In case of violation of venous blood, the pressure inside the veins increases, they begin to expand and become visible under the skin.Varicose disease more often affects the veins of the lower extremities, but can occur in any organ of the human body.
General characteristic
Varicosis on the legs can affect men and women of any age, but more often found in patients of middle age and elderly.Varicose veins are a very common disease.Up to 15% of elderly men and almost all elderly women suffer from this disease.
Risk factors for the development of pathology:
- the presence of a disease in close relatives;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- overweight;
- long stay in the standing position;
- pregnancy.
The causes of varicose veins
The causes of varicose veins are not fully studied.In some cases, poor blood outflow through the veins is caused by the absence or weakness of the valve apparatus of blood vessels located in the depths of the fabrics.Also, varicose veins of the lower extremities and other organs can be caused by the weakness of the vascular wall itself.
Less common, varicose veins on the legs are associated with the following conditions:
- transferred inflammation of veins (phlebitis);
- the formation of blood clots in the venous line;
- Congenital anomalies in the development of blood vessels.
The disease is characterized by a progressive course and cannot be completely cured.However, there is a fairly effective prevention of varicose veins - the use of compression stockings, maintaining normal weight and regular physical activity, primarily walking or swimming.The dynamic load on the legs helps the muscles push blood up the veins, and not to give it a leak in the opposite direction.
Classification of varicose veins
Depending on the location of pathologically altered vessels, such forms of varicose veins are distinguished:
- varicose veins of the small pelvis in women;
- lesion of the veins of the lower extremities;
- the expansion of the veins of the esophagus during the pathology of the liver;
- Posttrombophlebitical options in different organs.
There are such stages of varicose veins:
- compensated: there are no complaints, expanded veins on the legs are visible;
- subcompensated: patients complain of swelling, bursting, severity in the legs, convulsions at night;
- Decompensation: skin changes develop - hyperpigmentation, signs of chronic inflammation, trophic ulcers.
The clinic often uses CEAP classification, completely describing the clinical signs, causes, localization of the lesion and the type of blood flow disorders.
Symptoms of varicose veins
In the initial stage of patients, only aesthetic discomfort worries.In the future they join:
- aching pain, convulsions, skin itching;
- swelling, especially in the evening, severity and fatigue in the legs;
- A sense of bursting.
Less frequent, but more serious symptoms include:
- subcutaneous hemorrhages from a broken vein;
- thrombophlebitis;
- trophic ulcers;
- "Wet" dermatitis;
- Rough cicatricial changes in the skin.
These complications are much worse for treatment than pathology at an early stage.
To explore the veins on the legs and get the treatment of varicose veins, you need to contact a vascular surgeon or phlebologist.Diagnosis necessarily includes ultrasound dopplerography of veins to assess the bloodstream, the wall of the vessel, valve apparatus.
Treatment of varicose veins
Methods of how to treat varicose veins depend on the size and location of altered veins, the presence of symptoms and skin changes.Treatment of varicose veins is carried out using various methods:
- the raised position of the legs in the position of lying or sitting;
- the use of specially selected compression knitwear;
- sclerotherapy (the introduction of a special drug in the lumen with the formation of a blood clot and the subsequent destruction of the vein);
- ablation of pathologically altered veins using laser, radio frequency and other techniques;
- Surgical treatment of varicose veins on the legs - phlebectomy.
In the early stages of the disease, the doctor will prescribe a medicine for varicose veins for oral or external use:
- tablets from varicose veins;
- Ointment from varicose veins with anti -inflammatory, venotonic, anticoagulant and other useful effects.
Additionally, many patients use the treatment of varicose veins on the legs with folk remedies:
- alcohol tinctures of horse chestnut or kalanchoe leaves for rubbing and compresses;
- compresses from tomatoes, cabbage, kalanchoe;
- Infusions of herbs - nettles, yarrow, chamomile and St. John's wort, sheet of raspberries, and alteen root.
Prevention of the disease
To prevent or slow down the development of varicose veins, doctors propose to adhere to such prevention rules:
- periodic lifting the legs to the pillow;
- rejection of prolonged standing;
- the use of preventive compression knitwear, which can be selected in a pharmacy or medical store;
- regular physical activity (walking);
- weight control;
- If necessary, standing for a long time - performing simple exercises (rolling from toe to heel, climbing socks, rotation in feet).
Such measures will contribute to the mechanical reduction in the load on the venous channel, the improvement of the valve apparatus of the veins and the preservation of the vascular wall.