Symptoms and treatment of varicose veins in the legs

Varicose veins are a systemic disease that can affect blood vessels in any part of the body. Its essence lies in the dysfunction of the valves that control the direction of blood flow. Because of this, an excessive amount of liquid accumulates in the veins, under the influence of which the walls stretch and lose their elasticity.

Clinical presentation

The dysfunction of the venous blood flow develops due to damage to the valves of the perforating (connecting) veins, their overload and deformation. When the functioning of the deep (internal) arteries is interrupted, the blood circulation becomes chaotic, which leads to its entry into the superficial vessels and the formation of characteristic nodules. These defects are clearly visible to the naked eye or to the palpation of the lesion site.

Varicose veins are progressive pathologies that, without timely treatment, present serious health complications and disabilities. In advanced cases of varicose veins at sites of vascular injury, the formation of wounds, ulcers and blood clots is possible.

What makes

Several factors cause venous dilation. They can be conditionally divided into major and minor. The main sources of varicose veins are:

• Intense and constant physical activity;
• Prolonged standing in a static position - sitting or standing;
• Unfavorable environmental conditions - for example, constantly high air temperature;
• Fluctuations in body weight or chronic obesity;
• Hormonal imbalance - during pregnancy or menopause;
• Diseases of the endocrine system;
• Hereditary and genetic predisposition, manifested in the characteristics of the blood vessel structure, namely, congenital anatomical inferiority of the venous valves and weakness of the connective tissue of the arterial walls;
• Neuroses.

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 sit constantly, for example, because of work, you can place a low bench under your feet. This way, you will significantly reduce the pressure on your legs.

It is advisable to abandon high heels. Wearing these shoes will significantly limit the contraction of your calf muscles and also prevent your joints from bouncing. 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 become very full of blood, thus increasing the load on the valves. It is advisable to reduce the number of hot baths, sunbathing on the beach, etc. Remember that the temperature drop must be gradual.

Cycling, swimming and, of course, a daily brisk walk are very helpful. Remember that when walking you need to prefer shallow water or sand, avoiding difficult roads as much as possible. Soaking your legs with a two-minute contrast will help you easily get rid of the feeling of heaviness and numbness. In addition, this bath can be done with the aid of a shower.

Remember that when you cross your legs, you obstruct blood flow and constrict blood vessels.

When resting, put your feet at heart level. You can also slightly lift one side of the bed so that your legs are slightly higher than normal.

Symptoms of the disease

Varicose veins can have a variety of manifestations, depending on the degree of complexity of the pathology and the physiological characteristics of the patient's body. According to the stages of varicose veins, the following symptoms of vascular disease are observed:

• Venous patterns or "stars" (telangiectasias) on the skin;
• Edema of the limbs, mainly at the end of the day;
• Pain in the legs or along the veins when probing them;
• Recurrent seizures;
• Fast fatigue, especially when walking;
• Visual manifestation of the veins on the skin surface;
• Feeling of heaviness in the legs;
• Burn in venous lesions;
• Muscle itching;
• Pain of different natures and pains;
• Sinuous veins in the legs and feet;
• Dermatological changes in the skin - appearance of dryness, pigmentation, browning;
• Development of dermatitis, eczema and trophic disorders in the form of non-healing wounds and ulcerations;
• Hardening of the skin at the sites of progression of varicose veins;
• Hematoma formation.

Symptoms can begin as early as adolescence. With an imperceptible development, over time, the disease is felt with a mass of unpleasant health consequences. If at least one of the above signs is present, you must be immediately examined. A phlebologist or surgeon treats diseased veins.

Classification

Based on the decision of the international scientific community, the pathological dilation of the veins of the lower extremities is generally classified according to a special CEAP classifier or Clinical Etiology Pathological Anatomy. Based on this typology, varicose veins have 6 clinical stages:

1. Zero. There are minor subjective complaints from the patient about some of the symptoms of varicose veins, but with the visual examination and medical examination, there are still no obvious signs of the disease.
2. I graduate. Small vascular networks appear on the skin surface, rare edema, weight, burning, "tingling" sensation in the legs.
3. Grade II. It is considered the starting point of true varicose veins. It is characterized by a clear external manifestation of dilated vessels, the formation of venous nodules, aggravated after a long stay in a static state or walking in high heels. From that stage, the possibility of thrombus formation is observed.
4. Grade III. The symptoms of the second group are accompanied by regular swelling, more noticeable at the end of the day and severe and painful pain in the calves.
5. Grade IV. There are trophic changes in the skin. Due to the excessive accumulation of pigment in the epidermis, the skin color begins to change from dark brown to black. It is also possible to develop small local inflammations in the form of erythema or wet wounds, leading over time to dermal atrophy and ulcers.
6. Grade V. It has the same course as the fifth stage, but with healed trophic ulceration.
7. Grade VI. It is characterized by severe progression with the formation of wounds and ulcers that do not heal.

Varicose veins are a serious disease. Without timely treatment and constant prophylaxis, it progresses rapidly and leads to irreversible consequences and dire consequences, up to and including death. Only 10 years after the diagnosis of varicose veins is enough for the pathology to develop from stage I to stage VI.

Internships

The first signs of varicose veins in the legs appear in progressive stages, when the venous valves perform their functions in less than 50%. In the initial or zero stage of varicose veins, known as the "compensation stage", no unpleasant sensations appear, as well as visible changes. The detection of the initial stage of varicose veins in the legs occurs with a careful examination of the limbs by a phlebologist.

In the second stage of varicose veins, known as "subcompensation", the changes are well expressed:

• large veins are visible under the skin, but cannot protrude above the skin's surface;
• on the skin surface on the thighs and under the knees, a pattern of a fine varicose mesh made of blue or red capillaries is clearly visible;
• the legs are swollen at night;
• Cramps in the calf muscles at night.

This stage of the varicose veins of the lower extremities is characterized by an increase in symptoms, which weaken after resting.

In the final stage of varicose veins, decompensation occurs: the body cannot replenish the tissue's oxygen demand and the valves in the veins lose their function by 90%. The condition of the limbs worsens due to insufficient blood supply. This phase of the varicose veins is characterized by a decrease in the capacity for tissue regeneration. The abundance of complications worsens the patient's general condition. Symptoms in the final stage of varicose veins persist constantly.

Pathology in men

The pathology of the vein has no gender. However, according to pathogenesis, the disease is conventionally divided into male and female varicose veins, each of which is inherent to its specific formation and development. Therefore, the characteristics of male physiology do not contribute to the formation of problems with veins in representatives of a strong half of humanity, however, there are a number of factors that favor this. Among them:

1. Heavy physical work or professional sports involving the transport or lifting of a load;
2. Sedentary lifestyle;
3. Malnutrition;
4. Genetic propensity;
5. Prolonged use of hormonal drugs;
6. Bad habits.

Varicose veins develop in men more often after the age of 40 and are accompanied by increased fatigue in the legs, leg pain, visible edema, venous pattern on the skin surface, frequent cramps and pruritus like allergic dermatitis. In some advanced cases, blood clots and vascular infection are possible. And if at first the disease is invisible, over time its manifestations become obvious. But the main changes take place inside the veins, whose walls are so weakened that any exposure, even minimal, to a toxic substance or infection causes its damage. The method of treating varicose veins in men is the same as that of women and has no specific characteristics.

Pathology in women

The beautiful half of the population suffers from varicose veins several times more than men. Favorable factors for this are:

• Wear shoes with high heels or shoes that do not match the size and fullness of the feet;
• Slimming or tight clothes that interfere with blood circulation;
• Work that requires standing all day - salesman, receptionist, 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 designed for dramatic weight loss, uncontrolled set of extra pounds.

Women are frequent patients of phlebologists and cosmetologists. In an effort to preserve the aesthetic appearance of the skin as much as possible, women are more responsible for treating varicose veins than men, and achieve visible improvements in the clinical status of the arterial system.

Given the increased natural tendency for varicose veins, the appearance of symptoms such as swelling of the legs, excessive leg tiredness, itching and burning sensation, the manifestation of small vessels and venous pattern should seriously alert the woman and become a reasonfor an immediate consultation with the doctor.

Treatment of varicose veins with folk remedies

When studying the disease presented, one should not give in to panic, because with the appropriate and timely treatment, varicose veins practically heal.

Why practically? Because after the end of certain actions, including preventive methods, the disease can reappear and cause no less problems than it originally did.

How to treat varicose veinsquickly and without pain? You should resort to traditional medicine.

Infusions and tinctures

First, the disease must be treated internally. To do this, you must prepare infusions or tinctures with natural products, herbs and other ingredients that will improve blood circulation. Some of them can be cured here:

• Nettle. Dry and grind the grass in any convenient way. To prepare the infusion, 2 tablespoons of the herbal component are poured with a glass of boiling water. The content is saved for an hour and filtered. Then, they drink ¼ of a cup during the day at least 3 times. The course of treatment lasts six months at one month intervals.
• Horse chestnut. The crushed horse chestnut grains are placed in a three-liter bottle in half and poured on the edges of the container with vodka or alcohol. Within a month, the bottle is kept in a dark place, periodically shaking the contents. After time has passed, you can start rubbing your legs with the resulting dye. Do these procedures 2 to 3 times a week, without interruption.

The treatment of varicose veins at home with folk remedies involves the use of any medicinal herbs that can improve blood circulation in the human body.

Apples for varicose veins

Apples have an excellent healing effect. Here you can use fruits in their pure form and as additives in other products.

How to get rid of varicose veins with apples:

• Prepare the apple infusion. To do this, soak the apples in hot water in the amount of 1 liter for 4 hours. Then, pass the fruits through a meat mincer or sieve, mix with the water in which the maceration was carried out. Remove the water from the mixture and take twice a day in the amount of 50 g.
• Apple cider vinegar for varicose veinscan be used for scrubbing or as inside. For treatment, just rub a small amount of vinegar overnight on problem areas. You can also use vinegar diluted with a little honey, drinking вып cup before meals half an hour.

Be careful when using diluted vinegar internally. This method is prohibited for people with gastrointestinal disorders.

Treatment of varicose veins at home, video:

Diagnosis of diseases

To make an accurate diagnosis of varicose veins, as well as to determine the degree of their severity, special research methods are used. The standard examination scheme when contacting a phlebologist consists of the following procedures:

1. Collection of anamnesis of the disease, which determines possible risk factors and causes;
2. Visual examination of the patient changing the last position, as well as palpation of the venous lesions;
3. Laboratory blood test;
4. Duplex color ultrasound of the arteries of the lower limbs, which allows a medical opinion to be performed correctly, to measure the speed and direction of blood flow, to draw a map of its movement, to obtain a characteristic and clear image of blood vessels;
5. Vascular X-ray (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 sufficient to determine the exact clinic, but in certain cases they resort to the use of additional diagnostic methods:

• 3D CT (computed tomography) with phlebography;
• Photoplethysmography, using infrared and luminous radiation from a photoresistor or phototransistor;
• Phleboscintigraphy, based on the use of radionuclide isotopes, and phlebomanometry, dynamic study of venous pressure in the lower extremities;
• Lymphoscintigraphy, showing the condition and degree of changes in the lymph nodes.

The need for a particular diagnostic method is determined by the doctor, based on the complexity of the situation and the patient's individual clinical parameters.

The timely and well-chosen research method allows to determine the position of the superficial and deep veins and to form an exact scheme of the therapeutic course according to the indicators.

Conservative treatment

In the early stages, varicose veins are reversible and, with a responsible approach to treatment, are completely eliminated. In other cases, to combat varicose veins, they resort to conservative therapy with medications, intravenous corrective agents and special compression underwear. Each of these types of treatment has its own indications for consultation and the specifics of the impact on the diseased organ.

1. Medical therapy. It implies the oral use for a certain period of phlebotropic drugs - phlebotonics, anticoagulants and antioxidants - that help to strengthen blood vessels and reduce their fragility, better thin the blood and normalize the blood flow and remove the accumulated toxic substances from the body. For local treatment, gels and ointments, tonic, analgesic, soothing and edema are used. In addition, vitamins of groups B, A, K, etc. are introduced into the therapeutic complex. The decision on the duration of treatment is made based on the results of the diagnosis and the nature of the disease dynamics.
2. Arterial sclerotherapy. The method involves the use of special medications that act on the type of bonding of the vein affected by varicose veins inside. As a result, reflux is stabilized and driven by healthy vessels. The procedure is performed invasively by intravenous administration of a solution. It is prescribed for a given state of the blood vessels and small sizes of the venous nodules.
3. Ozone therapy. It is part of cosmetological medicine and consists of exposing the internal space of the vessel to cold ozone to glue the defect site. The method is also actively used to remove unsightly vascular networks from the skin's surface. Effective in the early stage of the disease. To achieve the desired result, a few procedures are sufficient.
4. Compression therapy. It consists of wearing special medical underwear that creates pressure of varying intensity on different parts of the legs, which in turn helps to reduce the load on the veins and restore blood circulation. The constant wearing of corrective underwear protects blood vessels from stretching and the development of thrombosis. By appointment, the compressive garments are prophylactic (minimum compression force), therapeutic (used only during the exacerbation of venous disease) and hospital (used in the postoperative period in hospital). Available in tights, stockings, high top and elastic bandage. The choice of compression underwear is made only on the recommendation of a doctor

Surgical methods to influence dilated veins

Varicose vein surgery is performed only as a last resort, when a deep venous lesion is diagnosed, aggravated by concomitant complications. The indications for the appointment of surgical intervention are:

• Noticeable worsening of the pathology;
• Development of thrombophlebitis;
• Visible enlargement of the saphenous veins;
• Severe swelling and fatigue of the lower extremities;
• Pathological reflux disorder.

The operation is performed under general anesthesia using modern surgical techniques, such as:

1. Radiofrequency blood vessel obliteration. Restore the structure of the veins inside with disposable catheters and automatic radio wave generators.
2. Occlusion of intravenous steam thermal impulse (SVS). Impact on the vessels of an abundant flow of heated steam. It allows to penetrate the most inaccessible areas of the venous bed and directly influence the deformed vessels.
3. Coagulation of laser veins. It involves the use of a laser beam directed at the diseased vein. The procedure leaves no cuts, burns or scars.
4. Venaseal technique. It consists of gluing the valves of the vessels with a special biological glue.
5. Varadi method. The most difficult treatment method, involving removing the affected vessel. Due to its 100% efficiency, it is one of the priority methods of neurosurgery.

Despite the high efficiency of surgical treatment, it often occurs in combination with conservative methods of therapy. This approach allows you to accelerate the healing process and consolidate the result reliably.

Self-massage of the legs due to varicose veins

• First you need to massage your thighs. In addition, with light, kneading movements, lift from the knee area to the groin area. Using a spiral, rectilinear and circular motion, stretch the knee joint with your fingertips. Press the popliteal fossa with your wrist several times and mash that area using circular motions.
• Lie on your back, relax your muscles and bend your knees. Hold your shins with your hands and rub the skin with movements. Shake your leg muscles.
• Stretch each toe with light movements. From the bottom up, rub your ankle and feet. Massage your feet and heels in a circular motion and, with a little force, rub your ankle.

Repeat this whole self-massage complex 2 to 3 times.

Rehabilitation period

During the recovery period and in the future, in combating varicose veins of the lower limbs, a competent rehabilitation program, including periodic drug therapy, as well as adhering to the rules of a healthy lifestyle and performing therapeutic exercises, helps.

In addition to sanatorium physical education, a patient diagnosed with varicose veins, regardless of the stage of development and the rehabilitation period, to improve blood circulation and prevent blood stagnation in the veins, it is useful to wear corrective medical underwear.

Nutrition for varicose veins of the lower extremities

The diet is very important in this disease. The following food products must be present in the diet:

chili
• ;
• carrots;
• white cabbage;
citrus;
• apples;
• nuts;
• Rosehip;
• currant;
• sea fish;
• eggs;
• lean meat;
• legumes
cereals
• ;
• cheeses;
• liver.

Diet for varicose veins of the lower extremities involves the rejection of such products:

• canned food;
• semi-finished products;
• muffins and cakes;
• caffeinated drinks;
• smoked meats;
• canned food;
gelatinized meat;
• chicory;
• alcoholic beverages.

Prevention

To prevent the development of varicose veins in the lower extremities, it is necessary to monitor your health from an early age. Prevention of the disease is more effective than treating the legs when complications occur.

In order to have good blood circulation, it is necessary to ensure sufficient physical activity. If a person at work remains in the same position for a long time, regularly warm up a little. You need to take a responsible approach when choosing shoes - it should be with a small heel (no more than 6 cm), comfortable, without squeezing the leg.

The weight must 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 must be made of natural fabrics. The use of very tight underwear should be avoided to avoid squeezing the large vessels in the groin area.

During hygiene procedures, it is advisable to use a shower, which allows you to change the water pressure and temperature. With the help of these tricks, you can tone the blood vessels, activate the blood flow.

It is advisable to exercise or exercise daily. There is no need to run several kilometers at a time, just go to the pool, walk or cycle for pleasure.

Before using hormonal contraceptives, you should consult not only a gynecologist, but also a phlebologist, to test for hormones. If you change the level of female hormones in the blood, it can adversely affect the condition of the vessel walls.