How to get rid of varicose veins in the legs? Varicose veins of the lower extremities are the scourge of modern people.
There are many people in the world who have been suffering from this malignant disease for quite a long time. What kind of disease is it and what does it "eat" with?
Varicose veins
This vascular pathology, varicose veins, took one of the first "prize places" among all other vascular diseases, because it is most often diagnosed in enlarged veins on the legs.
With this disease, the walls of the saccular vessels expand. From this, the length of the veins increases, and we can see with the naked eye their serpentine bends, as well as their spherical extensions (knots).
17-25% of all humanity suffers from this disease. And if the frequency of detection of this disease in youth is more or less the same between both sexes. Then, in adulthood, women become leaders compared to men, practically twice ahead of them.
There is a version that hormonal changes during menstruation and pregnancy lead to a weakening of the tone of the vessels, which gives them a significant expansion and disrupts the venous circulation in women.
Causes of varicose veins
There are many reasons for the appearance of symptoms of the disease. Below I will list the main ones, read carefully, maybe you have one of these diseases, then varicose veins can be accompanied.
The disease is genetically determined by the immaturity of the valvular function of the vessels, aggravated by the failure to develop connective tissue components within the vessel wall.
Now there is increased pressure in the vessels themselves and from early childhood, as soon as the first physical activity appears, varicose veins appear.
This group includes people with congenital factors of hypercoagulation. It causes the formation of blood clots that do not allow blood to circulate freely and cause the lumen of the vessels to expand.
I mentioned above about the menstrual cycle and pregnancy in women. Menopause is added with age, estrogen decreases, progesterone rises at the same time, and this is an additional reason, because generally blood clotting factors increase.
Also, add to this a decrease in the synthesis of collagen, elastic fibers, which lose their function inside the wall and reduce the tone of the walls of venous vessels. The picture is that blood flow decreases, valvular insufficiency appears, and blood clots form.
One of the risks cannot be ignored. Especially with the abdominal type, when it turns out that obesity has a mechanical effect on the venous walls due to the increase in pressure under the compression zones.
Due to lack of insulin, metabolism in the body as a whole is disturbed.
Hyperglycemia causes a decrease in the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, and there is an expansion of the lumen.
Alcohol has the ability to remove fluid from the body. Dehydration, in turn, leads to increased blood clotting and disrupts blood flow.
If you are constantly exposed to increased physical activity or have to stand constantly. In such people, the risk of developing the disease increases due to stagnation of blood in the lower limbs and very high intra-abdominal pressure that does not allow blood to flow to the heart at a sufficient level.
With constipation, intra-abdominal pressure rises when a person pushes. Thus, you can follow the logical development of varicose veins - the expansion of the lumen of the veins.
And in general, due to many factors: wearing high-heeled shoes, previous abdominal operations, severe cardiovascular diseases accompanied by circulatory failure, chronic inflammatory processes of the pelvic cavity (prostatitis in men, appendicitis in women) and, of course, smoking.
- By heredity. The disease is genetically determined by the immaturity of the valvular function of the vessels, aggravated by the failure to develop connective tissue components within the vessel wall.
- Due to the pathology of blood coagulation. This group includes people with congenital factors of hypercoagulation.
- Due to hormonal changes. This group includes menstrual periods and pregnancy, as well as menopause.
- due to increased body weight. Especially with the type of belly, when it turns out that obesity has a mechanical effect on the venous walls.
- Because of diabetes. Due to lack of insulin, metabolism in the body is disturbed. Hyperglycemia leads to a decrease in the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, and vasodilation occurs.
- Because of alcoholism. Alcohol has the ability to remove fluid from the body. Dehydration causes increased blood clotting and disrupts blood flow.
Symptoms of varicose veins
Varicose veins of the lower extremities are the first indicators of symptoms. It is worth paying close attention to them. The main thing is not to miss them in order to start treatment on time.
- The appearance of spider veins and meshes, because the small blood vessels are already dilated and even starting to show through the skin.
- In the second stage, we observe the formation of protruding nodules that twist and are arranged in clusters.
- Obvious swelling and fatigue of the legs begin, people often begin to suffer from leg cramps (more at night), itching, fever, creeping "goose bumps".
All these symptoms appear depending on the classification of varicose veins.
About the classification of varicose veins
The international scientific community presented the systematization of pathological varicose veins using the CEAP (Clinical Etiology Anatomy Pathology) special classifier. This typology includes 6 clinical stages in varicose veins:
- Zero. Subjective complaints of the patient without any obvious etiology, varicose veins are suspected, but according to the results of visual examination and research, obvious symptoms have not yet been identified.
- I degree. A small vascular network appears on the skin, a small, rare swelling, appearance: heaviness, burning, "humming" sensation in the legs
- II degree. This is already the starting point of showing true varicose veins. The external distinctive manifestation of dilated veins is symptoms of the formation of increased venous nodes after a long stay on the legs or long static sitting. It is from this stage that the probability of thrombosis can be observed
- III degree. Here, the symptoms of the second group are aggravated by regular swelling and pulling, aching pain in the calves, which is most noticeable at the end of the day.
- IV degree. Trophic changes visible in the skin. Due to the accumulation of a large amount of pigment in the epidermis, the skin changes from dark brown to black. Small local inflammations appear and develop in the form of erythema or weeping sores, which over time lead to atrophy of the dermis and ulcers.
- V degree. A similar course of symptoms as in the fifth stage, but with a healed trophic ulcer
- VI degree. It already leads to severe progression and the formation of non-healing wounds and ulcers
Compulsory treatment of varicose veins is required, otherwise you can get a complication in the form of acute thrombophlebitis and perforation of the nodes (even the slightest mechanical impact can cause stretching and thinning of the vessel wall); In this case, the bleeding is very strong and will cause a great loss of blood.
Diagnostics
You should make an appointment with a phlebologist. Who will be able to identify varicose veins at a glance, but nevertheless collect anamnesis, listen to your complaints.
There are specific functional tests that the doctor should prescribe.
In addition, there will be instrumental diagnostic methods, including X-ray contrast angiography and ultrasound examination in duplex Doppler scan mode.
Everything about the treatment of varicose veins
A few decades ago, there was still such a thing that he turned to a phlebologist, 100% would be vascular surgery, otherwise veins were not treated then.
However, in the last 10-15 years, high-tech small and micro-invasive methods have been used, such as:
- Sclerotherapy (artificial obliteration, venous walls are "glued" with a special solution, injected with microneedles)
- Application of laser therapy
- Treatment with radiofrequency ablation (the thinnest probe is inserted into the vein and gradually removed, "soldering" the walls)
In these cases, you no longer have to endure major, traumatic surgery.
Moreover, a strong therapy of a complex nature is added, it includes the appointment of venotonic drugs, anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Good efficiency ensures the use of:
- Elastic bandage and compression stockings
- Hirudotherapy
- Diets
- Therapeutic exercise
- Water procedures
Attention: the use of an elastic bandage or compression stockings is possible only after consulting a doctor (in particular, he will explain in detail the technique of the bandage - it is necessary to start with the fingers, the heel, and gradually relax. compression near the knee)
However, we must not completely forget that varicose veins still belong to the category of surgical diseases. According to the advanced stage, according to the indications, if a radical effect is needed, then it can be achieved only by surgical intervention.
One of the main operations is phlebectomy. The vein is removed, and the dry residual of the functional viability of the vein is only 10% of the norm.
Again, it is better to do this without bringing it to an extreme stage, varicose veins of the lower extremities can be completely treated if you consult a phlebologist without delay (but this applies to any disease).
It is absolutely not necessary to bring the issue to "major" surgery: varicose veins of the lower extremities are completely treated today, but this disease does not pass "by itself".
The result
They are not surprised: "Man's salvation is in his own hands. "And although varicose veins are not an easy disease and tend to progress quickly, only 10 years will be enough from the zero degree of varicose veins to the development of the 6th degree pathology.
In general - this is what you need, carefully consider the first manifestations of symptoms and consult a doctor - a phlebologist.
Take care of yourself, pay attention to the first messages that the body will show you about the beginning of pathological changes in the veins. It is always easier to prevent an advanced stage of any disease than to treat it. All health.