Varicose veins- this is a pathology that affects the vessels of the lower extremities, and with an unfavorable course of the disease, various complications are possible. These can be relatively harmless symptoms, such as feeling tired, pain and swelling of the legs, or reaching formidable consequences such as thrombosis and trophic ulcers.
According to the WHO, the diagnosis of varicose veins of the lower extremities occurs in almost all 4-5 adults. Currently, it is still considered one of the most common pathologies on the planet. In recent years, there has been a significant rejuvenation of the number of patients with this pathology - more than 80% of cases fall within the age group of 30 to 50 years and even occur in adolescents.
Causes of varicose veins
Women are primarily at risk of developing varicose veins. This is due to several physiological characteristics of the female body at the same time:
- Firstly, they are hormonal changes that occur at different periods of life and lead to a weakening of the venous network and blood vessels. This happens during pregnancy, during childbirth, menopause. For example, during pregnancy, blood volume increases by up to 30% and the growing uterus compresses the vessels in the small pelvis, which makes normal venous flow difficult. After childbirth, the situation normalizes only partially, as changes in the structure of the deep veins remain. Hence these sad statistics: after the first childbirth, every third or fourth woman faces manifestations of varicose veins. After the second - already every second.
- Also, varicose veins develop due to a genetic predisposition. That is, if relatives of the female line had a problem with the blood vessels, under the influence of negative factors, this disease will manifest itself sooner or later. However, even if there is a predisposition to this disease, it does not mean that you will actually get varicose veins. Genetics may or may not work, but you are always at risk.
- Often, varicose veins also occur under the influence of external factors due to the peculiarities of everyday life. Prolonged sitting and standing work, constant loads with heavy lifting, being overweight, unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle also lead to its development.
Despite the fact that, according to statistics, women suffer more from vascular problems, the male half is also capable of having varicose veins. Excess weight, sedentary lifestyle and strength loads with weight lifting regularly can lead to pathology.
Stages of varicose veins
There is a classification of diseases, according to which there are several stages of varicose veins: from zero to the most severe. At level zero, there are still no external signs of the disease, but the person feels a feeling of heaviness, a slight swelling appears at the end of the day. Therefore, many refer to varicose veins as an unpleasant cosmetic defect.
In fact, varicose veins are classified as a group of serious cardiovascular pathologies, which in the future will lead to the development of serious complications, limiting vital activity.
Conventionally, the symptoms of varicose veins are divided into several stages, which show the neglect of the pathology:
- First, discomfort sets in - constant pain and "heaviness" in the legs, swelling of the feet and ankles at the end of the day, and leg cramps. Often, at the end of the day, sock and shoe marks are visible on the skin. At the same time, the venous pattern on the skin becomes more noticeable, and in some places spider veins appear. Sometimes, in appearance, the legs remain the same, but the unpleasant symptoms progress every day.
- In the second stage, the veins already take on the characteristic appearance of varicose veins - they begin to protrude above the skin, forming whole clumps and nodules. With progression, they "increase" more and more, acquire a bluish-black color.
- In the third stage, tissue trophism worsens. The dryness and pallor of the skin of the legs are added to the constant swelling and heaviness in the legs, cramps already appear not only at night, but also during the day. Sometimes a rash and itching appear on the affected area.
- In the last stage, inflammatory processes of the skin and blood vessels are added to all the above symptoms of varicose veins. In places where a large number of protruding veins accumulate, trophic ulcers appear that do not heal. In addition, it is possible to attach thrombophlebitis or a secondary infection.
If the patient does not take any action, the disease will progress. And if in the early stages it is still possible to prevent unpleasant symptoms and the development of varicose veins, in the later stages serious surgical treatment may be necessary.
What are the treatments for varicose veins?
Doctors have long been looking for ways to get rid of varicose veins. Over time, it was discovered that if the dilated veins were removed, blood circulation in the limbs would remain in a normal state. This is due to the fact that during the disease, vessels that are not surrounded by muscles and are located on the surface of the body are mainly affected. Therefore, when they are "disconnected" from the circulatory system, trophic functions are performed by a network of vessels located in the deep layer of the legs and thighs.
In addition, in the 20th century, several drugs were developed that inhibit the development of the disease. Therefore, two types of treatment are currently used - conservative and surgical. In some cases, they are combined. Therefore, the final treatment program depends on the individual characteristics of the patient and the neglect.
What is the conservative treatment method?
It should be understood that when varicose veins appear, it is no longer possible to completely recover from this disease.
The pathological process cannot be reversed, and structural changes in the vessels will not return to their original state, but there is a chance to significantly slow down their progression and partially eliminate unpleasant symptoms.
Therefore, the conservative technique is indicated in the early stages of the disease, when there is no need for surgical intervention or there are contraindications for the operation. For this, the following is assigned:
- Taking medication, the so-called phleboprotectants. Preparations for oral administration mainly combat the causes of appearance - they increase the tone of the venous network, improve blood flow in the tissues, restore valve function and stop the processes of inflammation. At the same time, along with venotonics, drugs are prescribed that reduce the viscosity of the blood and serve as a prevention of blood clots.
- In addition to the internal intake of pills, ointments and venotonic gels are prescribed. They aim to relieve unpleasant symptoms in the legs - heaviness, pain and swelling. As a rule, these drugs combine a cooling effect, an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
- The essence of compression therapy is reduced to the constant use of compression stockings (stockings) and elastic bandages. In this case, the material assumes the muscular function. It compresses the vessels, due to which blood flow normalizes in the vertical direction and goes to the heart. With the constant use of compression products, the well-being of patients improves significantly. In addition, it is prescribed without fail after surgical interventions, for pregnant women with varicose veins.
- When trophic ulcers appear in the later stages of varicose veins, local measures are applied. These include dressings, systemic use of antibiotics, antihistamines and anti-inflammatories.
Only an experienced phlebologist is able to select a conservative treatment regimen, including compression underwear. Here it is necessary to take into account not only the course of the disease, but also the presence of individual contraindications, the patient's condition.
Treatment with surgical methods
Because deformed vessels with damaged valves can no longer be repaired, phlebologists use a variety of surgical techniques to remove them. The aim is to "turn off" the deformed vein from the general circulatory system and remove it. This can be achieved in several ways:
- The classic method of surgical treatment is phlebectomy. It is surgically removed, bandaged and removed from the body. Such an operation takes place under general anesthesia for 1-2 hours, while scars up to 5 mm in size remain on the legs. Such a procedure cannot be performed in coronary heart disease, in old age, in the presence of serious infectious diseases and in the second half of pregnancy due to its trauma.
- A gentler way to remove varicose veins is laser coagulation of enlarged veins. In this case, there is an influence from within: an electrode with laser radiation is introduced into it. Under such influence, the walls of the vessels heat up and stick together, thus stopping blood flow, and over time, it shrinks and resolves completely.
- Another less traumatic method is sclerotherapy. A special sclerosing drug that resembles microfoam is injected into the problem vein. Under its influence, it is sealed off and gradually overgrown. This procedure is quite quick and completely atraumatic as it takes about 20 minutes to complete and no anesthesia is required.
- According to the type of laser, radiofrequency coagulation is performed. Only instead of laser exposure, a different type of energy is used. The advantage is that it is performed even in advanced cases, when trophic ulcers have already appeared and there are other skin lesions.
Preventive measures to control the disease
With the help of operations and drug treatment, good results are achieved, but when you return to your normal lifestyle and lack of prevention, the disease will return to the same state. Therefore, both in the presence of the first symptoms of varicose veins and in severe cases, preventive measures should not be forgotten, as they will prevent the progression of the disease:
- Watch your weight and try to keep it normal. As with overweight, the load on the legs increases and, accordingly, on the ships. Therefore, it is important to balance the diet, eat healthier foods, abandon bad habits.
- Don't forget about physical activity: the more movements you make during the day, the more often you "pump" blood through the veins and train the vessels. So when sedentary, take mini-exercise breaks, don't cross your legs, take the stairs, and add appropriate exercises to your regimen (yoga, fitness equipment, Nordic walking, exercise therapy, swimming, skiing). At the same time, it is worth excluding the occupation of those sports where there is a great load on the legs.
- Critically approach the choice of shoes and clothes for every day. Clothing must not restrict movement and fully fulfill the intended activity. Avoid high-heeled, flat-soled shoes whenever possible, or keep them to a minimum, such as on special occasions.
- Try getting your feet wet at the end of the day - alternate warm and cold water, change the strength of pressure. Also, do a self-massage to improve muscle tone. At the same time, "hot" procedures should be excluded or minimized - this applies to taking hot baths, visiting a bath, using hot wax for hair removal, etc.
- Get compression stockings from a specialist. You should not buy these products yourself, as it is the doctor who selects the appropriate degree of compression, taking into account the state of the venous network at the time, and prescribes for them. Use these meshes more often in combination with other preventative measures. At the same time, it is important to buy quality products from trusted medical brands that have the right effect.
- Before taking any hormonal medication, especially in women during periods of body restructuring, it is necessary to consult an additional phlebologist.
If you have any symptoms of the disease, it is very important to seek qualified help. If you do not want to constantly endure pain and heaviness in your legs, "hide" your legs, deny yourself beautiful clothes, want to deal with varicose veins and maintain your health, then just visit a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination.
It includes a consultation with a vascular surgeon, visual examination, anamnesis, examination of the condition of the veins and arteries using a modern diagnostic method (duplex scan). Based on the data obtained, a diagnosis is made and a comprehensive treatment program is developed.
The clinics arsenal includes all the progressive methods to get rid of varicose veins - from outpatient sclerotherapy and laser correction to complex surgical interventions. After performing any procedure, vascular surgeons give recommendations to each patient, taking into account individual characteristics, if followed, a lasting effect is guaranteed. If you do not follow the proposed rules, the disease will start to progress again.
So, if you have the first alarming symptoms and constant discomfort in your legs, you have been unsuccessfully fighting this disease for more than a year, make an appointment with a specialist. The clinics employ experienced doctors who will select the appropriate program taking into account the current situation.