Varicose veins are a very insidious disease. It can hardly manifest itself for years, because in the early stages nothing bothers a person, and minor ailments are attributed to living conditions, but not to problems with the veins. And then the deterioration begins, the disease progresses and it becomes much more difficult to cure it. In this case, varicose veins can affect a variety of body parts that have veins. But the vast majority suffer from female legs, so the symptoms of varicose veins in women should be paid close attention to.
Varicose veins are a very insidious disease. It can hardly manifest itself for years, because in the early stages nothing bothers a person, and minor ailments are attributed to living conditions, but not to problems with the veins. And then the deterioration begins, the disease progresses and it becomes much more difficult to cure it. In this case, varicose veins can affect a variety of body parts that have veins. But the vast majority suffer from female legs, so the symptoms of varicose veins in women should be paid close attention to.
The mechanism of the disease.
The main cause of varicose veins in the legs is the weakening of the walls of the veins and blood vessels, so they can no longer push blood with optimal force.
The blood stagnates and further stretches the veins. As they expand, they lose their elasticity, become brittle, and eventually stop providing normal blood flow. Due to the fact that blood is constantly in the veins, they swell, knots and blood clots form, clogging the lumen of the vessels. This leads to thrombophlebitis.
Skin cells that do not receive enough oxygen begin to die, tissue necrosis develops, trophic lesions and ulcers appear. This is called end-stage varicose veins of the lower extremities and is treated only with the help of surgery.
It is no longer possible to completely cure this stage of the disease, but it is likely to slow down its course and achieve a more or less stable remission.
Important! Doctors believe that the main cause of the appearance of varicose veins in the lower extremities is a hereditary predisposition, therefore, if cases of the disease have been observed in older generations of the family, special care should be taken with health of the glasses
How not to miss the onset of the disease?
It is very important to carefully monitor all ailments, even the most minor. If you detect the stage 1 development, when the symptoms of varicose veins in the legs are just beginning to appear, in most cases it is possible to reverse the process and keep the veins healthy. So, the first signs of varicose veins of the legs are:
- increasing swelling, which began to bother not only at night, but also at other times of the day;
- a feeling of heaviness and "tired legs" syndrome, which appears already in the middle of the day or even earlier;
- general weakness and a state of apathy arising from insufficient supply of tissues with oxygen;
- spider or mesh veins on the legs and thighs, which are often the first sign of varicose veins that people pay attention to.
In this case, with a timely visit to the doctor, the simplest methods of treatment can help: folk remedies, drugs for the prevention of varicose veins on the legs - venotonics in tablets and capsules, ointments, creams and gels.
If it is necessary to treat varicose veins in the legs, the phlebologist may prescribe drugs that thin the blood and prevent the formation of blood clots, as well as wear special compression underwear or use an elastic bandage.
Important! Despite the fact that many drugs have few side effects and are prescribed, even for the prevention of the disease, the decision about which of them should be taken should be the sole responsibility of the phlebologist, but not the patient himself.
What is the danger of the disease?
First of all, varicose veins, reaching an advanced stage, threaten the formation of blood clots, which can block the flow of blood and oxygen to the most important arteries and veins located next to the lungs and heart. Pulmonary embolism very often leads to a sad result.
Also, varicose veins in the legs can be hidden, affecting the vessels that pass deep into the legs. Such a condition is dangerous because external signs begin to appear when the disease has already passed into the second or even third stage, at which one cannot do without surgery. A visit to the doctor should not be postponed if:
- legs began to swell often, while the kidneys are completely healthy, diabetes is not diagnosed, fluid intake is normal;
- Second drawing or sharp pains appear in the pelvic organs, groin and upper thighs;
- legs cramp periodically, especially at night;
- the areas in the lower extremities along the veins began to swell after any load.
Internal varicose veins in the legs can seriously complicate a person's life, causing constant pain and leading the situation to the intervention of a surgeon.
Important! Varicose veins during pregnancy are common. Most women are sure that this is temporary and will definitely pass after delivery, but in reality this does not always happen.
Much more often, after the load that the veins experience during childbirth, the disease begins to progress. Therefore, the signs of varicose veins during pregnancy should not be ignored in any case.
Can other parts of the body be affected?
Symptoms of varicose veins can affect a variety of organs. In particular, varicose veins in the arms occur much less frequently than varicose veins in the lower extremities, but they cause just as much anxiety and pain. If you notice symptoms on your hands that are similar to the manifestation of this disease, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible:
- the veins become very visible, darken and swell;
- on the hands, including the fingers, swelling occurs;
- there is often a burning sensation and pain;
- doing the same actions for a long time becomes problematic due to heaviness in the hands;
Varicose veins appear on the hands, both in women and men, with approximately the same frequency, but nevertheless, this disease affects the stronger sex less often by 1, 5-2 times.
This is due to the fact that the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity are more susceptible to fluctuations in the hormonal system, which is one of the main factors that provoke varicose veins on the arms.
Important! The early symptoms of varicose veins of the upper and lower extremities are very similar, but varicose veins of the legs have symptoms that are considered to be caused by flat feet, walking a lot or wearing shoes with heels, osteochondrosis, and varicose veins of the legs. the hands characterize symptoms that many take for a physical characteristic of the structure of the veins.
bowel injury
Almost as often as varicose veins of the legs, there are varicose veins of the rectum and their prolapse.
Under this name hide the well-known hemorrhoids. Those who are not lucky enough to get this disease can tell you how unpleasant the signs of varicose veins appear in such a delicate area:
- sudden attacks of sharp pain when walking;
- severe pain when sitting up to the inability to sit;
- the appearance of blood from cracks in the anal canal and its pronounced swelling, itching and burning;
- the act of defecation is also accompanied by pain, especially if combined with constipation, which usually occurs with varicose veins in this area.
The symptoms of internal varicose veins are not as difficult to notice as the external ones, because there are normally no uncomfortable sensations in the anus.
However, when referring to a proctologist, he usually puts 2nd degree varicose veins. It is not as easy to cure it as the first stage of the disease, but it is quite possible without the use of radical measures.
If varicose veins in the arms and legs are more common in women, varicose veins of the rectum affect the male body more. The main reasons for this are heavy physical exertion, serious sports, alcohol consumption and a large amount of junk food, as well as prostate diseases that contribute to the narrowing of the urethra.
Important! Having found the first symptoms of varicose veins of the rectum, you need to start treating them as soon as possible, since the danger of disease in this particular area lies in the fact that the intestines can suffer, and the work of the gastrointestinal tract can be interrupted. .
The disease develops gradually, without sudden jumps, but can lead to intestinal neoplasms, both benign and oncogenic.
male problem
If varicose veins on the legs of men are quite rare, then varicocele is a purely male disease. It consists in that the dilation of the veins of the spermatic cord and of the testicles becomes one of the causes of infertility due to the male factor.
The venous duct with varicocele is filled with blood, which the vessels cannot move further into the renal vein or small cava. In most cases, this problem occurs in the left testicle, since two veins are connected in that area: the renal and the seminal.
The symptoms of testicular varicose veins do not manifest themselves in any way until the couple has a problem with conception. Then both partners go to the doctors, the woman - to the gynecologist, the man - to the andrologist. And first of all, an experienced doctor will examine the varicocele.
This disease can be detected with the help of ultrasound and dopplerography, and by probing the veins during the patient's press tension. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the man is ordered to have a spermogram to determine how far the disease has spread based on the state of the sperm.
Important! It is possible to cure varicocele only with surgical intervention, and, as a rule, it is carried out to eliminate infertility in a man.
In itself, this phenomenon is not dangerous and does not usually cause discomfort, but sometimes the veins dilate so much that they cause discomfort or pain. In this case, the operation is also displayed.
conclusion
Varicose veins are caused by many factors, most of which can be corrected. And since this disease belongs to the category of dangerous and often leads to serious complications, as a result of which a person may become disabled, it will be much easier to take preventive measures in a timely manner to prevent the development of the disease:
- normalize nutrition, eliminating the abundance of fatty, spicy, salty and fried foods;
- stop smoking and alcohol;
- after consulting a doctor, take venotonic drugs, use ointments that strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
- do not spend a lot of time in the same position, sitting for a long time is just as dangerous as standing;
- allocate enough time for sports;
- control weight, avoiding the appearance of extra pounds, this is especially true for women during the period of having a baby and breastfeeding;
- choose comfortable shoes with low and wide heels that do not constrict the legs, and leave high heels for exceptional cases;
- take a contrast shower daily, paying special attention to the legs, arms and pelvic organs;
- stay as little as possible in hot rooms, hot saunas and baths;
- with a hereditary factor, it will be useful to wear compression stockings, tights or golfs.
Having found the first signs of varicose veins, it is imperative to contact a phlebologist and, together with him, draw up a treatment plan.