Varicose veins usually affect the lower extremities, may develop years and even decades. Varicose veins (varicose veins) on the legs is always a malfunction of the venous valves and blood flow. Proper blood flow is characterized by the movement of the blood in the veins of the legs, from the bottom up (reverse gravity). A large part of this process is possible because of the venous valves, which prevent back flow of blood. Disruption of these valves leads to impaired venous blood flow and as a consequence, the elongation of the veins. In such venous blood began to flow uncontrollably, often zastaivayas in the veins of the legs. Due to this background of significant pressure on the vessel wall can't stand up, expand and become thinner. Thus the dilated veins with the naked eye visible under the skin in the form of nodes. Often, because of the slowing of blood flow in varicose veins is thrombosis. A violation of the process of nutrition of the skin leads to the appearance of venous ulcers.
Causes the development of varicose veins in the legs quite a lot:
- Genetic predisposition (hereditary disease predisposing factors – congenital weakness of the venous wall and valvular apparatus, loss of elasticity).
- Violation of blood circulation against the background of constipation, wearing tight shoes, Smoking, lack of exercise.
- Hormonal medications (birth control monophasic pill with a high dose of estrogen leads to thickening of the blood).
- The increased pressure of the venous type, provocaverunt obesity, pregnancy, lack of exercise (sedentary work), the permanent vertical loads (workers, throughout the day to stay on his feet).
- Hormonal changes in old age.
These reasons may also lead to incorrect pathological blood flow in the veins of the lower extremities – the reflux or back flow of blood into the deeper veins to the superficial veins. These reasons contribute to the exacerbation of conditions in the future.
Symptoms of varicose veins in the legs
- extension of saphenous veins;
- burning sensation or heat during the veins of the lower extremities;
- feeling of heaviness in the legs;
- swelling of the soft tissues, of the lower extremities in the evening (area, feet, ankles, legs);
- night cramps in the calf muscles;
- darkening and hardening of skin on legs;
- pain along the veins;
- trophic ulcers.
Each patient has symptoms of varicose veins can be different, but one item remains constant – the feeling of heaviness in the legs, which is also called the "syndrome of heavy legs". Most often symptomatic of the complex is strongest in the evening and also during extreme heat.
If the disease is started, the skin on the legs become bluish hue, and the patient at this stage of any treatment is to get, not rarely skin hyperpigmentation and lipodermatosclerosis, and in the most severe cases develop ulcers.
The danger is not of varicose veins and develop in the background of this complication is thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the inner vein wall) which leads to the formation of blood clots. The blood clots often block the lumen of the vein (phlebothrombosis), and can also break free and reach the lungs. As a result of serious complications of varicose veins in patients who died.
The diagnosis of varicose veins in the legs
When you find themselves of the above symptoms or some of them need urgently to go to the doctor phlebologist or vascular surgeon. Timeliness of disease detection depends on the nature of the treatment and prevention of complications.
The diagnosis of varicose veins prescribed the following studies.
- An ultrasound or venous duplex imaging – evaluation of transparency and expansion usb data transfer cable the veins, direction of blood flow and detect blood clots in the veins.
- Contrast venography – evaluation conditions, the determination of the presence of tumors and thrombi allows reconstruction of the accurate "snapshot" of the veins of the patient x-ray. Typically, this method is replaced by ultrasound, because the latter is considered to be more simple to implement.
When you need to immediately contact a doctor
If the following symptoms a visit to the doctor should be immediately:
- The occurrence of acute pain in the lower extremities with any movement. When the foot the appearance of a swollen and very tight, the skin is like on fire.
- A feeling of weakness, with shortness of breath, feeling of lack of oxygen.
- The diseased veins begins to seep blood.
Treatment of varicose veins in the legs
Conservative treatments for varicose veins.
Non-surgical treatment applied to the early stages of disease development, when there are no complications. Conservative methods are receiving specialized medication (angioprotectors, anticoagulants, venotoniki, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in tablets, creams and gels), which will help relieve pain as well as prevention of complications.
Great importance in the treatment of varicose veins is to restore the tone of blood vessels. Exercise is possible with the help of special tools. Means the domestic producers does not contain dyes, it is film peel, no preservatives, therefore, the active substance is diosmin absorbed faster, reduce the likelihood of manifestations of allergic reactions.
Non-surgical treatment of varicose veins associated with in addition to wearing compression underwear, following a special diet, systematic exercise (a complex of therapeutic exercises).
These measures reduce the venous insufficiency, prevent the development of thrombosis. Then the doctor, in addition to the above-mentioned measures for the treatment of varicose veins may designate a manual or hardware lymphatic drainage treatments to improve the outflow of blood from the lower extremities, reduce swelling. The effect of the procedure is not long-lasting.
Treatment of varicose veins with leeches.
Leech therapy is quite effective way to deal with varicose veins. Once inside the diseased vein, the saliva of leeches, thanks to the content of hirudin (natural heparin), promote liquefactionibus the blood and prevent the formation of blood clots. Today, on the basis of hirudin medicines have been created, so the "contact leeches" can be avoided.
Bezoperatsionnye modern methods of treatment of varicose veins in the legs.
Sclerotherapy.
Sclerotherapy is the most effective non-surgical treatment of varicose veins. During the procedure the lumen of the vessel of the patient, the doctor injects a special drug that causes agglutination of its walls in the future (1.5 years), their degradation. The usual treatment at the stage of spider veins contains 3 to 6 treatments on each leg. The result is noticeable after 2 to 8 weeks, during which time there may be pain, bruising, tingling, which gradually pass. The injected drug is in each case selected individually, so the risk of complications is minimal. During treatment, patients must wear compression stockings.
The effectiveness of sclerotherapy treatment of varicose veins can be compared to a classic cut, it gave it only the most modern methods - endovenous laser coagulation, because of the emergence of the "foam formation" (foam) sclerotherapy, and the procedure of ultrasound-or translyuministsentnoy lamp. All this significantly reduced the side effects.
Sclerotherapy can be performed using an ultrasound scanner, then the process is called echosclerotherapy. Add scanner application allows the doctor can fully control the movement of the needle in Vienna and the distribution of drugs.
If the drug is administered has changed into a vein in the form of unmuted, a procedure called foam-form sclerotherapy. By making closer contact with the unmuted venous walls, the method has a high efficiency. To displace the blood vessel, unmuted promote more rapid bonding and blocking functions.
endovasal or endovenous laser coagulation.
One of the most modern and minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins in the legs. The effects of laser light on the damaged vein is performed under local anesthesia. Results appear after a month after the procedure. The method is quite expensive.
Medical treatment of varicose veins in the legs compliment of folk remedies, which not only improve the tone and elasticity of venous walls, but also to prevent progression of the disease. Recipes of traditional medicine with regular use helps to cure very advanced cases of the disease (skin ulcers, thrombosis).
Before treatment, it is important to identify the cause of the disease, consult your doctor, do not tighten and do not wait for complications (skin ulcers, thrombosis), start treatment as early as possible, while the thickness of the veins on the surface does not exceed 5 mm, and the nodes are not more than 7 mm. During the therapeutic course is recommended to wear clothes and shoes that do not hinder the movement, to abandon the heavy physical activity and a way to throw a leg over the other.
Modern operational (surgical) treatment of varicose veins in the legs
Because the desired outcome of conservative treatment of varicose veins require surgical intervention. Surgery is a radical method of treatment of the disease, during which removes changed of the veins. Today this is done under tumescent anesthesia (local anesthesia with a mixture of natural anesthesia). The advantages of the method is that the patient can leave the clinic two hours after surgery, no postoperative hematomas, better tolerated, is not intoxication, as well as during operation under general anesthesia.
Phlebectomy – through a special hole for removal is the modified disease veins to normalize blood flow in the deep veins. Action in some cases it is advantageous to sclerotherapy. Among the advantages of is the quick recovery of the patient, small scars, in addition to the effect maintained over the years.
Short of Stripping – the removal of only the change area of the vein through two small incisions. Pre-determine the location and length of affected vein. In this method, the soft tissues of the patient does not suffer, there is a rapid recovery, no pain after surgery.
Endoscopic vein dissection - this method with your doctor the small size of the affected Vienna introduces into it an endoscope, that can be used to obtain information about the internal condition of the varicose veins, the extent of the affected area, as well as the accuracy of control over their actions during the cut-off section of the vein to minimize the damage.
Prevention of varicose veins in the legs
- Limit the sauna, take a hot bath, spend time in the sun (all of this leads to a reduction in venous tone and blood stasis).
- More physical activity (moderate Jogging, swimming, Hiking, aerobics, Cycling, skiing).
- To control their weight.
- The rejection of the strict, tight clothes and narrow and tight shoes.
- Get rid of the habit to sit "foot to foot".
- Avoid constipation (eat right, keep drinking regime).
- Evenly distribute the load on the legs (do not sit or stand too long in the same position).
- Contrast shower with cold water and cold feet.
- Wearing compression underwear-risk groups (pregnant women who have a hereditary susceptibility, workers with sedentary work, or whose work involves severe physical exertion, or need to spend the whole day on my feet).
- Physiotherapy.
During the treatment of varicose veins, all exercise is just for prevention.
Diet varicose veins
- Limit salty, spicy and smoked food.
- Abstinence from alcohol.
- Restriction of meat products.
- Enrichment of the diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, food that promotes strengthening of vascular walls (carrots, olive oil, walnuts, rosehips, green tea, sprouted wheat, beans, green onion).
- Daily intake of apple cider vinegar (per Cup of water 2 tsp.).
Upon detection of the first signs of varicose veins immediately contact a specialist. People belonging to the risk group (those with predisposing factors), and which is a genetic predisposition to varicose veins is recommended every two years to visit phlebologist mandatory ultrasound.