Varicose veins on the legs or varicose veins (from the Latin varicis - "swelling") is a disease of the blood vessels of the lower extremities, in which the outflow of blood is disturbed due to a malfunction of the venous valves: the veins dilate. , lengthen, begin to erupt under the skin, nodules form. Varicose veins bring great discomfort due to edema, pain and the dangerous formation of blood clots and trophic ulcers. This disease in severe cases, unfortunately, can lead to disability.
This disease is extremely common - it affects more than 60% of the world's population). It has haunted mankind since its inception: varicose veins are mentioned in the Old Testament, archaeologists found a mummy with a trophic ulcer on the leg with traces of healing during excavations in Egypt, signs of varicose veins can be seen on the legs of ancient statues, and according to written evidence, the ancient physicians Avicenna and Hippocrates sought methods of treating varicose veins. Scientists suggest that humanity costs so much for upright walking, because this disease is much rarer in other species.
Although women are more likely to suffer from varicose veins than men - due to childbirth and hormonal problems at menopause - varicose veins in men often progress faster and have much more severe consequences. This is due to the fact that so-called "male" jobs are often associated with regular lifting of heavy loads, and traditional stereotypes encourage men to ignore less pain.
Causes of disease
Because varicose veins in the legs are caused by high blood pressure in the veins, with congenital connective tissue weakness, it can be caused by the following factors:
- be long on your feet, standing work. Varicose veins of the legs are considered an occupational disease of waiters because they have to walk with a heavy tray, hairdressers and surgeons who have to do their job standing for several hours in a row;
- long sitting on a chair and a long stay with retracted legs, in which the veins are constricted and blood circulation is disturbed;
- overweight,
- pregnancy - a woman's weight grows quite rapidly, and at the same time the pressure on the legs increases, hormonal changes during pregnancy also affect the walls of the veins;
- wearing tight tights, stockings with elastic band and similar factors;
- hypodynamics;
- body overload during sports, during work associated with frequent weight lifting;
- disorders of the endocrine system, as well as various hormonal disorders, which are a common cause of varicose veins in the legs in women;
- leg injuries, foot deformities.
Varicose veins in the legs
Varicose veins occur:
- Congenital.The probability of inheriting this disease from parents is over 70%. Congenital varicose veins can manifest at any age, but typically manifest in adolescence, and in rare cases even in infants. This form of the disease has additional unpleasant symptoms: noticeable enlargement of one leg, sometimes hemangiomas (vascular tumors) appear all over the body. Hereditary varicose veins can also appear on the veins of internal organs;
- Primary varicose veins.This type of disease occurs as a result of the above reasons;
- Secondary varicose veinsit usually begins as a complication of venous thrombosis or as a consequence of trauma.
The disease is usually divided into the following stages:
- 0- asymptomatic, when the disorders begin to appear at the cellular level, but do not yet manifest in the form of formed symptoms;
- 1- the appearance of noticeable symptoms, which, however, still have a weak effect on working ability;
- 2- in this phase, strong edema becomes permanent, nodules and trophic ulcers appear. A sick person cannot do without special support equipment during the day;
- 3- serious complications, disability.
As you can see, varicose veins on the legs are a rather serious disease, the treatment of which should begin when the first signs appear in order to prevent terrible consequences.
Symptoms
Despite the variability of symptoms in each case, it will not be difficult to recognize varicose veins of the legs. Its main manifestation, after which the disease is named, is the expansion of the leg veins. From the subcutaneous veins can be "cobwebs" or "stars" - by the way, they will be more noticeable on women's legs. This is due to the fact that men have more "vegetation" on their legs, so thin threads of blood vessels can go unnoticed.
The disease progresses slowly over many years or even decades. In the first stages of the disease, the symptoms are few and mostly non-specific: there is a feeling of heaviness, bloating, pain in the legs, sometimes burning and night cramps. Swelling of the feet and ankles, pain in the veins are especially common symptoms of varicose veins in the legs. Initially, edema occurs rarely, is mild, and disappears after resting in a horizontal position, but if therapeutic and prophylactic measures are not taken, venous insufficiency becomes chronic, and edema occurs regularly for no particular reason. These manifestations usually intensify in the evening, after a working day, and also in hot weather.
What is the danger of varicose veins?
The first signs of varicose veins of the legs are often ignored, the disease takes hold and irreversible processes begin, which leads to extremely unpleasant consequences: trophic ulcers and thrombophlebitis.
Trophic ulcers are a painful, non-healing wound on the foot or lower leg that results from a poor blood supply to the tissues. This rather painful disease is more often manifested in old age, and its treatment can be delayed for the rest of your life.
Thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of the vein wall, in which blood clots form a blood clot that blocks the lumen of the vein.
The signs of thrombophlebitis, which developed on the background of varicose veins, are as follows:
- fever, chills;
- nodules along the veins, quite painful
- swelling of the extremities
Thrombophlebitis can run chronically with periodic exacerbations, possibly the so-called purulent fusion of the resulting thrombus (septic thrombophlebitis) - then the infection spreads rapidly throughout the body along with the blood.
Bitan!A torn blood clot or part of it can enter the pulmonary artery, leading to pulmonary embolism and often death. Do not let the disease go its course and do not neglect the supervision of a specialist!
Diagnosis and treatment
The diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins is performed by a phlebologist, who should be consulted if there are symptoms of this disease. Modern diagnostic methods (ultrasound angioscanning, Doppler ultrasound, etc. ) will determine how much the veins are affected and prescribe the correct treatment.
In the treatment of varicose veins, a combination of drug treatment and compression therapy is used, as well as surgical methods that are considered the most effective.
There are many drugs that increase the tone of the venous walls, reduce their permeability, improve microcirculation and lymphatic drainage. These can be ointments, gels, tablets with various active ingredients - of natural or synthetic origin.
Gels, ointments and creams are used in home therapy, they are applied to the affected areas of the vascular network. These drugs are divided into groups:
- Heparin ointments. Heparin has a resorbing effect, prevents blood stagnation.
- Ointments and gels made on the basis of natural ingredients relieve fatigue, pain, strengthen blood vessels, and are recommended during pregnancy.
- In the treatment of thrombophlebitis, drugs based on anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs are used.
- Ointments and gels based on hormonal drugs also have anti-inflammatory effects.
Together with topical medications, venotonics, phlebotonics, blood thinners, and, if necessary, anti-inflammatory drugs orally or in the form of injections are prescribed to achieve the best effect.
Compression therapy has been used for varicose veins on the legs since ancient times: Roman legionaries tightened the leaves with strips of skin to prevent swelling and pain during long military crossings, and Egyptian pharaohs were sometimes depicted with elastic bandages in their hands. This simple method works by reducing the diameter of the superficial veins, causing an acceleration of blood flow and a reduction in the amount of "ballast" blood in the legs.
Today, they use not only elastic bandages, but also more comfortable compression socks. The bandage is applied from the toes to the middle of the thigh. Both the bandage and compression stockings are worn in the morning in a horizontal position and all day, and removed at night.
Treatment with folk remedies can be used in combination with these drugs. Popular and somewhat effective medicines are infusion of wild chestnut, infusion of garlic and lemon, green tomato compresses.
Green tomato compresses are good for treating varicose veins on the legs.
However, when treating with folk remedies, you should be careful and approach this process with healthy criticism. If you go to any forum dedicated to this topic, then, in addition to really good, tried and tested recipes, you can find a lot of amazing ideas - from horse manure compresses to swallowing decoctions of poisonous plants, which can be equally useless and harmless, and can lead tocausing serious damage to the body, because the forum can write not only an expert, but also an ordinary "internet troll" or just a person with an unhealthy psyche.
Bitan!After you discover a new prescription on the Internet, before using the proposed drug, be sure to consult your doctor.
It should be noted that conservative treatment, as well as treatment with folk remedies, can not cure varicose veins, but only slow down its development and alleviate symptoms.
Operation
Laser treatment or endovasal laser coagulation is used as a minimally invasive and highly effective surgical method - this method does not require incisions and there is no need for hospitalization for hospital treatment. Under the influence of the laser beam, the diseased vessel is "glued" and the load is transferred to healthy vessels. Laser coagulation can be done in the initial stages of the disease. Produced under local anesthesia.
Also, in addition to laser therapy, coagulation (gluing) of diseased vessels is performed using radio frequency waves (radio frequency coagulation) and injection of a special substance (sclerotherapy).
Phlebectomy is usually a simple operation that removes varicose veins.
For varicose veins, a diet without salt is prescribed, and an appropriate diet is necessary if the causes of varicose veins are overweight or diseases of the endocrine system.
Sports with varicose veins are undesirable, therapeutic and prophylactic physical education, cycling, swimming are recommended. There are special exercises for varicose veins.
It is contraindicated to visit the bath, sauna, long stay in warm water.
Massage for varicose veins is not used.
Prophylaxis
Prevention of varicose veins on the legs is extremely important for every person, since varicose veins are extremely difficult to cure completely, fighting it requires a lot of time and effort, and the cost of treatment is quite high.
First of all, you must try, if possible, to prevent or eliminate the reasons that affect its development:
- avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time if this is not possible - warm your feet as often as possible;
- refuse to wear tight clothing, tight tights or pants;
- choose your shoes carefully;
- do not allow extra pounds;
- it is important for pregnant women not to allow their legs to be overloaded, to rest in a horizontal position during the day;
Recommended:
- active lifestyle, moderate physical activity, cardio exercises, "reverse" exercises (for example, "birch" is a simple but very effective means of preventing varicose veins);
- curing, contrast shower;
- good nutrition;
- rest in a horizontal position during the day.
Tip!A good way to prevent it is to raise your legs a little above the level of your head while resting in a horizontal position, put a pillow or a roller under them and stay in that position for 3-5 minutes, but not longer.