Clinical presentation
Venous blood flow dysfunction develops due to damage to the perforating (connecting) vein valves, their overload and deformation. When the work of the deep (internal) arteries breaks down, the blood circulation becomes chaotic, which leads to its entry into the superficial vessels and the formation of characteristic nodes. Such defects are clearly visible to the naked eye or on palpation of the lesion site.
Varicose veins are progressive pathologies that, without timely treatment, are fraught with serious health complications and disabilities. In advanced cases of varicose veins at the sites of vascular damage, the formation of wounds, ulcers and blood clots is possible.What makes
Various factors cause venous dilation. They can be conditionally divided into large and small. The main sources of varicose veins are:
- Continuous strenuous physical activity;
- Prolonged posture in a static position - sitting or standing;
- Unfavorable environmental conditions - for example, constantly high air temperature;
- Fluctuations in body weight or chronic overweight;
- Hormonal imbalance - during pregnancy or menopause;
- Diseases of the endocrine system;
- Hereditary and genetic predisposition, manifested in the features of the structure of blood vessels, namely, congenital anatomical inferiority of venous valves and weakness of the connective tissue of arterial walls;
- Neurosis.
In the anamnesis, the development of varicose veins, as a rule, stimulates not one, but a complex of factors.
Tips for everyday life
If you are constantly sitting, for example, due to work, then you can place a low bench under your feet. This way you will significantly reduce the strain on your legs.
It is advisable to give up high heels. Wearing such shoes will significantly limit the contraction of the calf muscles, moreover, it will prevent the joints from springing up. As a result, the blood will simply stagnate.
A sudden change in temperature can greatly affect the filling of veins with blood. For example, when the temperature rises, the veins are very full of blood, thus increasing the load on the valves. It is advisable to reduce hot baths, sunbathing on the beach, etc. Remember, the temperature drop should be gradual.
Cycling, swimming and, of course, a brisk daily walk are very helpful. It is worth remembering that while walking you should give your preference to shallow water or sand and avoid difficult roads as much as possible. A reverse coloring of the feet for two minutes will help you easily get rid of the feeling of heaviness and numbness. Moreover, this cleaning can be done with the help of a shower.
Remember that when you cross your legs, you block blood flow and narrow your blood vessels.
When resting, place your feet so that they are at heart level. You can also raise one side of the bed slightly as your legs are slightly higher than usual.
Symptoms of the disease
Varicose veins can have different manifestations, which depend on the degree of complexity of the pathology and the physiological characteristics of the patient's body. In accordance with the stages of varicose veins, the following symptoms of vascular disease are observed:
- Venous patterns or "stars" (telangiectasias) in the skin;
- swelling of the limbs, especially at the end of the day;
- Pain in the legs or along the veins when examining them;
- Repeated seizures;
- Rapid fatigue, especially when walking;
- Visual manifestation of veins on the surface of the skin;
- Feeling of heaviness in the legs;
- Burning in venous lesions;
- Muscle itching;
- Pain of a different nature and pain;
- Winding veins in legs and feet;
- Dermatological changes in the skin - the appearance of dryness, pigmentation, darkening;
- Development of dermatitis, eczema and trophic disorders in the form of wounds and non-healing ulcers;
- Tightening of the skin at the sites of varicose veins;
- Hematoma formation.
Symptoms can start as early as adolescence. Developing invisibly, after a while the disease makes itself felt with a mass of unpleasant health consequences. If at least one of the above signs is present, you should undergo an examination immediately. A phlebologist or surgeon treats diseased veins.
Classification
Based on the decision of the international scientific community, veins with pathological varicose veins of the lower extremities are usually classified according to a special classifier CEAP or Anatomical Pathology of Clinical Etiology. Based on this typology, varicose veins have 6 clinical stages:
- Zero. There are minor subjective complaints of the patient about some of the symptoms of varicose veins, but with visual examination and medical examination, there are still no obvious signs of disease.
- degree I. On the surface of the skin appear small vascular networks, rare edema, heaviness, burning, sensation of "buzzing" in the legs.
- Level II. It is considered as the starting point of veins with real varicose veins. It is characterized by a distinctive external manifestation of enlarged vessels, the formation of venous nodes, worsening after a long stay in a static state or walking in high heels. Starting from this stage, the possibility of thrombus formation is observed.
- degree III. The symptoms of the second group are accompanied by regular swelling, more visible by the end of the day and an attractive, excruciating pain in the calves.
- degree IV. There are trophic changes in the skin. Due to the excessive accumulation of pigment in the epidermis, the skin begins to change its color from dark brown to black. It is also possible for small local inflammations to develop in the form of erythema or wet wounds, leading over time to skin atrophy and ulcers.
- Grade V. Has the same course as stage five, but with cured trophic ulcer.
- Grade VI. It is characterized by severe progression with the formation of non-healing wounds and ulcers.
Varicose veins are a serious disease. Without timely treatment and ongoing prophylaxis, it progresses rapidly and leads to irreversible consequences and dire consequences, up to death. Only 10 years from the diagnosis of varicose veins are enough for the pathology to develop from stage I to stage VI.
Phases
The first signs of varicose veins in the legs appear in progressive stages, when the venous valves perform their functions by less than 50%. In the first or zero stage of varicose veins, which is known as the "compensation phase", no unpleasant sensations arise as well as noticeable changes. Detection of the initial stage of varicose veins in the leg occurs with a close examination of the limbs by a phlebologist.
In the second stage of varicose veins, which is known as "undercompensation", the changes are quite pronounced:
- Large veins are visible under the skin, but they may not protrude above the skin surface;
- on the surface of the skin on the thighs and below the knees, a pattern of a thin varicose network of blue or red capillaries is clearly visible;
- feet swell in the evening;
- Calf muscles cramp at night.
This stage of varicose veins of the lower extremities is distinguished by increasing symptoms, which weaken after rest.
In the final stage of varicose veins, decompensation occurs: the body cannot meet the tissue needs for oxygen, and the valves in the veins lose their function by 90%. The condition of the limbs worsens due to insufficient blood supply. This stage of varicose veins is characterized by a decrease in the ability of the tissue to regenerate. The abundance of complications worsens the overall condition of the patient. The symptoms in the final stage of varicose veins persist continuously.
Pathology in men
Vein pathology has no gender. However, according to pathogenesis, the disease is conventionally divided into varicose veins of male and female, with each of them inherent in their specificity of formation and development. So the features of male physiology do not contribute to the formation of problems with veins in the representatives of the strong half of humanity, however, there are a number of factors that favor this. Among them:
- Hard physical work or professional sports involving the carrying or lifting of a load;
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- Poor diet;
- Genetic predisposition;
- Long-term use of hormonal drugs;
- Bad habits.
Pathology in women
The fair half of the population suffers from varicose veins several times more often than men. Favorable factors for this are:
- Wearing high-heeled shoes or shoes that do not match the size and fullness of their feet;
- Slimming or too tight clothing that interferes with blood circulation;
- Work that requires you to be on your feet all day - salesman, host, hairdresser, teacher, cook, etc . ;
- Hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth and age-related changes in the body (menopause);
- Weight experiments - frequent fluctuations in body weight, extreme diets aimed at dramatic weight loss, uncontrolled weight gain.
It is women who are frequent patients of phlebologists and cosmetologists. In an effort to preserve the aesthetic appearance of the skin as long as possible, women are more responsible in treating varicose veins than men, and they achieve noticeable improvements in the clinical condition of the arterial system.
Given the increased natural tendency towards varicose veins, the appearance of symptoms such as swelling of the feet, excessive fatigue of the feet, itching and burning sensation, the appearance of small vessels and the venous pattern should seriously alarm awoman and become a reason for an immediate visit to the doctor.
Treatment of varicose veins with folk remedies
When studying the presented disease, you should not panic, because with proper and timely treatment, varicose veins are practically cured.
Why in practice? Because after the completion of certain actions, including preventive methods, the disease can reappear and cause no less problems than it was originally.
How to treat varicose veins quickly and painlessly? You should turn to traditional medicine.
Infusions and tinctures
First of all, the disease must be treated internally. To do this, you need to prepare infusions or tinctures using natural products, herbs and other ingredients that will improve blood circulation. Some of them can be cured here:
- Hithra. Dry and grind the grass in any convenient way. To prepare the infusion, 2 tablespoons of herbal ingredients are poured with a glass of boiling water. The contents are kept for one hour and filtered. Then they drink ¼ glass at least 3 times a day. The course of treatment lasts six months at intervals of one month.
- Horse chestnut. Horse chestnut kernels are placed in a three-liter half-liter jar and poured into the edges of the container with vodka or alcohol. Within a month, the jar is kept in a dark place, periodically shaking the contents. Once the time has passed, you can start rubbing your feet with the resulting tincture. Perform such procedures 2-3 times a week without interruption.
Treatment of varicose veins at home with folk remedies involves the use of any medicinal herb that can improve blood circulation in the human body.
Apples for varicose veinsApples have an excellent healing effect. Here you can use fruits in their pure form and as additives to other products.
How to get rid of varicose veins with apples:
- Prepare the apple infusion. To do this, soak apples in hot water in an amount of 1 liter for 4 hours. Then pass the fruit through a meat grinder or sieve, mix with the water in which the slope is carried out. Squeeze the water out of the mixture and take it twice a day in the amount of 50 g.
- Apple cider vinegar for varicose veinscan be used as a rub or inside. For treatment, just rub a small amount of vinegar overnight on the problem areas. You can also use diluted vinegar with a small amount of honey, drinking ¼ glass before meals half an hour.
Be careful when using diluted vinegar inside. This method is forbidden for people with gastrointestinal diseases.
Treatment of varicose veins at home, video:
Disease Diagnosis
To make an accurate diagnosis of varicose veins, as well as to determine the degree of its severity, special research methods are used. The standard examination scheme when contacting a phlebologist consists of the following procedures:
- Collection of a medical history, which identifies possible risk factors and causes;
- Visual examination of the patient by changing the last position, as well as palpation of venous lesions;
- Laboratory blood test;
- Ultrasound color duplex sonography of the arteries of the lower extremities, which allows to accurately perform a medical opinion, to measure the speed and direction of blood flow, to draw a map of its movement, to obtain a characteristic and aclear image of blood vessels; X-rays of blood vessels (phlebography) using a contrast agent to determine the appearance and shape of the veins, the functionality of the valves, and the direction of blood flow.
Often, these research methods are quite sufficient to determine the exact clinic, but in certain cases they use additional diagnostic methods:
- 3D CT (computed tomography) with phlebography;
- Photoplethysmography, using infrared and light radiation from a photoresistor or phototransistor;
- Phleboscintigraphy, based on the use of radionuclide isotopes and phlebomanometry, a dynamic study of venous pressure of the lower extremities; Lymphoscintigraphy, which shows the condition and extent of changes in the lymph nodes.
The need for a special diagnostic method is determined by the physician based on the complexity of the situation and the individual clinical parameters of the patient.
Timely and well-chosen research method allows to determine the position of superficial and deep veins and to form an accurate scheme of the therapeutic course in accordance with the indicators.
Conservative treatment
In the initial stages, varicose veins are reversible and with a responsive approach to treatment, it is completely eliminated. In other cases, to combat varicose veins, they use conservative therapies using medications, intravenous corrective agents, and special compression underwear. Each of these types of treatment has its own indications for the appointment and specifics of the impact on the diseased organ.
- Drug therapy. This means oral use for a certain period of time of phlebotropic drugs - phlebotonics, anticoagulants and antioxidants - that help strengthen blood vessels and reduce their fragility, better dilute blood and normalize blood flow and remove toxic substances accumulated from the body. . For topical treatment, tonic gels and oils are used, pain relievers, sedatives and swelling. Vitamins of groups B, A, K and others are also included in the therapeutic complex. The decision on the duration of treatment is made based on the results of the diagnosis and the nature of the dynamics of the disease.
- Arterial sclerotherapy. The method involves the use of special medications that act on the type of vein adhesion affected by varicose veins from within. As a result, reflux is stabilized and performed through healthy vessels. The procedure is performed invasively with intravenous administration of a solution. It is prescribed for a certain condition of blood vessels and small sizes of venous nodes.
- Ozone Therapy. It is a part of cosmetological medicine and consists in exposing the inner space of the container to cold ozone in order to stick to the defect site. The method is also actively used to remove non-aesthetic vascular networks from the skin surface. Effective in the initial stage of the disease. To achieve the desired result, only a few procedures are enough.
- Compression therapy. It consists of special medical underwear, which creates pressure with different intensity on different parts of the legs, which helps to reduce the load on the veins and restore blood circulation. Continued use of corrective underwear protects blood vessels from the spread and development of thrombosis. Depending on the purpose, compression underwear can be prophylactic (minimum compression strength), medical (worn only during exacerbation of venous disease) and hospital (used in the postoperative period in a hospital). Available in tights, socks, knee lift and elastic bandage. The choice of compression underwear is carried out only on the recommendation of a doctor
Surgical methods of impacting varicose veins
- Significant deterioration of pathology;
- Development of thrombophlebitis;
- Significant dilation of the saphenous veins;
- swelling and severe fatigue of the lower extremities;
- Pathological reflux disorder.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia using modern surgical techniques, such as:
- Disappearance of vascular radiofrequency. Restoration of the venous structure from within using disposable catheters and automatic radio wave generators.
- Endovenous Thermal Vapor Pulse (SVS) Closure. Impact on vessels of an abundant flow of hot steam. Allows you to penetrate the most inaccessible areas of the venous bed and directly affect the deformed vessels.
- Laser coagulation of veins. It involves the use of a laser beam directed at the diseased vein. The procedure leaves no cuts, burns or scars.
- Venaseale Technique. Consists of gluing container valves with a special biological adhesive.
- Method and Varadi. The most difficult method of treatment, which involves removing the affected vessel. Due to its 100% efficiency, it is one of the leading methods of neurosurgery.
Despite the high effectiveness of surgical treatment, it often develops in combination with conservative methods of therapy. This approach allows you to speed up the healing process and reliably consolidate the result.
Self-massage of the legs from varicose veins
- First you need to massage your thighs. Next, with light strokes and dough, rise from the knee area to the hip area. Using a spiral, straight and circular motion, stretch the knee joint with your fingertips. Press the popliteal fossa with your fist several times and cook this area using circular motions.
- Lie on your back, relax your muscles and bend your knees. Grasp the feet with your hands and rub the skin with strokes. Shake the leg muscles.
- Stretch each finger with light strokes. From bottom to top, rub the ankle and both feet. Massage the feet and heels in a circular motion, and lightly rub the ankle.
Repeat this whole self-massage complex 2-3 times.
Rehabilitation period
During the recovery period and in the future, in the fight against varicose veins of the lower extremities, a competent rehabilitation program helps, including periodic drug therapy, as well as adherence to the rules of a healthy lifestyle and exercisetherapeutic.
In addition to sanatorium physical education, a patient with a diagnosis of varicose veins, regardless of developmental stage and rehabilitation period, to improve blood circulation and prevent blood stagnation in the veins, it is beneficial to wearmedical corrective underwear.
Diet for varicose veins of the lower extremities
Diet is very important in this disease. The following foods should be present in the diet:
- pepper zile;
- carrots;
- white cabbage;
- citrus;
- apples;
- arra;
- pink;
- seedless grapes;
- sea fish;
- eggs;
- lean meat; bishtajore
- cereals; cheeses
- ;
- liver.
The diet for varicose veins of the lower extremities includes the rejection of such products:
- canned food;
- semi-finished products;
- muffins and pastries;
- caffeinated beverages;
- smoked meats;
- pickled foods;
- favorite meat;
- çikore;
- alcoholic beverages.
Prevention
To prevent the development of varicose veins of the lower extremities, it is necessary to monitor your health from an early age. Disease prevention is more effective than treating feet when complications develop.
In order to have good blood circulation, it is necessary to ensure sufficient physical activity. If a person at work stays in the same position for a long time, you should do a little warm-up regularly. You need to take a responsible approach to choosing shoes - it should be with a small heel (not higher than 6 cm), comfortable, without tightening your foot.
Weight should be monitored. Excess weight is one of the predisposing factors for the development of the disease. In addition, it leads to increased stress on blood vessels. Clothes should be made of natural fabrics. The use of very tight footwear should be avoided in order to avoid squeezing large vessels in the hip area.
During hygiene procedures, it is advisable to use a shower, which makes it possible to change the water pressure and temperature. With the help of these tricks, you can tonify blood vessels, activate blood flow.
It is advisable to do daily exercises or exercises. It is not necessary to run several kilometers at once; just visit the pool, walk or bike for fun.
Before using hormonal contraceptives, you should consult not only with a gynecologist, but also with a phlebologist, to be tested for hormones. If you change the level of female hormones in the blood, it can negatively affect the condition of the vessel walls.