Varicose veins are a very insidious disease. It can hardly manifest itself for years, because at the initial stage nothing bothers and slight discomfort is attributed to living conditions, but not to problems with veins. And then deterioration sets in, the disease progresses and it becomes much more difficult to cure. When this happens, varicose veins can affect a variety of parts of the body that have veins. But the overwhelming majority suffer from female legs, so special attention should be paid to the symptoms of varicose veins in women.
Varicose veins are a very insidious disease. It can hardly manifest itself for years, because at the initial stage nothing bothers and slight discomfort is attributed to living conditions, but not to problems with veins. And then deterioration sets in, the disease progresses and it becomes much more difficult to cure. When this happens, varicose veins can affect a variety of parts of the body that have veins. But the overwhelming majority suffer from female legs, so special attention should be paid to the symptoms of varicose veins in women.
The mechanism of the disease
The main cause of varicose veins in the legs is the weakening of the walls of the veins and blood vessels, making them unable to push blood up with optimal force.
The blood stagnates and dilates the veins even more. They expand, lose their elasticity, become brittle and ultimately no longer ensure normal blood flow. Since the blood is constantly in the veins, they swell, knots and blood clots form, which clog the lumen in the vessels. This leads to thrombophlebitis.
Skin cells, not receiving enough oxygen, begin to die, tissue necrosis develops, trophic lesions and ulcers appear. This is called end-stage varicose veins of the lower extremities and is only treated with the help of surgery.
A complete cure of this stage of the disease is no longer possible, but it is likely to slow down its course and reach a more or less stable remission.
Important! Doctors believe that the main cause of the appearance of varicose veins of the lower extremities is hereditary predisposition. Therefore, if cases of the disease were detected in the older generations of the family, special attention should be paid to the health of affected vessels.
How not to miss the outbreak of the disease?
It is very important to carefully monitor all ailments, even the most minor ones. If you reach stage 1 development, when the symptoms of varicose veins in the legs have just started, in most cases it is possible to reverse the process and preserve healthy veins. So, the first signs of varicose veins of the legs are:
- increasing swelling, which began to bother not only in the evening, but also at other times of the day;
- Heaviness and "tired legs" syndrome that appear in the middle of the day or earlier;
- general weakness and apathy due to insufficient oxygenation of tissues;
- Spider veins or webs on the legs and thighs, which are often the first signs of varicose veins that people look out for.
In this case, with a timely visit to the doctor, the simplest methods of treatment can help: folk remedies, drugs for the prevention of varicose veins in the legs - venotonics in tablets and capsules, ointments, creams and gels.
If there is a need to treat varicose veins in the legs, the phlebologist can prescribe drugs that thin the blood and prevent the formation of blood clots, as well as wear special compression underwear or use an elastic bandage.
Important! Despite the fact that many drugs have few side effects and are also prescribed to prevent the disease, the decision on which of them to take should be made exclusively by the phlebologist, and not by the patient himself.
What is the danger of the disease?
First of all, advanced varicose veins threaten to form blood clots, which can block the flow of blood and oxygen to the main arteries and veins next to the lungs and heart. A pulmonary embolism very often leads to a sad outcome.
In addition, varicose veins in the legs can be hidden, affecting the vessels that run deep in the legs. Such a condition is dangerous, since external signs appear when the disease has already passed to the 2nd or even 3rd stage, when it is impossible to do without surgery. A doctor's visit should not be postponed if:
- legs often began to swell, while the kidneys are completely healthy, diabetes is not diagnosed, fluid intake is normal;
- pulling or sharp second pains appear in the pelvic organs, groin and thighs;
- Legs cramp regularly, especially at night;
- Areas on the lower extremities along the veins began to swell after each exercise.
Internal varicose veins in the legs can seriously complicate a person's life, cause constant pain and bring the situation to the intervention of a surgeon.
Important! Varicose veins during pregnancy are common. Most women are sure that this is temporary and will definitely pass after childbirth, but in reality this does not always happen.
Much more often, after the stress on the veins during childbirth, the disease begins to progress. Therefore, the signs of varicose veins during pregnancy should not be ignored in any case.
Can other body parts be affected?
The symptoms of varicose veins can affect a variety of organs. In particular, varicose veins on the arms are much less common than varicose veins on the lower extremities, but cause just as much anxiety and distress. If you notice symptoms on your hands similar to the manifestation of this disease, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible:
- the veins become very visible, darken and swell;
- swelling appears on the hands, including fingers;
- often there is a burning sensation and pain;
- Performing the same actions for a long time becomes problematic due to the heaviness in the hands.
Varicose veins on the hands occur in both women and men with approximately the same frequency, but this disease affects the stronger sex 1. 5-2 times less often.
This is due to the fact that the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity are more prone to fluctuations in the endocrine system, which is one of the main factors provoking varicose veins in the arms.
Important! The first signs of varicose veins on the upper and lower extremities are very similar, but varicose veins on the legs have symptoms that are considered the result of flat feet, long walks or wearing shoes with heels, osteochondrosis, and varicose veins on the hands are symptoms that manybelieve to be a physical feature of vein structure.
intestinal lesion
Almost with the same frequency as varicose veins of the legs there are varicose veins of the rectum and its prolapse.
The well-known hemorrhoids hide under this name. Those who are not lucky enough to get this disease can tell you how uncomfortable the signs of varicose veins are manifested in such a sensitive area:
- sudden attacks of sharp pain when walking;
- severe pain when sitting up up to the inability to sit down;
- the appearance of blood from cracks in the anal duct and its pronounced swelling, itching and burning;
- Pain also accompanies defecation, especially when combined with constipation, which is a common occurrence with varicose veins in this area.
Symptoms of internal varicose veins are not as difficult to notice as external ones, since there are usually no unpleasant sensations in the anus.
However, when he goes to a proctologist, he usually finds grade 2 varicose veins. It is not as easy to cure as the first stage of the disease, but it is quite possible without radical measures.
If varicose veins on the arms and legs are more common in women, then varicose veins of the rectum are more likely to affect the male body. The main reasons for this are heavy physical exertion, serious sports, alcohol consumption and a lot of junk food, as well as prostate diseases, which contribute to the narrowing of the urethra.
Important! Having identified the first symptoms of varicose veins of the rectum, you should start treatment as soon as possible, since the threat of disease in this particular area is that the intestines can suffer and the work of the gastrointestinal tract can be disrupted .
The disease develops gradually without sudden jumps, but can lead to benign and oncogenic tumors of the intestine.
man problem
If varicose veins on the legs are rather rare in men, then varicocele is a purely male disease. It consists in the fact that the expansion of the veins of the spermatic cord and testicles due to the male factor becomes one of the causes of infertility.
The venous duct with varicocele is filled with blood that the vessels cannot move further into the renal or small vena cava. In most cases, this problem occurs on the left testicle, since two veins join in this area: the renal and seminal veins.
Symptoms of testicular varicose veins do not show themselves in any way until the couple has a problem conceiving. Then both partners go to the doctor, the woman to the gynecologist, the man to the andrologist. And first of all, an experienced doctor will examine the varicocele.
This disease can be detected both with the help of ultrasound and dopplerography, and by probing the veins during the patient's compressive strain. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the man is instructed to do a semen analysis to determine how far the disease has progressed based on the condition of the sperm.
Important! It is possible to cure varicocele only with surgical intervention, and it is usually performed to eliminate infertility in a man.
In itself, this phenomenon is not dangerous and usually does not cause discomfort, but sometimes the veins dilate so much that they cause discomfort or pain. In this case, the operation is also shown.
Conclusion
Varicose veins are caused by many factors, most of which can be corrected. And since this disease belongs to the category of dangerous and often provokes serious complications that can disable a person, it is much easier to take preventive measures in time to avoid the development of the disease:
- normalize the diet and get rid of the abundance of fatty, spicy, salty and fried foods;
- give up smoking and alcohol;
- After consulting a doctor, take venotonic drugs and use ointments that strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
- don't spend a lot of time in the same position, prolonged sitting is just as dangerous as being on your feet;
- plan enough time for sports;
- Control weight, prevent the appearance of extra pounds, this is especially true for women during pregnancy and lactation;
- Choose comfortable shoes with low, wide heels that do not pinch your legs, and in exceptional cases leave high heels.
- take a contrast shower daily, paying special attention to the legs, arms and pelvic organs;
- staying in hot rooms, hot saunas and baths as little as possible;
- if you have a hereditary predisposition, it makes sense to wear compression stockings, tights or golf pants.
Having identified the first signs of varicose veins, it is imperative to contact a phlebologist and together with him outline a treatment plan.