Being a fairly common disease of the veins and arteries, varicose veins are accompanied by characteristic manifestations that allow the disease to be diagnosed in a timely manner and to prevent its aggravation. There are certain stages of varicose veins, which are accompanied by certain symptoms and can become indicators of both the neglect of the pathological process and the opportunity to identify current changes.
However, phlebologists today do not have a consensus on the isolation of the stages of the disease, since the discharge of the manifestations and their characteristic course are not constant values: each case has its own characteristics of the manifestation and course. of this disease, and against In the context of parallel current bodily injuries, there is a high probability of manifestations of lubrication, which can interfere with the correct diagnosis.
The main parameters for determining the stage of varicose veins.
The stages of varicose veins are usually formed according to the set of certain manifestations that characterize the degree of neglect of the current pathological process, as well as its effect on the patient's body as a whole. Classification of the manifestation of this disease is the simplest method of preliminary diagnosis and determination of the treatment scheme.
To determine the stage of this disease, a series of specific questions must be answered that will make it possible to understand the existing symptoms and, with their help, to determine the degree of aggravation of the process, which largely determines the possibilities of treatment.
These problems include:
- the presence of characteristic manifestations of varicose veins and the degree of their manifestation;
- location and strength of symptoms;
- the presence of external manifestations of changes in the state of the large veins and arteries;
- identification of concomitant manifestations that worsen the patient's condition.
However, even without a detailed diagnosis by a phlebologist, during an external examination of the patient, it is possible to make a preliminary diagnosis, which will make it possible to draw a scheme of therapeutic effects and, depending on the individual specific characteristics of the patient's body, the Presence of current comorbidities and susceptibility to ongoing exposure make certain adjustments to treatment. It is important in the course of diagnosing the patient's condition to determine what types of varicose veins occur, their location and the degree of neglect of the pathological process.
Very often, varicose veins affect the lower extremities, since it is this area of the human body that receives the most important loads. At the same time, not everyone is aware of this load on the legs and does not protect them even in the presence of a number of manifestations that signal the need for a more attentive attitude to the limbs and veins. Therefore, in order to understand how the stages of varicose veins differ, it is necessary to get at least general ideas about the manifestations of this pathology, which is distinguished by its severity and great dangers to the health of the legs and the human body as a whole.
The details of the classification of varicose veins.
The stages of varicose veins can differ in the shape and location of the current pathological process in the veins. This approach is more convenient to understand the degree of neglect of the disease and also allows to determine the cause of the onset, which will sooner eliminate the current manifestations of this condition and characteristic symptoms.
The types of varicose veins differ in several specific parameters. The use of a certain classification allows you to determine the belonging of an existing disease to a group, which facilitates a further diagnosis and the choice of a treatment system. The modern classification according to the location of the main nodes of varicose veins is as follows:
- Varicose veins located in the superficial layer of the skin and deep veins, while external manifestations are characterized by segmentation - changes in the state of the veins are noticeable only in a certain area of the veins.
- Superficial and perforating vein varicose veins, which is also noted in certain segments of the skin.
- Changes in the state of the veins, in which varicose enlargement and pathological changes in the superficial veins are diagnosed in an unexpressed way, reflux.
- Varicose veins, noted in the deep veins, the development of reflux.
The presence of reflux indicates the presence of a certain pathology, since with reflux, the blood flows in the opposite direction. This phenomenon usually aggravates the pathological process of changes in the veins, stimulating the aggravation of varicose veins, followed by the coverage of an increasing area of veins and arteries. All types of varicose veins can show signs of reflux, which is already a certain pathology and requires medical intervention.
Understanding the severity of the disease makes it possible to start treatment in a timely manner, since even the initial stage of the process, which has a relatively small number of external manifestations, is dangerous for the health of the legs. Varicose veins of the 1st degree can be practically asymptomatic, but this does not mean that it is not necessary to treat the disease.
An external examination of the veins affected with altered veins will allow the specialist to roughly determine the probable cause of this disease. However, to clarify the diagnosis, one must undergo a full range of diagnostic procedures that will make it possible to establish the degree of prevalence of the autologous process, as well as correct the intended therapeutic effect to obtain the most pronounced and long-lasting positive results. The classification will help to make a diagnosis according to the external manifestations of the disease, as well as to determine the system of therapeutic effects.
Classification according to the degree of aggravation.
Today, the generally accepted classification method must be considered a variant that divides the course of the disease into certain stages. Each of them has characteristic manifestations, with the onset of the later stage, a greater degree and strength of symptoms is observed, a high prevalence of the affected area.
The classification of the disease, which is carried out based on the degree of negligence, is as follows:
- early stage of varicose veins - at the initial stage of the pathological process, there is a gradual accumulation of characteristic manifestations of the disease, which are not always noticed by the patient. This stage is often called latent - a person can cancel unpleasant sensations after a whole day on his feet from elementary fatigue, the presence of a certain excess weight. However, if to the listed factors we add the child's expectancy period, heredity (if there is at least one close relative with existing varicose veins, one can safely assume one's own tendency to develop this disease in oneself), then one you can ignore the pathological changes manifested in the veins of the lower ones for a long time.
- the first stage is already characterized by such manifestations as periodic numbness of the legs (especially with prolonged preservation of a standing and standing position), pain in certain parts of the legs, a feeling of tension in the legs and veins due to deterioration of the quality of the blood circulation process, the veins at the same time expand and strong tension. Externally, the first stage of the disease manifests itself in the appearance of small areas with visible veins and blood vessels, which can bother the patient when pressing on said area;
- Second-degree varicose veins can have the following characteristic manifestations:
- pain becomes more pronounced, increases at the end of the day;
- Hematomas and areas with altered veins and capillaries appear on the skin, which are visible even with the naked eye;
- the degree of injury increases, which is revealed by an increase in the area of injury.
- third degree varicose veins are less curable. All characteristic symptoms are aggravated, the pain becomes more severe, and the affected area covers most of the leg. The condition and color of the skin on the legs changes: they take on a darker tone, the skin itself becomes an unhealthy structure, increasingly similar to dead skin. At this stage, varicose veins almost always require surgical intervention, as there is a high risk that a thrombus will develop and separate from the vessel wall, which can obstruct the vessel lumen and have serious consequences in the form of limb risk. amputation. The third stage is the most dangerous due to the high probability of concomitant negative manifestations during treatment.
In the second degree of this pathological process, there is a strong heaviness in the legs, a feeling of bursting of the veins and skin, the so-called goose bumps may appear on the legs and in the popliteal region, which is not associated with factors external. . Second degree varicose veins are still treatable; in later stages, the process of aggravation of the disease progresses at an increasingly rapid rate and affects more and more areas of the lower extremities, while the treatment process is difficult and does not always give positive results;
There are also capillary varicose veins, in which small blood vessels receive a load, the quality of blood circulation gradually deteriorates, characteristic signs appear in the form of increased fatigue of the extremities, the appearance of swelling of the affected tissues and a change in color. of the skin at the site of injury.
Varicose veins have stages that gradually become more complicated, while the method of treatment is determined both by the localization of the injury site and by the subjective manifestations of the disease. Anyone who has noticed at least one of the signs of this formidable disease must remember that the probability of the transition of the disease in a short time to a deeper stage and a significant deterioration in the health of the lower extremities is high. In addition, in the absence of the necessary treatment, the patient may become disabled; As medical statistics show, this, on average, takes about 11 years from the moment the first characteristic manifestations of the disease appear.
Why is treatment necessary?
Varicose veins of the lower extremities, or VBNK, accompanied by a gradual deterioration of blood circulation, the appearance of increasingly profound symptoms, requires an immediate medical response. When detecting varicose veins of the lower extremities, a more detailed diagnosis of veins and blood vessels is made, the degree of neglect of the process is determined.
Lower extremity disease needs treatment due to the rapid worsening of the current disease process, affecting more and more areas. The probability of remaining disabled is high, especially in old age, when there is a general suppression of the basic functions of the body and a decrease in the degree of resistance to disease. And in the presence of concomitant injuries, the treatment of varicose veins in the legs is even more difficult.
Since the disease is characterized by several types (or stages), differing in the degree of aggravation of the pathological process, treatment should be carried out in accordance with the results of the diagnoses made, as well as taking into account the individual characteristics of the organism.