Varicose veins in the legs, or varicose veins (from the Latin varicis - "swelling"), is a disease of the blood vessels of the lower extremities, in which blood flow is disturbed due to malfunctioning venous valves: the veins expand, stretch, start to protrude under the skin, nodules form. Varicose veins bring great discomfort due to swelling, pain and dangerous formation of blood clots and trophic ulcers. This disease in severe cases can unfortunately lead to disability.
This disease is extremely common - over 60% of the world's population suffers from it). It has haunted mankind, apparently since the time of its appearance: varicose veins are mentioned in the Old Testament, archaeologists found during excavations in Egypt a mummy with a trophic leg ulcer with traces of treatment, signs of varicose veins can be seen in the legs of ancient statues and, according to written evidence, the ancient physicians Avicenna and Hippocrates were looking for methods of treating varicose veins. Scientists suggest that this is the price humanity has for walking upright, since this disease is much less common in other species.
Although women suffer from varicose veins more often than men - due to pregnancy and hormonal problems during menopause - varicose veins in men's legs often progress faster and have far more serious consequences. This is because so-called "male" jobs are often associated with regular weight lifting, and traditional stereotypes encourage men to ignore minor pain.
disease causes
Since varicose veins in the legs are caused by excessive blood pressure in the vessels, the following factors, along with congenital connective tissue weakness, can cause this:
- be standing for a long time, work standing. Varicose veins in the legs are considered an occupational disease of waiters, because they have to walk with heavy trays, hairdressers and surgeons who have to do their work standing up for many hours at a time;
- long sitting in a chair and long stays with the legs bent, in which vessels are pinched and blood circulation is impaired;
- overweight,
- pregnancy - a woman's weight increases rapidly, and while the pressure on her legs increases, hormonal changes during pregnancy also affect the walls of the veins;
- wear tight tights, elastic socks, and similar factors;
- hypodynamics;
- overloading the body during sports, during work associated with frequent weight lifting;
- endocrine system dysfunctions, as well as various hormonal disturbances, which are a common cause of varicose veins in the legs in women;
- leg injuries, foot deformities.
Leg varicose veins
Varicose veins happen:
- Congenital.The probability of inheriting this disease from parents is over 70%. Congenital varicose veins can appear at any age, but, as a rule, they appear in childhood and, in rare cases, even occur in infants. This form of the disease has additional unpleasant symptoms: a noticeable enlargement in one leg, sometimes hemangiomas (vascular tumors) appear all over the body. Hereditary varicose veins can also appear in the veins of internal organs;
- Primary varicose veins. This type of illness develops as a consequence of the reasons listed above;
- Secondary varicose veinsit usually starts as a complication of venous thrombosis or as a result of trauma.
The disease is generally divided into the following phases:
- 0- asymptomatic, when disturbances begin to occur at the cellular level, but do not yet manifest as symptoms;
- 1- the appearance of noticeable symptoms, which, however, still have little effect on the ability to work;
- two- at this stage, severe edema becomes permanent, trophic nodules and ulcers appear. A sick person cannot do without special support equipment during the day;
- 3- serious complications, disability.
As you can see, varicose veins in the legs are a very serious disease, the treatment of which should be started as soon as the first signs appear to avoid dire consequences.
Symptoms
Despite the variability of symptoms in each case, it will not be difficult to recognize varicose veins in the legs. Its main manifestation, which gave rise to the name of the disease, is the dilation of the veins in the legs. There may be "cobwebs" or "asterisks" in the subcutaneous vessels - in fact, they will be more noticeable on women's legs. This is because men have more "vegetation" on their legs, so fine strands of blood vessels can go unnoticed.
The disease progresses slowly over many years or even decades. In the early stages of the disease, symptoms are few and generally nonspecific: there is a feeling of heaviness, swelling, leg pain, 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 appears infrequently, is 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 for no specific reason. These manifestations tend to intensify at night, after a day's work, and also in hot climates.
What is the danger of varicose veins?
Often, the first signs of varicose veins in the legs are ignored, the disease gains strength and irreversible processes begin that lead to extremely unpleasant consequences: trophic ulcers and thrombophlebitis.
Trophic ulcers are a painful, non-healing wound on the foot or leg, resulting from an insufficient blood supply to the tissues. This very painful disease manifests itself more often in old age and its treatment can take a lifetime.
Thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of the vein wall, in which blood clots form a clot that blocks the lumen of the vein.
The signs of thrombophlebitis, which developed in the context of varicose veins, are as follows:
- fever, chills;
- lumps along the veins, quite painful
- limb swelling
Thrombophlebitis can chronically proceed with periodic exacerbations, possibly the so-called purulent fusion of the thrombus formed (septic thrombophlebitis) - so the infection spreads rapidly throughout the body along with the blood.
Important!A torn or part of a blood clot can enter the pulmonary artery, which leads to pulmonary embolism and often death. Don't let the disease run its course and don't neglect specialist supervision!
Diagnosis and Treatment
The diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins is done by a phlebologist, who should be consulted if there are symptoms of the 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, drug treatment and compression therapy are combined, as well as surgical methods considered to be the most effective.
There are many medications that increase the tone of the venous walls, reduce their permeability, improve microcirculation and lymphatic drainage. They can be ointments, gels, tablets with various active ingredients - 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 reabsorption effect, prevents blood stagnation.
- Ointments and gels based on natural ingredients relieve tiredness, pain, strengthen blood vessels, are recommended during pregnancy.
- In the treatment of thrombophlebitis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
- Hormonal drug-based ointments and gels also have anti-inflammatory effects.
Along with local medicines, to obtain the best effect, venotonics, phlebotonics, anticoagulants and, if necessary, oral or injected anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
Compression therapy has been used for varicose veins in the legs since ancient times: Roman legionnaires tightened their calves with strips of skin to prevent swelling and pain during long military transitions, and Egyptian pharaohs were sometimes portrayed with elastic bandages on their hands. This simple method works by reducing the diameter of the superficial veins, which causes an acceleration of blood flow and a decrease in the amount of "ballast" blood in the legs.
These days, they wear not only an elastic bandage, but also a more comfortable compression sock. The bandage is applied from the toes to the mid-thigh. Both the dressing and the compression stocking are worn in the morning in a horizontal position and throughout the day, being removed at night.
Folk remedy treatment can be used in combination with these medications. Popular and to some extent effective remedies are horse chestnut infusion, garlic and lemon infusion, and green tomato compresses.
Green tomato compresses are good for treating varicose veins on your legs.
However, when dealing with folk remedies, you must 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 loads of amazing ideas - from horse dung compresses to ingesting a poisonous plant decoction, which can be equally useless and harmless, and can cause serious harm to the body, as not only an expert, but also an ordinary "Internet troll" or just a person with an unhealthy psyche can write to the forum.
Important!Having discovered a new prescription on the Internet, before using the proposed remedy, consult your doctor.
It should be noted that conservative treatment, such as treatment with folk remedies, cannot cure varicose veins, but only delay their development and alleviate symptoms.
Surgery
As it is a minimally invasive and very effective surgical method, laser treatment or endovasal laser coagulation is used - this method does not need to make incisions and there is no need for hospitalization for treatment. Under the influence of a laser beam, a diseased vessel is "glued" and the load is transferred to healthy vessels. Laser coagulation can be performed in the early stages of the disease. Produced under local anesthesia.
Furthermore, in addition to laser therapy, coagulation (bonding) of diseased vessels is performed by radiofrequency waves (radiofrequency coagulation) and by injection of a special substance (sclerotherapy).
Phlebectomy is usually a simple surgery that removes dilated veins.
For varicose veins, a salt-free diet is prescribed, and a proper diet is also necessary if the causes of varicose veins are overweight or endocrine system disorders.
Sport with varicose veins is undesirable, therapeutic and prophylactic physical education, cycling, swimming are recommended. There are special exercises for varicose veins.
It is contraindicated to go to a bath, a sauna, or a long stay in hot water.
Massage for varicose veins is not used.
Prophylaxis
The prevention of varicose veins in the legs is extremely important for all people, as it is extremely difficult to cure varicose veins completely, its combat requires a lot of time and effort and the cost of treatment is quite high.
First, you should try, if possible, to prevent or eliminate the reasons that affect your development:
- avoid standing or sitting for too long if this is not possible - warm up your legs whenever possible;
- refuse to wear tight clothes, tight pants or tight pants;
- choose your shoes carefully;
- does not allow excess weight;
- for pregnant women, it is important not to allow excessive work on the legs, resting horizontally during the day;
Recommended:
- active lifestyle, moderate physical activity, cardiovascular exercise, "inverted" exercise (eg "birch" is a simple but very effective means of preventing varicose veins);
- hardening, contrast shower;
- Good nutrition;
- rest in a horizontal position during the day.
Addendum!A good form of prevention is to raise your legs slightly above head level while resting in a horizontal position, placing a pillow or roller under them, and stay in this position for 3-5 minutes, but no longer.