If you want to know more about varicose veins, check out this article. This will help you understand the main causes of the disease, as well as recognize the first symptoms of varicose veins yourself.
Few people know that varicose veins are a fairly common disease that affects almost 30% of women and 20% of men. This is due to the fact that the first symptoms can be almost imperceptible. This article will help you understand how to independently recognize varicose veins when they are still amenable to conservative and safe treatment.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are a common disease that can cause a lot of discomfort and significantly reduce the quality of life. Varicose veins occur when the vein walls lose their elasticity and cannot effectively pump blood back to the heart. Long standing or sitting, hereditary predisposition, overweight, pregnancy, heart and vascular diseases - all these can lead to varicose veins. There are various methods that can alleviate the symptoms and even get rid of the disease.
Varicose veins are a vascular disease that occurs when the venous valves are weakened and blood circulation is impaired. That's why this is happening.
Our vessels pump blood from the legs to the heart due to the operation of special valves that prevent blood from flowing to the legs under the influence of gravity. But it happens that the valves weaken. And then part of the blood begins to be retained in the veins, and as a result, the pressure on them increases. The vein walls expand and become damaged. Over time, the veins get bigger and bigger. The legs of people with varicose veins may appear as if there are huge ropes under the skin.
Varicose veins are not just an aesthetic problem. This disease can lead to serious complications such as thrombosis, ulcers and even tissue necrosis. That is why it is extremely important to recognize varicose veins yourself and consult a doctor at the first signs. The milder the course of the disease, the easier the treatment will be. The main reasons for the development of varicose veins.
The reasons for the development of varicose veins can be different. Let's take a closer look at each of them.
- One of the main factors is heredity. Varicose veins occur in people with a weakened vein wall due to a genetic mutation. Remember if your family members have had varicose veins. If you have, then you are also at risk of developing this disease. However, don't be too quick to get upset. If you lead a healthy lifestyle and take care of your health, then there is every chance to avoid the appearance of varicose veins. But it is always important to watch your diet and lifestyle and be careful about your health.
- Work on your feet. If you have a profession where you have to spend a lot of time standing, be especially careful about the condition of your feet. There is a high risk of developing varicose veins. First of all, people with standing work are affected by leg muscle immobility. If a person walks a lot, the muscles contract and squeeze the blood vessels, which helps push blood to the heart. But if you stand in one place all day, your veins are left without support. Therefore, when you stand, the likelihood of varicose veins increases. Representatives of the following professions should be particularly careful about their health: teachers, cooks, surgeons, operating nurses, hairdressers, waiters, salespeople, bartenders, turners, massage therapists.
- Sedentary work can also negatively affect the health of vessels and the appearance of varicose veins. These are office workers, drivers, programmers, accountants, librarians, cashiers, seamstresses, bank employees, jewelers and telephone operators. A sedentary lifestyle also increases the risk of developing varicose veins and is dangerous. Eventually, the muscles of the lower legs do not work and the blood stagnates. The veins expand and transform into varicose veins. It is especially bad to have the habit of crossing your legs. You may put pressure on the veins, leading to thrombosis. Don't forget to take breaks during work and at least sometimes do a warm-up or at least walk around the office.
- Heavy physical labor and heavy lifting can also cause varicose veins. This is due to the fact that when lifting heavy weight, there is a surge in intra-abdominal pressure, which is naturally transmitted to the legs and causes stretching of the blood vessels and disruption of the valves. If you are a loader, weightlifter, construction worker, warehouseman, miner or have to lift weights as part of your profession, remember that it is dangerous and can cause varicose veins.
- Long and frequent flights are also dangerous for the functioning of blood vessels. During a flight, changes in atmospheric pressure occur, which also have a negative effect on blood vessels. On a plane, you can't stretch your legs and it's hard to find a comfortable position. Due to the dry air on board the plane, the body suffers from dehydration. Blood viscosity increases, leading to venous stagnation and slowing of blood flow.
- Pregnancy It often happens that the first symptoms of varicose veins appear precisely during pregnancy, because the woman's body is subjected to a huge burden and swelling occurs in the legs. Doctors can often prescribe compression clothing, which can improve the course of the disease.
- Being overweight can also cause varicose veins. In addition, it is important to know that due to excess weight, a person may not notice a single varicose vein for years. Varicose veins can be hidden under a significant layer of subcutaneous fat. Their visualization is not only difficult but also impossible without instrumental techniques. Therefore, if you are overweight and in the evening you feel tired or swollen in the legs, you should consult a phlebologist as soon as possible.
- Bad lifestyle, alcohol abuse, smoking and other bad habits and addictions. In general, varicose veins and bad habits are incompatible. And in combination with smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, this will have serious consequences. Without treatment and control, varicose veins can provoke other vascular diseases, for example, atherosclerosis of the lower extremities.
- Heels are the enemy of your blood vessels. Don't rush to chase beauty. Remember that high heels put a lot of strain on your feet. Shoes should be comfortable first, then beautiful. Heels are of course acceptable to wear, but only on occasion, don't overdo it.
Symptoms of varicose veins in different stages of the disease.
Initial stage of varicose veins. Compensation stage. The initial stage of varicose veins is also called the compensation stage. It received this name due to the fact that when the functioning of the veins in the body is disturbed, special mechanisms are activated that compensate for these disturbances. That's why she's dangerous. A person can ignore the signs of varicose veins for several months, perhaps even years, and miss valuable time for beneficial treatment.
External signs may be completely absent or appear in the form of cobwebs. They should not be underestimated. These are true harbingers of varicose veins.
All that a person can feel in the initial stage of varicose veins is heaviness in the legs, a feeling of fullness and swelling. Most patients attribute these symptoms to fatigue, especially if the work involves a load on the legs.
But if you are sensitive to your health, you noticed these symptoms and consulted a phlebologist in time, then you can be calm. In this case, when varicose veins are diagnosed in the initial stage, conservative non-surgical treatment is prescribed. For example, different types of sclerotherapy.
Classification of varicose veins. What is important to know?
The classification of varicose veins depends on the level at which the affected vein is located. It is important to know about this classification so that you can recognize the symptoms in time and immediately consult a phlebologist.
The classification of varicose veins begins with the identification of the main forms of the disease: primary (idiopathic) varicose veins, secondary varicose veins (consequences of traumatic vein damage), age-related varicose veins (senile), congenital varicose veins (intrauterine formation). of varicose veins) etc.
Primary varicose veins are one of the most common forms of the disease. It can be found in people of any age, but most often this type of varicose veins develops in women. Hereditary factor is one of the causes of this disease.
Secondary varicose veins are a form of the disease that develops after traumatic damage to the veins. Venous thrombosis, surgery, trauma, and other factors can lead to secondary varicose veins. Usually this type of disease occurs at the site of injury.
Senile varicose veins are most common in the elderly. An increase in the age of the body leads to a weakening of the walls of the venous vessels, which has a significant impact on their etymology.
Congenital varicose veins are characterized by the fact that the disease occurs during fetal development. An abnormality in the development of blood vessels causes a violation of their vital function, namely reversible expansion of veins.
Second stage of varicose veins. Subcompensation.
This is the most common stage with which patients already turn to a doctor. Subcompensation is the stage when the body can no longer cope with the disease on its own. In this case, a person not only complains of pain and swelling at the end of the day, but also experiences constant discomfort. It is already difficult for the patient to lead a normal life. In this case, a visit to a phlebologist should be scheduled immediately.
Main symptoms: veins are clearly visible, the skin may acquire a blue tint. Swelling, pain, burning sensation and slight cramps in the legs are noted not only in the evening, but also at night.
Simple treatment at this stage is no longer enough. In this case, EVLT and minimally invasive surgery are usually used.
Third stage. Severe varicose veins. Decompensation.
In this case, the disruption of blood vessels has a negative impact on the functioning of other organs and systems of the body. The nutrition of the tissues suffers, fluid accumulates in them, and trophic ulcers may appear. The veins are severely deformed and serious complications in the form of thrombophlebitis are possible.
At this stage, urgent surgical treatment is required. Otherwise, varicose veins begin to pose a threat to life.
It is important to understand that the disease can have one form of development or different combinations. And the classification of varicose veins is not unambiguous, but rather implies the possibility of different combinations of factors. But regardless of the form, varicose veins require treatment. Proper treatment can lead to full recovery, prevent serious complications and improve the quality of life of patients.
Diagnosis of varicose veins.
The modern clinic has the most accurate and effective methods for diagnosing varicose veins. The main methods for diagnosing varicose veins are:
- Expert review. The first thing you need to do is make an appointment with a phlebologist.
- Ultrasound examination. This is the main diagnostic method used to detect varicose veins. An ultrasound examination of the veins allows you to see any changes in the structure of the veins, determine if there is any obstruction to blood flow, and identify other problems with the veins.
- Phlebography. This is a diagnostic method that allows you to get a more detailed image of the vessels of the lower extremities while a contrast agent is injected into them. This method allows you to diagnose both disorders in the structure of the veins and other problems with the lymphatic system.
- CT scan. This method allows you to get a three-dimensional image of the vessels, which significantly improves the scaling of the veins.
- MRI examination. This method is mainly used when it is not possible to conduct an ultrasound examination, since its effectiveness in the diagnosis of varicose veins is reduced.
- Thermography. This method is based on reading the thermal radiation of the limbs and allows you to determine the presence of diseases in the structure of the veins.
As a rule, making a diagnosis based on research data does not take much time. Most procedures take 10 to 40 minutes. Treatment for the different stages will vary greatly, so you should never self-medicate. All health manipulations can be prescribed only after receiving the results of the examination.
Varicose veins treatment methods
Varicose veins are a serious condition, but they can be treated. There are ways to avoid discomfort and reduce the risk of complications. It is important not to delay the visit to the doctor and follow his recommendations, because early treatment significantly increases the chances of recovery. There are various methods that can alleviate the symptoms and even get rid of the disease.
The first important way to treat varicose veins is to change your lifestyle. People suffering from varicose veins should pay special attention to physical activity. Regular exercise aims to strengthen the muscles of the lower body and stimulate blood circulation. Walking, swimming, gymnastics for the leg muscles - all this can be a good help in the treatment of varicose veins.
The second way is to change your diet. There are many products that can further worsen the situation with varicose veins: strong coffee, hot spices, alcohol, fatty and heavy foods. It is better to choose foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. For example, vegetables, fruits, herbs, non-fermented dairy products, nuts, fish.
The first two methods are mandatory conditions at any stage of the disease.
The next step, if indicated by a doctor, may be drug treatment. The use of ointments, creams and gels that contain substances that improve blood circulation helps to reduce swelling and pain. You can also use drug therapy; Your doctor will prescribe pills.
Modern methods of treating varicose veins include:
- Obliteration and coagulation. The emitter is inserted into the vein by micropuncture. The laser precisely heats the blood, which burns the blood vessel walls and seals the vein (this is called sclerosis). After the procedure is completed, the emitter is removed. Over time, the vein turns into connective tissue and then completely dissolves. The duration of the procedure is about half an hour. Immediately after the treatment is completed, the patient can return to normal life. To consolidate the results obtained, it is necessary to wear compression clothing for several days.
- Sclerotherapy. A special substance is injected into the affected vessel, which glues its walls together. The stuck vessel is cut off from the circulation and dissolves over time.
- Radiofrequency ablation. The mechanism of action is similar to laser therapy. During the procedure, a catheter is inserted into the vein, which heats its walls and also causes them to stick together. After some time, the vein dissolves.
- Miniphlebectomy. It is a minimally invasive surgical operation that is performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting. Through a puncture, the affected vein is carefully removed without incisions or stitches.
- In severe stages of the disease, surgical treatment is indicated, which deprives the twisted veins of the ability to drain blood.
Treatment of varicose veins in modern kinetics
In a modern clinic, they know how to effectively help patients. Doctors have already performed thousands of operations and helped millions of patients get rid of varicose veins. If you suffer from varicose veins, know that it is never too late to go to the clinic and get treatment.
The modern clinic employs only highly qualified doctors specializing in the treatment of varicose veins and other vein diseases. Patients are offered a variety of treatment options, including laser therapy, sclerotherapy, radiofrequency therapy, and surgery. Only state-of-the-art facilities and technologies are used. This guarantees a maximum result and a minimum risk of complications. In addition, the professional clinic is one of the most modern in the field of venous surgery in the country.
Another advantage of the professional clinic is that only an individual approach is provided to patients. Each patient is unique, and during the treatment, all his features are taken into account when choosing a method. The main goal of the clinic is to allow the patient to return to normal life and forget about vein problems.
Don't think that varicose veins will go away on their own. Indeed, in rare cases, symptoms may improve due to lifestyle changes or certain medications. However, it is important to understand that this is only a temporary improvement and treatment is still required. Postponing the visit to the doctor, you can only worsen the course of the disease.