Varicose veins of the lower extremities: appearance of spider veins (webs) and dilated saphenous veins in the legs. The disease, which is widespread in the adult population, is more common in women than in men.
The disease received this name when translated from Latin, it literally means: swelling, expansion.
The first sensations with this disease are very different for each patient, but the feeling of heaviness in the legs, rapid fatigue, aching pains along the vein unites them all.
Treatment should be selected by an experienced physician who can objectively assess the stage and development of the disease.
The pathology, which is often just a cosmetic defect, however, in some cases, can lead to serious complications and persistent disability.
What are varicose veins, the mechanisms of development of pathology
Some people after 40 years of age can face a rather unpleasant situation - the appearance of varicose veins on the legs. Small purple vessels that penetrate the skin, woven into cobwebs or resembling a densely branched tree, are a serious cosmetic problem for many, especially women. Vascular networks "out of nowhere" (in medicine, the term telangiectasia is used) is the expansion of small veins less than 1 millimeter in diameter located in the thickness of the skin. This is one of the signs that a person has varicose veins on the legs.
If the nodes begin to protrude above the surface of the skin, soft to the touch, which become more noticeable when a person is standing, then we can talk about another manifestation. This is already a more serious pathology - varicose enlargement of the large and small saphenous veins, as well as their branches.
The veins in the legs are soft, thin-walled channels that return blood to the heart. To counteract the force of gravity, nature has provided them with valves that prevent the reflux (reflux) of blood. There are two venous systems in the lower extremities: superficial and deep. The first is represented by the vessels that are under the skin, so that they can be seen. The second is the deep veins of the legs, located next to the bones in the thickness of the muscles. There are communications between these systems: perforating veins.
The inability of the valves to perform their function leads to stagnation of blood in the lower parts, the discharge of its "excess" through the perforating veins from deep to superficial. This, in turn, creates increased pressure on the venous system in the legs, located under the skin. What makes your glasses react to this is "twisting and stretching. "And that is why varicose veins occur in the legs.
Reasons for development
There are many conditions that lead to valve damage and loss of elasticity in the vessel wall. There are decisive causes of varicose veins in the legs, which are most often associated with this disease:
- Age. Over the years, our veins lose their elasticity and begin to expand. Valves also "stiffen", lose elasticity and stop performing their function normally.
- Pregnancy is accompanied by an increase in the volume of blood in the body and also helps to slow down its movement in the lower extremities (the large uterus presses on the veins of the small pelvis). Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy also play a role. As a general rule, untreated varicose vein symptoms resolve within 12 months of delivery.
The resulting telangiectasias (or, as many doctors incorrectly call them, capillary varicose veins), the causes of the appearance on the face and legs, are often associated with exposure to solar radiation. Therefore, women who want to avoid this cosmetic problem must choose between a beautiful tan or a vascular mesh.
Risk factor's
Varicose veins are a multifactorial pathology.
- Ground. Women are more likely to develop this disease. Hormonal imbalances that occur during pregnancy, the premenstrual period, and menopause can be considered a risk factor because it relaxes the vein wall for a long time. Hormone replacement therapy or long-term use of birth control pills also increases the risk of "getting" varicose veins.
- Inheritance.
- Obesity.
- Standing or sitting (office workers, surgeons, drivers).
- Alcohol abuse. Alcohol and varicose veins also have a definite connection.
Symptoms and diagnosis
At first, the disease may not cause any discomfort, it can be suspected when the following symptoms appear:
- the formation of spider veins, webs on the legs (expansion of intradermal vessels of pink, blue, purple color);
- the veins become "crooked", they protrude above the surface of the skin, like ropes, interrupted by knots.
Later, the following symptoms may be added:
- tired legs
- burning, palpitations, muscle cramps, and swelling in the lower extremities;
- worsening of the manifestations of the disease if a person stands or sits for a long time;
- itching around "swollen" vessels;
- bleeding from varicose veins;
- local and painful hardening of the vessel site;
- changes in skin color or ulceration in the ankle area.
The disease is diagnosed on the basis of data obtained during examination and questioning of the patient. To assess the severity of the pathology (how the valves work, the presence of a blood clot in the veins), Doppler ultrasound is usually sufficient.
Pathology treatment
If a diagnosis of "varicose veins of the legs" is made, this does not mean that a prolonged stay in the hospital is necessary. Thanks to modern minimally invasive procedures, the pathology is usually treated on an outpatient basis.
Change your lifestyle or help yourself
There are several self-help methods that reduce the discomfort of varicose veins and help prevent more varicose veins. Here are some of them:
- Regular exerciseMove as much as you can. Walking regularly is a great physical activity that can improve blood circulation in your legs. How much charge will be optimal; you can ask your doctor about this.
- Constant control of your weight, the excess of which has a detrimental effect on the vessels of the legs. Do not forget about salt, an excessive intake of which in the body causes fluid retention, which increases the load on the veins.
- Pay attention to what you are wearing. Shoes with low heels, unlike high heels, make the muscle-venous pump of the legs work: the gastrocnemius muscle. Avoid wearing tight pants around the groin and waist, as this can affect blood flow.
- Keep your feet up as often as possible. To do this, several times a day, you need to take breaks and raise your legs above the level of the heart, for example, lie down and put them on pillows.
- Avoid sitting or standing for a long time.
Compression therapy
The early stages of lower extremity varicose veins are usually treated with compression stockings. The external compression prevents the veins from swelling, which in turn improves the movement of blood through the vessels.
Additional treatments for a more serious situation
If the modification of the lifestyle and the use of compression stockings do not improve the symptoms, and also if the stages of varicose veins (subcompensation and decompensation) do not allow to cope with the disease on their own, the following treatment options come to the rescue:
- Sclerotherapy.The procedure, which does not require major anesthesia, is performed on an outpatient basis. The doctor injects a special substance (sclerosing agent) into the varicose veins, which sticks the walls together.
- Foam sclerotherapy.Unlike the usual technique, in this technique, the sclerosant is injected into a vein after mixing it with a gas (usually air), allowing larger diameter veins to be treated.
- Laser surgery. . . The new technology, which removes small varicose veins and vascular networks, is performed without skin incisions or vessel perforation.
- Intravenous or laser radiofrequency ablation. . . Technique that involves the introduction of a catheter into the lumen of a vein, at the tip of which is located a laser or radiofrequency energy emitter.
- Saphenous-femoral ligation and removal of the great saphenous vein. . . The first procedure is to bandage and remove the upper section of the vein. During the second, a special probe is inserted into the lumen of the vessel (two incisions are preliminarily made: one in the groin area, the second at the level of the upper third of the leg) and extended along its entire length . It is then removed along with the dilated vein.
- Outpatient phlebectomy. . . The doctor removes small, dilated veins, while making several micro-incisions in the skin. Scars are usually almost invisible.
- Endoscopic vein surgery. . . It is usually done when the patient has an advanced stage of varicose veins of the lower extremities (ulcers appear) or, previous treatment methods, were ineffective.
Varicose veins that appear during pregnancy usually disappear without any treatment within 12 months after delivery.
Alternative medicine
There is a wide arsenal of alternative treatments for chronic venous insufficiency, a condition associated with varicose veins. The following remedies are used most often for this pathology:
- butcher's broom;
- grapes (leaves, juice, seed extract);
- horse chestnut;
- sweet clover.
Before using any herb or dietary supplement, you should make sure that these complementary medications are compatible with the medications prescribed by your doctor and are safe for your specific situation. Therefore, before taking them, you should consult with your doctor.
Prophylaxis
There is no universal and guaranteed way that you can prevent the development of varicose veins in the legs. However, there are preventive measures that help reduce the chances of developing new manifestations of the disease, improve its symptoms. Here are some of them:
- Physical activity (regular sports, where the legs are "involved", for example, walking or running, improves blood circulation in the lower extremities, strengthens blood vessels).
- Weight control (extra kilos increase the load on the lower extremities (pressure on the veins).
- Do not cross your legs while sitting.
- During the break, lift them above heart level.
- Try to avoid sitting or standing still.
- Diet (less salt and more fiber).
It is also worth rinsing your feet with cold water after showering or bathing. Try to visit baths or saunas less often.
Varicose veins in the legs are a widespread problem, the incidence among men varies from 10 to 20% and in women it reaches 33%. Unfortunately, it is impossible to fully recover from this ailment. But new minimally invasive techniques used in medicine can improve symptoms. Early treatment in the early stages of the disease can prevent the development of serious complications.