules.
- Anoint.
- Creams.
- Gels.
Drugs have a beneficial effect on the superficial vessels of the extremities. Reticular varicose veins are usually treated with the following drugs:
- Venotonic. The preparations eliminate discomfort in the legs, prevent the occurrence of seizures and the appearance of trophic ulcers.
- Medicines containing rutoside. Drugs help reduce capillary permeability and eliminate edema. With the help of a special drug, the vessel walls are strengthened. Medicines containing rutoside are not only used to treat varicose veins. They eliminate the symptoms of hemorrhoids, thrombophlebitis, venous insufficiency.
The benefits of physical therapy
Laser therapy has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Thanks to the procedure, the level of cholesterol in the body is reduced, tissue swelling is reduced. Laser therapy helps the patient avoid expensive medication for the treatment of reticular varicose veins.
The following advantages of laser therapy should be emphasized:
- Positive changes can be seen after the second procedure.
- In around 70% of cases, the affected veins shrink by up to 3 mm after the first session.
After the session, the patient may feel pain. In some cases, the doctor will prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to the patient to eliminate unwanted side effects.
Magnetic stimulation involves exposure to low-frequency magnetic impulses. After the procedure, the condition of the muscle tissue of the vessels and blood circulation improves. The average duration of a pulse magnetotherapy session is 20 minutes. After the procedure, the swelling of the legs is significantly reduced.
Folk remedies for varicose veins
Treatment with folk remedies includes both the preparation of decoctions for internal use and the use of ointments for external use.
The main advantages of alternative medicine are:
- The relatively low cost of the ingredients in folk remedies;
- Easy fund preparation. You do not need any special skills to use the recipes of traditional healers.
- Improving the general well-being of the patient.
| Folk remedies | Cooking scheme |
|---|---|
| Garlic ointment | The tool normalizes blood circulation in the body. To prepare the ointment, you need to mix the garlic and butter, grated on a fine grater, in a ratio of 1: 2. The mixture is applied to the affected area before bedtime. Cover the top with polyethylene or parchment paper. It is fixed with an elastic bandage or a thin scarf. In the morning, the compress is removed, the legs are thoroughly washed |
| Sour milk compress | To prepare the compress, a napkin made of gauze is soaked in sour milk. The agent is applied to the affected area. From above, the affected area is carefully covered with polyethylene, the limbs are wrapped in a warm scarf. The compress should not be kept for more than 30 minutes. The process can be repeated up to three times a day. |
| Hop tincture | It is necessary to pour 30 grams of a medicinal plant with 400 ml of boiling water. The tool is insisted for two hours. You need to take 50 ml of the drink three times a day. The duration of treatment is 14 days. |
| Rinse feet with cold water | During the procedure, water is used, which should be slightly cooler than room temperature. When rinsing, you can add solutions of medicinal plants to the water: nettle, lemon balm, apple cider vinegar. Do not wipe your feet after the procedure. You need to dry naturally |
| Kalanchoe ointment | To prepare the ointment, you need to take 0. 5 kg of fresh plant leaves. Kalanchoe is washed thoroughly with water and placed in clean glassware. The plant is watered with alcohol in a ratio of 1: 1. The ointment must be poured on for at least 10 days in a dry room protected from sunlight. The product is applied to the limbs with gentle massage movements. Kalanchoe eliminates painful sensations in the legs. The duration of treatment is at least three months |
Special diet
In the case of reticular varicose veins, the following foods are generally excluded from the daily menu:
- Spicy food.
- Sweets.
- Hearty spices.
- Strongly brewed coffee.
- Sweet pastries.
- Pickled vegetables.
The patient's diet must be supplemented with the following products:
- Freshly squeezed juices.
- Dishes to which berries are added: viburnum or rose hips.
- Green.
- Fruit.
- Dishes made with grains such as rye or wheat.
The diet of a person with reticular varicose veins must definitely include foods rich in vitamins A, E, C and B. These include, above all, fermented milk drinks, nuts, citrus fruits, and sea fish dishes.
Exercises for reticular varicose veins
Therapeutic gymnastics improves the lymph drainage from the affected vessels. You can do this simple exercise:
- The patient must stand upright.
- He should slowly raise his heels and return to the starting position. During this exercise, it is forbidden to tear your socks off the floor.
Therapeutic gymnastics will help increase the strength of the walls of the veins. The only contraindication to exercise is the presence of trophic ulcers on the legs.
The exercises "scissors" and "bicycle" are performed in the supine position. They must be done for at least two minutes (each).
Preventive measures
Many people have heard the hackneyed phrase that "a disease is easier to prevent than cure". Nobody will doubt the correctness of this statement.
There are the following preventive measures that will reduce the chance of developing reticular varicose veins:
- Avoid heavily brewed coffee, cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages.
- Wearing compression products. It is recommended to wear them once a day every day: in the morning or in the evening.
- Refusal of intense physical activity.
- Regular swimming pool visits.
- Performing special exercises to prevent the appearance of "cosmetic" varicose veins.