Varicose veins or varicose veins in the legs (Latin varicis - "swelling") is a disease of the blood vessels of the lower extremities, the blood flow is impaired due to the malfunction of the venous valves: the veins dilate. , stretches, begins to come out from under the skin, knots are formed. Varicose veins cause great concern due to edema, pain and dangerous formation of blood clots and trophic ulcers. In severe cases, this disease, unfortunately, can lead to disability.
This disease is very common - more than 60% of the world's population suffers from it). From the time he appeared, he persecuted mankind: varicose veins are mentioned in the Old Testament, archaeologists during excavations in Egypt found a mummy with a trophic ulcer on his leg with traces of treatment, signs of varicose veins can be seen. the feet of ancient statues and, according to written evidence, the ancient physicians Ibn Sina and Hippocrates were looking for ways to treat varicose veins. Scientists claim that this is the value of walking upright, because this disease is less common in other species.
Although women suffer from varicose veins more often than men - due to hormonal problems during childbirth and menopause - in men, varicose veins in the legs often develop faster and lead to more serious consequences. This is because so-called "male" work is often associated with regular weight lifting, and traditional stereotypes call on men to ignore minor aches and pains.
Causes of the disease
Since varicose veins in the legs are caused by excessive pressure in the arteries, the following factors can cause it, along with congenital weakness of the connective tissue:
- to stand on one's feet for a long time, to work on one's feet. Varicose veins of the legs are considered an occupational disease of waiters because they have to walk around with heavy trays, hairdressers and surgeons who have to work on their feet for a long time in a row;
- sitting in a chair for a long time and staying for a long time with the legs constricted and the blood circulation is disturbed;
- overweight,
- pregnancy - a woman's weight increases very quickly and at the same time increases the pressure on the legs, hormonal changes during pregnancy also affect the walls of blood vessels;
- wear tight tights, elastic band socks and similar factors;
- hypodynamics;
- overloading the body during sports, often during work associated with lifting weights;
- endocrine system disorders, as well as various hormonal disorders that are a common cause of varicose veins in the legs in women;
- foot injuries, foot deformities.
Varicose veins of the legs
Varicose veins occur:
- congenital.The probability of inheriting this disease from parents is more than 70%. Congenital varicose veins can manifest themselves at any age, but, as a rule, manifest themselves at a young age and rarely occur even in infants. This form of the disease has additional unpleasant symptoms: a noticeable increase in one leg, sometimes hemangiomas (vascular tumors) appear all over the body. Hereditary varicose veins can also appear in the veins of the internal organs;
- Primary varicose veins. This type of disease develops as a result of the reasons listed above;
- Secondary varicose veinsusually begins as a result of aggravation of venous thrombosis or trauma.
The disease is usually divided into the following stages:
- 0- asymptomatic, when the disorders begin to occur at the cellular level, but do not manifest themselves in the form of symptoms that have not yet formed;
- 1- the appearance of noticeable symptoms, but still has little effect on the ability to work;
- 2- At this stage, severe edema is persistent, nodules and trophic ulcers appear. A sick person cannot do without special supportive equipment during the day;
- 3- Serious complications, disability.
As you can see, varicose veins in the legs is a very serious disease, it is necessary to start treatment at the first signs to prevent serious consequences.
Symptoms
Despite the variability of symptoms in each situation, it will not be difficult to recognize varicose veins in the legs. As the disease is called, its main manifestation is dilation of the blood vessels in the legs. From the subcutaneous veins can be a "spider web" or "star" - by the way, they will be more noticeable on the legs of women. This is due to the fact that men have more "vegetation" on their feet, so the thin strands of blood vessels can go unnoticed.
The disease progresses slowly over many years and even decades. In the early stages of the disease, the symptoms are few and generally nonspecific: a feeling of heaviness, swelling, pain in the legs, sometimes burning and night cramps. Swelling of the feet and ankles, pain in the veins are especially common symptoms with varicose veins in the legs. At first, edema is rarely seen, becomes mild, and disappears after resting in a horizontal position, but if you do not take therapeutic and prophylactic measures, venous insufficiency becomes chronic, and edema appears regularly without a specific cause. These manifestations usually intensify in the evening, after work, as well as in hot weather.
What is the danger of varicose veins?
Often the first signs of varicose veins of the legs are ignored, the disease accelerates and irreversible processes begin, which leads to extremely unpleasant consequences: trophic ulcers and thrombophlebitis.
Trophic ulcers cause painful, incurable pain in the foot or lower leg as a result of poor tissue blood supply. This extremely painful disease manifests itself more often in old age, and its treatment can last until the end of life.
Thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of the blood vessel wall, in which blood clots form a blood clot that closes the lumen of a blood vessel.
The symptoms of thrombophlebitis, which develops against the background of varicose veins, are as follows:
- fever, chills;
- lumps along the veins, are quite painful
- swelling of the limbs
Thrombophlebitis can be chronic, with periodic exacerbations, most likely a purulent combination of thrombi (septic thrombophlebitis) - then the infection spreads rapidly throughout the body along with the blood.
It is important! A torn blood clot or part of it can enter the pulmonary artery, leading to pulmonary embolism and often death. Do not allow the disease to progress and do not neglect the supervision of a specialist!
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins is carried out by a phlebologist, it is necessary to consult if there are symptoms of this disease. Modern diagnostic methods (ultrasound angioscanning, Doppler ultrasound, etc. ) will determine how much the vessels are affected and prescribe the right treatment.
In the treatment of varicose veins, a combination of drug therapy and compression therapy is used, as well as the most effective surgical methods.
There are many drugs that increase the tone of the venous walls, reduce their permeability, improve microcirculation and lymphatic drainage. It can be various active ingredients - ointments, gels, tablets of natural or synthetic origin.
Gels, ointments and creams are used in home therapy, applied to the affected areas of the vascular network. These drugs are divided into groups:
- Heparin ointments. Heparin has a resorbing effect, prevents blood stasis.
- Ointments and gels based on natural ingredients relieve fatigue, pain, strengthen blood vessels, are recommended during pregnancy.
- Drugs based on anti-inflammatory non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat thrombophlebitis.
- Ointments and gels based on hormonal drugs also have anti-inflammatory effects.
In combination with topical medications, venotonics, phlebotonics, and blood thinners are prescribed to achieve the best effect, and if necessary, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed orally or by injection.
Compression therapy has been used to treat varicose veins in the legs since ancient times: Roman legionaries squeezed their legs with strips of skin to prevent swelling and pain during long military transitions, and Egyptian pharaohs were sometimes depicted with elastic bandages on their hands. This simple method works by reducing the diameter of the superficial vessels, which speeds up blood flow and reduces the amount of "ballast" blood in the legs.
Now they use not only elastic bandage, but also more comfortable compression knitwear. The bandage is applied from the toes to the middle of the thigh. Both bandages and compression stockings are worn horizontally in the morning and worn all day, and removed at night.
Folk remedies can be used in combination with these drugs. Popular and to some extent effective means are horse chestnut infusion, garlic and lemon infusion, green tomato compresses.
Green tomato compresses are good for treating varicose veins in the legs.
However, care should be taken when treating with folk remedies, and this process should be approached with sound criticism. If you go to any forum on this topic, in addition to really good, tried and tested recipes, you will find many amazing ideas - from horse manure to compresses to the decoction of poisonous plants. it is equally useless and harmless and can cause serious harm to the body, because the forum can be written not only by an expert, but also by an ordinary "Internet troll" or simply a person with an unhealthy psyche.
It is important!After finding a new prescription on the Internet, be sure to consult your doctor before using the proposed remedy.
It should be noted that conservative treatment, like folk remedies, can not cure varicose veins, but slows its development and relieves symptoms.
Surgery
Laser treatment or endovasal laser coagulation is used as a minimally invasive and very effective surgical method - this method does not require incisions and does not require hospitalization for inpatient treatment. Under the influence of the laser beam, a diseased vessel is "glued together" and the load is transferred to healthy vessels. Laser coagulation can be performed in the early stages of the disease. Produced under local anesthesia.
In addition to laser therapy, the patient's blood vessels are coagulated (glued) with radiofrequency waves (radiofrequency coagulation) and the injection of a special substance (sclerotherapy).
Phlebectomy is usually a simple operation that removes dilated vessels.
An unsalted diet is prescribed for varicose veins, and a proper diet is also needed when the causes of varicose veins are overweight or diseases of the endocrine system.
Sports with varicose veins are undesirable, therapeutic and preventive physical training, cycling, swimming are recommended. There are special exercises for varicose veins.
It is contraindicated to visit the bath, sauna, stay in hot water for a long time.
Massage is not used for varicose veins.
Prophylaxis
Prevention of varicose veins in the legs is extremely important for everyone, because varicose veins are very difficult to treat completely, it takes a lot of time and effort to fight, and the cost of treatment is very high.
First of all, if possible, you should try to prevent or eliminate the causes 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;
- refrain from wearing tight clothes, tight tights or pants;
- choose shoes carefully;
- do not allow excess weight;
- it is important for pregnant women not to allow their legs to work excessively, to rest in a horizontal position during the day;
Recommendation:
- active lifestyle, moderate physical activity, heart exercises, "inverted" exercises (for example, "maple" is a simple but very effective tool to prevent varicose veins);
- hardening, contrast shower;
- good nutrition;
- Rest in a horizontal position during the day.
Tip!A good way to prevent this is to raise your feet slightly above head level while resting in a horizontal position, place a pillow or roll under them, and stay in that position for 3-5 minutes, but not more.