Symptoms of varicose veins

Varicose veins in the legs are not only a cosmetic problem that makes people worry about their attractiveness, but also a dangerous disease that requires proper treatment and compliance with preventive measures.

There are many reasons for the appearance of varicose veins: from a sedentary lifestyle, physical overload to hormonal imbalances, congenital weakness of the vascular walls and pregnancy.What happens during varicose veins?In the case of varicose veins in the lower extremities, they lose their normal elasticity and stretch under blood pressure.

The valves in veins are normally sluices, and when blood passes through them, they close and allow blood to return.If the valves are not working properly, blood can flow freely downward, causing blood stagnation.

In this sense, the veins cannot withstand the pressure, they expand, the valves can no longer close the large lumen... all this causes the appearance of the initial stage of varicose veins (see photo).

Reasons

Why do varicose veins appear and what are they?The main risk factors for developing the disease are genetic predisposition and gender.Due to the love of high heels, hormonal changes during pregnancy and the use of contraceptives, women are victims of varicose veins twice as often as men.

The development of the disease is facilitated by:

1. Inheritance.What is inherited is not the disease itself, but the genetically determined structure of the veins: weak connective tissue of the venous walls, congenitally defective venous valves.That is why varicose veins can be observed in young, healthy and active people (regardless of sex) and even in children.According to scientists, genetic predisposition is the main factor that causes varicose veins in the legs.
2. Hormonal changes.Due to the characteristics of a woman's body, periods of hormonal imbalance become causes of blood stagnation.For them, the most dangerous periods are puberty, pregnancy and the period after childbirth.The moment when menopause arrives is also dangerous.This gender category of patients consults doctors 2-3 times more often.The female organs do not have enough hormones called estrogens.Instead, the so-called hormones of the corpus luteum predominate.It is believed to have a relaxing effect on the muscles.This promotes the expansion of the veins.
3. A sedentary, sedentary lifestyle or a job that requires standing for long periods of time contributes to the development of varicose veins.
4. Age.Over time, the valves and walls of the veins become thinner, impairing their function.
5. Obesity.Excess weight causes greater stress on the veins in the legs.

Secondary varicose veins occur with leg injuries, heart defects, dysfunction of the liver and spleen.In this case, first of all, adequate treatment of the primary disease is carried out.

What causes veins to dilate?

The main risk factors for developing the disease are genetic predisposition and gender.Due to the love of high heels, hormonal changes during pregnancy and the use of contraceptives, women are victims of varicose veins twice as often as men.

The development of the disease is facilitated by:

• Obesity
• Prolonged standing or sitting
• Intense physical activity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Constipation
• Smoking

Secondary varicose veins occur with leg injuries, heart defects, dysfunction of the liver and spleen.In this case, first of all, adequate treatment of the primary disease is carried out.

What causes veins to dilate?

The development of varicose veins is based on congenital weakness of the venous wall, incompetence of the valves of superficial veins and the resulting increase in venous pressure.Special one-way valves prevent blood from flowing back and prevent it from stagnating in one place;When they are destroyed, the movement of blood from the tissues to the heart is interrupted.It is worth noting that conservative treatment does not affect the pressure in the veins.

Stages

There are 3 stages of symptom progression in the development of varicose veins.

1. Compensation stage.No complaints.On examination, varicose veins are seen in one or both legs.
2. Subcompensation stage.Upon examination, pronounced varicose veins are seen on the legs.Patients complain of a feeling of fullness, paresthesia (“tingling”) in the lower legs, and night cramps.At night there is slight swelling of the feet, ankles and legs.In the morning the swelling disappears.
3. Decompensation stage.Dermatitis and eczema are added to the symptoms listed.Patients are bothered by itchy skin.The skin becomes dry, shiny and closely fused with the subcutaneous tissue.Minor hemorrhages and subsequent hemosiderin deposition cause hyperpigmentation.

Varicose veins in themselves are not considered a very serious disease, but if they have already developed, they will never disappear on their own and will also progress, leading to all kinds of complications, which pose the greatest danger.

Signs

The first signs indicating the beginning of the development of varicose veins:

• rapid leg fatigue;
• swelling of the lower extremities;
• feeling of heaviness in the legs.

In later stages, you can notice the appearance of spider veins on the skin, bulging veins and various seals, which indicates congestion in the blood vessels.

Varicose veins: symptoms

It is quite difficult to diagnose the early stages of the disease, since at the initial stage there are spider veins and dilated veins rising above the skin.

Early symptoms of varicose veins:

• Heavy legs at the end of the day.
• Fatigue
• Mild to moderate pain
• Increased venous pattern in the skin.

Often, before the first spider veins appear or veins are discovered in places where they were not visible before, the patient does not feel other symptoms of the disease and only cosmetic defects on the skin cause discomfort.As a rule, in the early stages, the symptoms of varicose veins disappear completely or significantly decrease with rest and therefore often go unnoticed.

One or more varicose nodules protruding from the skin indicate the progression and abandonment of the disease.When standing for a long time, pain occurs in the node area, numbness, tingling, "crawling" and swelling are felt in the legs.At the end of the day, swelling often occurs, which disappears after a night's sleep.Swelling can be judged by loose shoes in the morning, which begin to press in the evening.

Why are varicose veins dangerous?

The most common complications of varicose veins include thrombophlebitis.In addition, increased pressure in the venous section leads to the penetration of red blood cells into the tissue through the walls of blood vessels.Due to this, skin pigmentation, thickening and tissue hypoxia are observed, which contributes to the appearance of trophic ulcers.Even with minor damage to the skin in the node area, it can rupture and cause heavy bleeding.

Diagnosis

To diagnose varicose veins of the lower extremities and prescribe appropriate treatment, the specialist will ask the patient to undergo a comprehensive examination, which includes several methods.

1. Duplex scanning (vein ultrasound) is the most informative method for diagnosing varicose veins in the legs, allowing you to get an idea of the degree of dilation of the veins, the direction of blood flow through the veins and their patency, as well as detecting the presence of blood clots (thrombi).
2. Contrast venography, which is an examination method that allows you to detect dilated veins and find out the degree of blood permeability.

Only a highly qualified phlebologist can diagnose deep venous varicose veins.

Consequences

The complicated course of varicose veins is accompanied by the formation of thrombosis and inflammation of the veins, trophic ulcers and skin disorders.These complications manifest themselves in changes in the color of the skin of the legs, redness, darkening and bluish discoloration of the skin.

It is also characterized by constant swelling of the ankle, especially severe when walking or standing.In the calf area there is pain when walking, pain along the tortuous vein, thickening of the skin and the formation of ulcers of various sizes.

during pregnancy

Pregnancy significantly increases the risk of developing varicose veins in the lower extremities, for the following reasons:

1. Hormones circulating in the blood during pregnancy increase the compliance of the venous wall and contribute to stagnation of venous blood in the legs.
2. The increase in intra-abdominal pressure at the end of pregnancy makes it difficult for blood to flow through the veins in the legs.
3. Varicose veins that appear during pregnancy may disappear completely after childbirth or progress further, depending on individual factors (heredity, presence of other contributing factors).

Treatment of varicose veins in the legs.

For varicose veins in the legs, treatment may not be a medical necessity unless the symptoms are problematic.

However, some people may want to receive treatment for varicose veins for cosmetic reasons because they are unhappy with their appearance.

Let's look at the main methods that will help eliminate this problem.

1. Sclerotherapy.This treatment method is used both independently and in combination with conservative procedures.Its essence is that a special drug is injected into the vein, sealing it with a thin needle or syringe, and subsequently the vein disappears completely.Sessions are held once a week, 3 to 6 such sessions are required.The method allows you to avoid scars and scars.
2. Non-surgical treatment.If varicose veins are in their early stages and do not cause too much discomfort, elastic compression stockings may be recommended.They are used during daily activities.They help compress the veins, preventing them from stretching and limiting any discomfort or pain.
3. Drug treatment of varicose veins relieves symptoms, reduces swelling and pain, slows down the development process, but cannot completely stop the disease or restore damaged veins. 
4. Laser treatment for leg varicose veins can be used on the surface of the skin.With the help of a small flash of laser light, a sclerosis process develops in the wall of the vein and the varicose vein disappears, as if it had been removed.

An important role in treatment and prevention is played by physical activity: brisk walking, gymnastics, swimming and exercises in water (excluding sports exercises with a large load on the legs: tennis, weight lifting, jumping).

Conservative treatment of varicose veins is prescribed mainly to those people who have clear contraindications to surgical intervention.

In addition, such treatment is indicated if the patient has mild varicose veins, which is a purely cosmetic defect.The goal of conservative therapy is also to prevent further progression of this disease.To do this, patients are recommended to bandage the legs affected by varicose veins with an elastic bandage.In addition, compression knitwear is indicated for varicose veins.People who are prone to varicose veins or who already suffer from this disease should periodically place their legs on an elevated surface throughout the day, resting for several minutes.There are also special exercises for the calf and foot, aimed at activating the musculovenous pump.This is a periodic extension and flexion of the ankle and knee joints.

The patient should be careful not to allow multiple toiletries to push the legs and thighs together, as this can significantly impede venous blood flow.

With elastic compression you can activate blood flow in the deep veins, prevent swelling, reduce the amount of blood in the saphenous veins, promote the body's metabolic processes and blood microcirculation.

But to achieve positive results, it is important to bandage the leg correctly.This process should be done in the morning, before getting out of bed.The bandage starts from the toes to the thigh and a slight tension of the bandage should be felt.During the taping process, be sure to grab the heel joint and ankle.With each turn around the limb, the bandage should cover half of the previous turn.You should only buy certified elastic bandages and compression stockings.

Treatment of varicose veins also involves wearing comfortable shoes, which should have low heels and hard soles.You should not stand for a long time, allow physical stress or stay in rooms with high temperature and humidity for a long time.It is advisable to keep your legs elevated while sleeping.

Patients should limit fluid and salt intake and try to get rid of them. overweight.To treat varicose veins, it is necessary to periodically take diuretics, drugs that improve the tone of the veins.Additionally, if indicated, the patient can be prescribed medications that stimulate microcirculation in the tissues.Treatment for varicose veins may also include taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

If the patient has an uncomplicated form of the disease, physiotherapy exercises are indicated.Swimming, other water treatments, foot baths with warm water, to which a 5-10% sodium chloride solution is added, are very useful.

Most often, local therapy methods are used in the treatment of varicose veins.But such treatment must be used in combination with other medicinal methods.Local remedies for varicose veins are produced in the form of gels, ointments and creams.Most of these medications contain heparin or venoactive components.Ointments for varicose veins help to normalize the tone of the walls of the veins and can correct disorders of lymphatic drainage and microcirculation.Some local preparations contain several different active ingredients. 

If a secondary infection occurs during the varicose vein process, then it is advisable to use external agents with antibiotics either antiseptics.

It has been used for treatment since ancient times. hirudotherapy with varicose veins.The use of leeches that secrete hirudin allows the blood to thin and promotes reabsorption. blood clots, get rid of spider veins and varicose veins.Additionally, hirudotherapy for varicose veins can reduce leg pain and overcome swelling.However, it is important to use hirudotherapy in the early stages of varicose veins.This treatment should not be used in people with hemophilia, anemia, hypotension, pregnant women.

However, the radical method to treat varicose veins is surgery.It is carried out to eliminate venovenous reflux.This operation is not performed if the patient has concomitant diseases of the lungs, cardiovascular system, kidneys or liver.This operation should not be performed on pregnant women or people suffering from purulent diseases.Modern technologies make it possible to use endoscopic techniques for this operation.

If a person only has small dilated branches, sclerotherapy can be used.This operation involves injecting a sclerosing solution into the vein to seal the walls of the vein.After this, repeated injections are performed in other sections of the vein, achieving complete obliteration of the vein.

For varicose veins, combined surgical therapy is also used, in which large trunks are removed from the altered veins and sclerotherapy of small branches is performed.After surgery, it is recommended that patients continue wearing an elastic bandage for 8 to 12 weeks.

Conservative treatment

Those looking for an effective and miraculous cure for varicose veins will immediately be disappointed: not even the most modern and expensive medications can completely eliminate varicose veins.They help relieve pain, swelling and even improve the condition of the venous wall, but complete recovery does not occur.

In addition, conservative treatment produces a noticeable effect only at the initial stage of the disease, after which it is carried out to prevent further development of varicose veins.The main role in the treatment of this disease is played by herbal medicines, which are based on natural plant substances.However, we must not forget that most venotonic drugs cause photosensitivity;When taking them, exposure of exposed skin to sunlight should not be allowed.

In addition to the use of medications, relaxation measures and special leg exercises, doctors strongly recommend the regular use of compression stockings: stockings, knee-high socks, stockings.They improve blood microcirculation and prevent the formation of edema.It is very important to choose the correct size of elastic stockings and the degree of compression, which can be both preventive and therapeutic.

Treatment with tablets and ointments.

To improve vascular tone, venotonic tablets for varicose veins are used - phlebotonics.These drugs are analogues and contain a purified flavonoid fraction consisting of 90% diosmin.They take one tablet twice a day, the course of treatment is selected individually.

You can reduce capillary permeability, reduce blood viscosity and increase vein tone with the help of horse chestnut-based preparations.

How to treat varicose veins with home remedies.

There are a large number of methods to treat varicose veins in the legs with home remedies, both for external and internal use.Below are the most common ones:

1. Horse chestnut flowers (50 grams) should be poured with 500 grams of alcohol and then left to brew for 14 days, shaking the bottle every day.Pass the tincture through the mesh and take a tablespoon with water three times a day before meals.Once you have been treated for a week, take a two-week break.Treatment can then be started again.
2. An infusion of dried nettle is used for varicose veins.The crushed dry leaves of the plant are poured into a thermos with 1/2 liter of boiling water, left for 30-40 minutes, filtered and taken 1/3 cup 3 times a day 1 hour after meals.
3. Tomato compress.Finely chopped tomato, placed on a bandage, gauze and applied to the painful area.For added comfort, you can tie it with an elastic bandage or other bandage.Keep this compress on the vein for 2 hours, then change it with a new one and so on a total of 3 times.The convenience of this compress is that it can be repeated every day.
4. Walnut oil tincture: chop green walnuts, pour into a glass container, pour olive oil and leave for 40 days in a sunny place.Lubricate the sore areas with the prepared tincture.The course of treatment is long, as is the case with the use of Kalanchoe.

In addition to folk remedies, many patients with varicose veins supplement therapy with special gymnastics: Mikulin exercises allow you to feel a significant improvement.

Complications of varicose veins in the legs.

Very often, as a complication of varicose veins, there appearsAcute thrombophlebitis of the superficial veins..Sometimes, as a result of damage, varicose veins rupture and bleed.When blood leaks from a burst lymph node, very significant blood loss is possible.

Additionally, due to increased pressure in the venous system, arterial blood flow slows down.Because of this, it can develophypoxiaand beyondlack of oxygen.As a result of the development of this condition, tissue cells can die, which is a dangerous process for the body.Due to strong stagnation of blood in the veins, toxins accumulate in the tissues.

Complications of this disease also include blockage of blood vessels by a blood clot, poor nutrition of the leg tissues, and the appearance of pigmentation and darkening of the skin.

The subcutaneous fat layer gradually becomes denser anddermatitis,venous trophic ulcers.In very rare cases, these ulcers degenerate into malignant formations.

If the disease continues for a long period of time, the person may later developchronic venous insufficiency.

But the most dangerous complication of varicose veins ispulmonary embolism.This disease can be fatal.

Preventive measures

If you belong to a risk group, your family members suffer from varicose veins or due to their occupation they are forced to spend a lot of time on their feet, you should pay special attention to the condition of your legs so as not to miss the first “bells”.

Basic preventive measures help prevent the onset of the disease and also slow down the progress of existing varicose veins.

Preventive measures:

• Avoid overexposure to sunlight and hot baths.The ideal would be not to visit baths or saunas.
• Avoid wearing tight shoes, tight socks, and tight clothing.
• The optimal heel height is no more than 6 cm.
• Avoid weight gain.Try to eat a diet rich in fiber, vegetables and fruits.
• Avoid excessively intense physical activity and lifting heavy objects.
• Perform special leg exercises, including leg lifts (“bicycle,” “scissors”).
• Do a self-massage if there are no swollen veins.
• At the end of the day, wash your feet with cold water;A contrast shower also has a positive effect.

Despite their prevalence, varicose veins are quite difficult to treat.When the first alarming symptoms appear, do not delay visiting the vascular surgeon, because the earlier the disease is detected, the greater the chances of avoiding surgery.

Forecast

Varicose veins in the legs are a disease that can be treated for years;Even after surgical removal, 80% of them recur.

The prognosis depends on the stage at which treatment begins.A set of preventive measures in the early stages (treatment of varicose veins with venotonics twice a year and a healthy lifestyle) makes it possible to stop the further development of the disease.You will have to follow a strict prevention framework throughout your life.

In the later stages (with the appearance of severe deformations, nodes, swelling and signs of oxygen starvation in the tissues), the prognosis is determined by the presence of concomitant diseases (diabetes, obesity) and the patient's willingness to follow the doctor's recommendations (take an examination, take medications, lose weight).

In diabetes mellitus, complications of varicose veins (thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers) develop in 89%.

Varicose veins are considered a non-life-threatening disease, but its complications can greatly worsen quality of life and prognosis.With deep vein thrombosis, approximately 50% of patients die from thromboembolism within 3 months.