Symptoms and treatment of varicose veins in the legs

One of the oldest diseases of the vascular system is varicose veins in the legs. The disease develops most often in women. The pathological process is based on the expansion of internal or deep veins, which leads to an inflammatory process of the superficial venous network. As a result, blood outflow and tissue nutrition are disrupted, provoking the most dangerous complication in the form of trophic ulcers.

Causes of pathology

The disease most often affects the veins of the lower extremities, since this part of the body experiences the greatest stress. Signs of varicose veins in women often appear during pregnancy.There are many reasons that contribute to the development of symptoms of varicose veins in the legs:

• The hereditary predisposition to the development of varicose veins is based on the transfer from parents to the child of a special gene, which mutates and contributes to the formation of a weak vascular wall.
• Hormonal disorders in the female body during pregnancy, lactation, menopause negatively affect the condition of blood vessels, lead to the formation of blood clots and other pathological conditions.
• Severe forms of obesity lead to a lack of exercise, circulatory disorders, increased intra-abdominal pressure. This disrupts the outflow of venous blood, which leads to the development of varicose veins. An additional factor is the violation of lipid metabolism and the deposition of harmful cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels.
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus affects the condition of the vascular system and eventually leads to complications. The second type is not so dangerous for the blood vessels, and therefore rarely provokes varicose veins.
• A sedentary lifestyle, hard physical work invariably lead to a violation of venous outflow.
• Frequent abuse of alcohol, coffee and strong tea leads to dehydration, especially when combined with the use of a minimal amount of water. As a result, the blood thickens, blood clots form, which leads to clogging of blood vessels and poor circulation.
• An unbalanced diet with an insufficient amount of vitamin C in the diet, which is responsible for the condition of the vessels, their strength.
• Congenital, chronic blood abnormalities characterized by excess production of clotting factors and the formation of blood clots.
• Wearing tight clothing that impedes venous return.
• Intermittent or chronic constipation. During exertion, intra-abdominal pressure increases and disrupts blood flow.
• Chronic pathologies of the heart, negatively affecting the entire vascular system.
• The use of drugs that increase blood clotting.

Another factor provoking the symptoms of varicose veins of the lower extremities in women is frequent wearing of high-heeled shoes. It has been proven that men are 2 times less likely to get sick.

Symptoms and stages of development of the disease

Symptoms and treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities depend on the stage of the pathological process. There are several stages in the development of the disease:

1. In the initial phasePathologies in the area of \u200b\u200bthe legs and feet, spider veins of dark blue or purple color appear. They do not disturb the patient and do not stand out from the skin surface.
2. On the second levelseveral dilated veins appear, hard and painful to the touch. Nodules are felt in the affected veins.
3. Third sectioncharacterized by the appearance of a large number of deformed veins protruding above the level of the epidermis.
4. On the fourth levelAt the site of the affected veins, redness of the epidermis or bruises appear, which begin to itch. The itching is so unbearable that the patient cannot control himself. A weeping, painful surface appears at the scratched areas.
5. On the fifth or sixth levelSpots merge and form ulcers. Without treatment, the process of tissue necrosis begins, which in advanced cases reaches the bone.

In the initial stages, with varicose veins, there may be no pain in the legs. Symptoms appear as the pathological process progresses.Common symptoms of the disease are the following:

• Feeling of heaviness in the legs at the end of the working day, even with minimal exertion.
• Puffiness after physical exertion, disappears after rest in a horizontal position.
• Spasmodic contraction of muscles at night.
• Excessive dryness of the epidermis in the shins, itching and burning.
• Increased fatigue.

Also, the patient begins to be bothered by constant, arcuate pains in the limbs. As a result, he avoids physical activity and spends a lot of time sitting. In the advanced stage, when trophic ulcers turn into a necrotic form, the patient's movement is very difficult, since the pain becomes unbearable.

Possible complications of varicose veins

Lack of treatment leads to the development of serious consequences of varicose veins. Complications occur in 30% of patients. Common complications are venous bleeding, thrombophlebitis, dermatitis, eczema, which develop as a result of impaired blood supply to tissues.

Most often, trophic ulcers appear, which significantly reduces the patient's quality of life. Incorrect and untimely treatment provokes tissue necrosis. In this case, surgical treatment by excision of necrotic foci is indicated.

Methods for diagnosing a disease

During the diagnosis of the disease, it is very important to determine the cause that caused it. This makes treatment easier.

The first stage of the examination is a test: the patient is laid on the couch, he raises his leg perpendicular to the body and holds it for 30 seconds to ensure the outflow of blood from the veins of the lower extremities. Then the limb in the thigh area is pulled with a special tourniquet and the patient is asked to stand up. Normally, blood flow to the limb should last at least 15 seconds. If this period is shorter, the presence of the initial stage of varicose veins is suspected.

In phlebography, the patient is injected intravenously with a special contrast agent and the patency of the deep veins is assessed on an X-ray. To determine patency in a particular vessel, dopplerography is performed.

The most informative method is ultrasound angiography, which allows you not only to assess the patency of the dilated vessel, but also to identify the degree of its damage.

Based on the data from the diagnostic examination, the doctor creates an individual treatment plan for each patient.

Principles of conservative therapy

The initial stages of the pathological process are successfully treated conservatively. To eliminate the symptoms of pathology, tablet preparations and means for external use in the form of gels and ointments are used.The most commonly prescribed drugs are:

1. Pills against varicose veins. They have anti-inflammatory, decongestant, analgesic, tonic properties, stimulate blood circulation, strengthen the vascular wall, eliminate itching, burning, restore vascular elasticity. Some of them are in the form of ointments or gels.
2. External means act similarly to tablet preparations. Effective at an early stage of the pathological process. The use of such funds is permissible in the absence of trophic ulcers.
3. A mandatory step in treatment is taking anticoagulants, for example acetylsalicylic acid, which help prevent further blood clots.
4. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain in the later stages of the disease.

Early stages of varicose veins are successfully treated with laser photocoagulation. During the procedure, the affected vessels are exposed to a laser, which seals them and prevents further progression of the pathology. Most often, manipulation is performed to eliminate a cosmetic defect, since the affected limb looks unattractive.

Surgical methods of intervention

Advanced cases of the disease are difficult to treat conservatively. If the pathological process has passed to the stage of trophic ulcers, the patient is offered an operation that radically solves the problem.

Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment method and involves removing knots. During the manipulation, a special sclerosant is injected into the lumen of the vein, which contributes to its gradual death. Prior to insertion, the vessel is removed from the general circulation by ligating and cutting.

Phlebectomy is the complete removal of diseased vessels through small incisions or punctures. It is performed to eliminate extensive lesions.

The recovery period is usually painless. For 2-4 weeks, the patient must wear compression underwear or bandage the diseased limb with an elastic bandage.

Alternative medicine prescriptions

In the early stages of varicose veins, folk remedies are very effective. Most doctors advocate the combination of conservative therapy and non-traditional prescriptions.The following are considered the most effective:

1. A compress of chopped green tomatoes will help relieve pain and swelling and normalize blood circulation, which is applied to the affected area and secured with a bandage overnight. Many do not understand why green tomatoes are because they have fewer nutrients. However, the secret of this product lies in the high content of lycopene, which eliminates congestion. It is allowed to use ripe fruit in the form of a paste.
2. To enhance the effect of drugs, it is recommended to eat freshly squeezed vegetable juices from carrots and beets every day. Especially valuable is the juice from celery leaves, which has an extremely beneficial effect on blood vessels.
3. An effective remedy for pain relief is grated potatoes, which must be applied to the legs, left for 4 hours and washed off. Repeat the process daily until the patient's condition is relieved.
4. Protruding veins can be treated with a special compress made from 1 part chopped garlic and 2 parts butter. The compress is applied at night for 2 weeks.
5. Chestnut-based tincture helps relieve heaviness and pain in the legs. To prepare it, you need to take 200 g of peeled fruit, grind and pour a liter of alcohol and leave for 2 weeks. Use as a rub every night for 21 days. Take a 10-day break and repeat the course.
6. An effective remedy is chamomile oil. It is necessary to prepare it from 150 g of crushed flowers and 500 ml of olive oil. After 10 days of infusion, the composition is ready for use. It is allowed to rub or apply compresses to sore limbs at night. Carry out the treatment until the condition is relieved.

Such funds must be used with the permission of a doctor. You can avoid allergic manifestations with the help of a preliminary test for individual intolerance to a particular drug.

Disease prevention measures

People prone to varicose veins need to take preventive measures. It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and loose clothing that does not impede venous outflow. You should adhere to the principles of healthy eating, go for walks and give up bad habits.

As a preventive measure, it is necessary to regularly take multivitamin preparations that strengthen the vascular wall.

At the first signs of varicose veins, you should immediately contact a specialist to prescribe the necessary treatment. This will help avoid serious complications.