Symptoms and treatment of varicose leg varicose veins

Varicose veins is a systemic disease that can affect the blood vessels in any part of the body. Its essence lies in the dysfunction of the valves that control the direction of the blood flow. Therefore, an excessive amount of liquid accumulates in the veins, under its action the walls are stretched and lose elasticity.

Clinical presentation

Venous blood flow disorders develop due to damage to the valves of turbid (junctioning) veins, their overload and deformation. When the work of the deep (inner) arteries is interrupted, blood circulation becomes chaotic, which leads to it getting into the superficial vessels and forming characteristic nodes. These defects can be seen clearly with the naked eye or when the lesion is palpable.

Varicose veins is a progressive disease, if not treated in time, it will lead to serious health complications and disability. In cases of varicose veins in sites with damage to blood vessels, wounds, ulcers and blood clots can form.

What makes

the cause of varicose veins

Many factors cause varicose veins. They can be conditionally divided into primary and secondary. The main sources of varicose veins are:

  • Continuous heavy physical activity;
  • Hold long in a stationary position - sit or stand;
  • Unfavorable environmental conditions - for example, continuously high air temperature;
  • Fluctuations in body weight or chronic obesity;
  • Hormonal imbalances - during pregnancy or menopause;
  • Diseases of the endocrine system;
  • Hereditary and genetic predisposition, manifested in vascular structural characteristics, in particular, the congenital anatomical defect of the venous valve and the weakness of the connective tissue of the artery wall;
  • Nervous.

In the prehistory, the development of varicose veins, as a rule, is not one but a complex of factors.

Tips for everyday life

For example, if you regularly sit down for work, you can put a bench under your feet. This way, you will greatly reduce the strain on your legs.

High heels should be abandoned. Wearing such shoes will significantly limit the contraction of the calf muscles, in addition it also prevents the joints from stretching. As a result, the blood will only stay stagnant.

A sudden change in temperature can have a big effect on the filling of veins with blood. For example, when the temperature rises, the veins hold a lot of blood, thereby increasing the load on the valves. Should reduce the number of hot baths, sunbathing on the beach, …. Remember, the temperature reduction should be gradual.

Cycling, swimming and of course, a daily brisk walk is very helpful. It is worth remembering that while walking, you need to prioritize shallow water or sand, and avoid roads that are as difficult to go as possible. Two minutes of contrasting wetness in your legs will help you get rid of the feeling of heaviness and numbness easily. Furthermore, this hair removal can be done with the assistance of a shower.

Remember that when you cross your legs, you interfere with blood flow and constrict blood vessels.

When resting, place your feet so that they are at heart level. You can also raise one side of the bed slightly so that your legs are a bit higher than normal.

Symptoms of the disease

Varicose veins can have many different manifestations, depending on the complexity of the pathology and the physiological characteristics of the patient's body. In accordance with the stages of varicose veins, the following symptoms of vascular disease are noted:

symptoms of varicose veins

  • Veins or "stars" (telangiectasias) on the skin;
  • Swollen limbs, especially late in the day;
  • Pain in the legs or along the veins when probing them;
  • Recurrent convulsions;
  • Tired quickly, especially while walking;
  • Visual manifestations of veins on the surface of the skin;
  • A feeling of heaviness in the leg;
  • Burning in venous lesions;
  • Muscle itching;
  • Pain of different essences and soreness;
  • Winding veins in the legs and feet;
  • Dermatological changes in the skin - appearance of dryness, pigmentation, dullness;
  • Development of dermatitis, eczema and nutritional disorders in the form of wounds and sores that do not heal;
  • Tightens the skin at sites of progressive varicose veins;
  • Hematoma formation.

Symptoms can start as early as adolescence. Development is not conspicuous, after a while, the disease feels itself with a host of unpleasant health consequences. If you have at least one of these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention. A vein doctor or surgeon treats the affected veins.

Category

Based on the decision of the international scientific community, varicose veins of the lower extremities are often classified according to the special CEAP classification or the Pathology of Clinical Causes. Based on this classification, varicose veins have 6 clinical stages:

Classification of varicose veins

  1. Zero. There are minor subjective complaints of patients about some symptoms of varicose veins, but through visual examination and medical examination there is still no obvious sign of the disease.
  2. I degree. On the skin surface appears small vascular networks, rare edema, heavier, burning, feeling "buzzing" in the legs.
  3. Class II. It is considered the starting point of true varicose veins. It is characterized by a distinct external manifestation of enlarged vessels, forming venous nodes, which are exacerbated after a long period of being in a static state or wearing high heels. Starting at this stage, the possibility of thrombosis is observed.
  4. degree III. The second group's symptoms were accompanied by frequent, most noticeable swelling at the end of the day, and persistent pain in the calf.
  5. degree IV. There are nutritional changes on the skin. Due to the accumulation of too much pigmentation in the epidermis, the skin begins to change color from dark brown to black. It is also possible to develop small, local inflammatory bumps in the form of erythema or wet wounds, which over time lead to skin atrophy and ulcers.
  6. Class V. Same process as fifth stage, but with ulcers caused by nutrition.
  7. Level VI. It is characterized by a progressive progression with the formation of wounds and sores that do not heal.

Varicose veins are a dangerous disease. Without timely treatment and ongoing prophylaxis, the disease progresses rapidly and leads to serious irreversible consequences, up to and including death. Just 10 years from the date of diagnosis of varicose veins is enough for the disease to develop from stage I to stage VI.

Stages

The first signs of varicose leg veins appear in an advanced stage, when the venous valves perform their function less than 50%. In the first or zero stage of varicose veins, called the "compensatory phase", discomfort does not arise, as well as visible changes. Detecting early stages of varicose veins in the leg occurs when the vein doctor closely examines the limbs.

In the second stage of varicose veins, called "compensation", the changes are made quite clearly:

  • large veins visible under the skin, but they may not protrude on the skin's surface;
  • on the skin surface in the thighs and below the knee clearly visible the shape of a thin varicose mesh made of red or blue capillaries;
  • swollen legs in the evening;
  • The calf muscles get cramped at night.

This stage of varicose veins of the lower extremities is distinguished by symptoms that increase and weaken after rest.

In the late stages of varicose veins, decompensation occurs: the body cannot replenish the oxygen demand to the tissues, and the valves in the veins lose function by up to 90%. The limb condition worsens due to inadequate blood supply. This stage of varicose veins is characterized by a decrease in the regeneration of tissues. The abundance of complications aggravates the patient's general condition. Late-stage symptoms of varicose veins persist.

Male pathology

varicose veins in men

Varicose veins without sex. However, according to the pathogenetic mechanism, the disease is conventionally divided into varicose veins in men and women, with each disease inherently unique in its formation and development. Therefore, the characteristics of male physiology do not contribute to the formation of venous problems in representatives of the strong half of humanity, however, there are several factors in favor of this. Among them:

  1. Heavy work or professional sport involving carrying or lifting a load;
  2. Sedentary lifestyle;
  3. Poor nutrition;
  4. Genetic tendencies;
  5. Use hormonal drugs for long periods of time;
  6. Bad habits.

Varicose veins develop in men more often after age 40 and are accompanied by increased leg fatigue, pain in the legs, apparent edema, varicose veins on the skin's surface, frequent cramps and skin-like itchingsuch as atopic dermatitis. In some advanced cases, there may be blood clots and infection of the blood vessels. And if the disease is not visible at first, then over time its manifestations become apparent. But the main changes take place inside the veins, their walls are weakened to the point that any, no matter how small, exposure to a toxic substance or an infection causes them damage. Treatment for varicose veins in men is the same as in women and does not have any specific features.

Women's pathology

Beautiful half of the population suffers from varicose veins many times more often than men. The factors that facilitate this are:

varicose veins in women

  • Wear heels or shoes that do not fit the size and fit of the foot;
  • Lose weight or wear tight clothes that interfere with blood circulation;
  • A job that requires you to stay standing all day - sales clerk, receptionist, hairdresser, teacher, chef, etc. v. ;
  • Hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, and age-related changes in the body (menopause);
  • Weight test - body weight fluctuates frequently, strict diets aim at spectacular weight loss, uncontrolled weight gain.

It is women who are regular patients of the vein doctors and cosmetologists. In an effort to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the skin for as long as possible, women are more responsible for the treatment of varicose veins than men and they achieve marked improvements in the clinical status of the dynamic system. circuit.

Due to the increasing tendency of natural varicose veins, the emergence of symptoms such as swelling of the legs, excessive leg fatigue, a feeling of itching and burning, manifestations of small vessels and venous pattern should beSeriously report to women and become the reason to see a doctor immediately.

Treatment of varicose veins with folk remedies

When learning the presented disease, do not panic, as if treated properly and in time, varicose veins are in fact cured.

Why practical? Because after stopping some actions, including preventive methods, the disease can reappear and cause no less trouble than originally.

Treatment of varicose veins with alternative methods

How to treat varicose varicose veinsquickly and painless? You should turn to traditional medicine.

Infusion and tincture

First of all, the disease must be treated from within. To do this, you should prepare infusions or tincture using natural products, herbs and other ingredients that will improve blood circulation. Some of them can be cured here:

  • Stinging nettle. Dry and grind the grass in any convenient way. To prepare the infusion, 2 tablespoons of herbal ingredients are poured with one cup of boiling water. Content is kept for an hour and filtered. Then, they drink ¼ glass of drink at least 3 times a day. The course of treatment lasts six months with an interval of one month.
  • Horse chestnut. Crushed horse chestnuts are placed in a 3 liter jar and poured vodka or wine onto the edges of the jar. Within a month, the flask was kept in a dark place, periodically shaking inside. After the time is up, you can start rubbing your feet with tincture. Do such procedures 2-3 times a week without interruption.

Home treatment of varicose veins involves the use of any medicine that can improve blood circulation in the human body.

Apple for varicose veins

Apples have a great healing effect. Here you can use the fruit in its pure form and as an additive to other products.

How to get rid of varicose veins with apples:

  • Prepare the apple infusion. To do this, you soak apples in hot water with the amount of 1 liter for 4 hours. Then put the fruit through the blender or sieve, mix with soaked water. Squeeze the mixture and drink twice a day with the amount of 50 g.
  • Apple cider vinegar for varicose veinscan be applied or applied internally. For treatment, simply applying a small amount of vinegar overnight on the problem areas is enough. You can also use vinegar diluted with a small amount of honey, drink ¼ glass half an hour before meals.

Be careful when using diluted vinegar inside. This method is forbidden for people with gastrointestinal diseases.

Treatment of varicose veins at home, video:

Diagnosis

To accurately diagnose varicose veins, as well as determine its severity, special research methods are used. The standard examination flowchart when contacting a phlebist doctor includes the following procedures:

Diagnostic

  1. Obtain a history of the disease, identify risk factors and possible causes;
  2. Visually examine the patient by changing the final position, as well as palpation of venous lesions;
  3. Laboratory blood test;
  4. Ultrasonic two-color ultrasound of the lower limb artery, which allows to accurately make medical opinion, measure the speed and direction of blood flow, map its movement, obtain characteristics andclear picture of blood vessels;
  5. An X-ray of the blood vessel (phlebography) uses a contrast agent to determine the appearance and shape of the veins, the function of the valves and the direction of blood flow.

Usually, these research methods are quite enough to accurately identify the clinic, but in certain cases they have to use additional diagnostic methods:

  • 3D CT (computed tomography) with phlebography;
  • Photographing radiographs, using infrared rays and light radiation from a photoelectric or photoelectric resistor;
  • Phleboscintigraphy, based on the use of radioisotopes, and mass measurement, a kinetic study of venous pressure of the lower extremities;
  • Lymphoscintigraphy, which shows the status and extent of changes in the lymph nodes.

The need for a specific diagnostic method is determined by the doctor, based on the complexity of the situation and the patient's own clinical parameters.

Well-selected and timely research method allows the location of shallow and deep veins and the formation of an accurate schematic of the treatment course consistent with the indicators.

Treat with caution

In the early stages, varicose veins are reversible and with responsible treatment, it is completely eliminated. In other cases, to combat varicose veins, they resort to conservative therapy using drugs, a special vein regulator and compression underwear. Each of these types of treatment has its own indications for the appointment and the specifics of the effect on the affected organ.

  1. Drug treatment. It implies that the oral use for a certain period of drugs that soothe veins - tonic, anticoagulant and antioxidant - helps to strengthen blood vessels and reduce their fragility, Better blood thinning and normalization of blood flow, while at the same time removing harmful substances accumulated from the body. For topical treatment, ointments and tonics, pain relief, soothing and swelling are used. Vitamins of groups B, A, K, . . . Also included in the treatment complex, decisions on the duration of treatment are made based on the diagnosis and the nature of the course of the disease.
  2. Arterial fibrosis therapy. This method involves the use of drugs specifically acting on the paste of the veins affected by varicose veins from the inside. As a result, reflux is stabilized and performed across healthy vessels. The procedure is performed invasive by intravenous administration of a solution. It is prescribed for a certain state of blood vessels and small size of venous nodes.
  3. Ozone therapy. It is part of aesthetic medicine and involves exposing the interior of the flask to cold ozone to seal defects. This method is also actively used to remove non-aesthetic vascular networks from the skin surface. Effective in the early stages of the disease. To achieve the desired results, only a few processes are needed.
  4. Compression therapy. It involves wearing special medical lingerie, which puts pressure of varying intensity on different parts of the legs, thereby helping to reduce the load on the veins and restore circulation. The continuous use of corrective underwear will protect the blood vessels from dilatation and the growth of blood clots. By purpose, compression underwear is preventable (minimal compression force), medical (worn only during exacerbations of venous disease) and hospital (used in the postoperative period in the hospital). Available in tights, socks, knee-high and elastic. The selection of compression underwear is carried out only on the recommendation of a doctor

Surgical approach to dilated veins

surgical treatment of varicose veins

Varicose vein surgery is only performed as a last resort, when diagnosing deep vein damage, exacerbated by accompanying complications. The indications for the indications of surgical intervention are:

  • Worsening of medical condition;
  • Develops thrombophlebitis;
  • Visible enlargement of saphenous veins;
  • Severe swelling and fatigue of lower extremities;
  • Pathological reflux disorder.

Surgery is performed under general anesthesia using modern surgical techniques, such as:

  1. Erases radio frequency of blood vessels. Restores the structure of the vein from the inside with disposable catheter and automatic radio transmitter.
  2. Air-pulse endothelial obstruction (SVS). Impact on the vessels of an abundant hot steam. Allows you to penetrate the most inaccessible areas of the venous bed and directly affect the deformed vessels.
  3. Laser coagulation of a vein. It involves using a laser beam directed at the diseased vein. This procedure leaves no cuts, burns, or scars.
  4. Intravenous technique. It involves gluing the valves of the circuits with a special bio-adhesive.
  5. Method of Varadi. The most difficult method of treatment, involves removing the affected vessels. Due to its 100% effectiveness, it is one of the preferred methods of neurosurgery.

Although surgical treatment is highly effective, it often takes place in conjunction with conservative treatments. This approach allows you to speed up the healing process and reliably consolidate the results.

Self-massage your legs from varicose veins

  • First, you need to massage the thighs. Plus, with a gentle swipe and a tumble, increase from the knee to the groin area. Using a spiral, straight and circular motion, stretch the knee with your fingertips. Press your fist on the quartz area several times and press the area in a circular motion.
  • Lie on your back, relax your muscles and bend your knees. Use your hands to grip the shin and gently massage the skin. Shake your leg muscles.
  • Gently stretch each toe. From below, rub ankles and both feet. Massage your feet and heels in circular motions, and with some force, massage your ankles.

Repeat this entire self-massage mixture 2-3 times.

Recovery time

During recovery and in the future, in the fight against varicose veins of the lower extremities, a competent rehabilitation program includes periodic drug therapy, as well as compliance. rules of healthy lifestyle and performing therapeutic exercises will help you.

In addition to nursing exercise, a patient is diagnosed with varicose veins, regardless of the developmental and rehabilitation stages, to improve blood circulation and prevent internal blood stasis. veins, very useful when wearing adjusted medical lingerie.

Nutrition for people with varicose veins of lower extremities

Diet is very important in this disease. The following food products should be included in the diet:

  • bell peppers;
  • carrots;
  • white cabbage;
  • citrus;
  • apples;
  • particles
  • ;
  • range spring;
  • grapes;
  • sea fish;
  • eggs;
  • lean meat;
  • beans
  • cereals;
  • Cheese
  • ;
  • liver.

Diet for lower limb varicose veins includes the refusal of such products:

    canned food
  • ;
  • semi-finished products;
  • muffins and pastries;
  • caffeinated beverages;
  • bacon;
  • pickled foods;
  • jelly meat;
  • chicory;
  • alcoholic beverages.

Precautions

prevent varicose veins

To prevent the development of varicose veins of lower extremities, health should be monitored from a young age. Prevention is more effective than treating legs when there are complications.

For good blood circulation, ensure adequate physical activity. If someone at work stays in the same position for long periods of time, it's a good idea to warm up a little more often. You need to take a responsible approach to the choice of shoes - it should have a small heel (no taller than 6 cm), comfortable, not squeezed.

Need to monitor weight. Excess weight is one of the factors that easily leads to the development of the disease. In addition, it leads to increased stress on the blood vessels. Clothing should be made from natural fabrics. Panties that are too tight should be avoided to avoid pinching large vessels in the groin area.

During cleaning, it is recommended to use a shower shower so that the pressure and temperature of the water can be changed. With the help of these procedures, you can tone blood vessels, activating blood flow.

Should exercise or be active every day. It is not necessary to run many kilometers at a time, just go to the pool, walk or cycle to have fun.

Before using hormonal contraception, you should not only consult a gynecologist, but also a venous doctor, and have a hormonal test. If you change the concentration of female hormones in the blood, this can adversely affect the condition of the vessel wall.