How to get rid of varicose veins in the legs? Varicose veins of the lower extremities are the bane of modern people.
There are a large number of people in the world who suffer from this malignant disease for a long time. What kind of disease is this and what does it "eat" with?
Varicose veins
This vascular pathology, varicose veins, has taken one of the "precious first places", among all other types of vascular diseases, since it is most often diagnosed in the enlarged veins of the legs.
With this disease, the walls of the saccular veins expand. From this, the length of the veins increases and we can see with the naked eye their serpentine tortuosity, as well as the spherical protrusions (knots) throughout.
17-25% of all humanity suffer from this disease. And if in youth the frequency of detection of this disease is more or less the same between both sexes. Then, in adulthood, women become leaders compared to men, practically surpassing them twice.
There is such a version that hormonal changes during menstruation and during pregnancy lead to a weakening of the tone of the veins, which gives them a significant expansion and disrupts 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 become concomitant.
The disease is genetically determined by the immaturity of the valvular function of the veins, which is aggravated by the underdevelopment of the connective tissue components within the vascular wall.
And 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 hypercoagulability factors. Which leads to the formation of blood clots, which do not allow free blood circulation and lead to the expansion of the lumen of blood vessels.
About the menstrual cycle and pregnancy in women, I have already described above. As age increases, menopause increases, estrogen decreases, progesterone increases at the same time and this is an additional reason, because blood coagulation factors generally increase.
And also add to this a decrease in the synthesis of collagen, elastic fibers, which lose their functions within the wall and reduce the tone of the walls of the venous vessels. The picture is such that blood flow decreases, valvular insufficiency appears and blood clots form.
As 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 increased pressure under compression areas.
In connection with the lack of insulin, the metabolism as a whole in the body is distorted.
Hyperglycemia leads to 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 fluids from the body. Dehydration, on the other hand, leads to increased blood clotting and disrupts blood flow.
If you are constantly exposed to increased physical activity, or constantly have to stand. In such persons, the risk of developing the disease increases due to blood stagnation in the lower extremities and very high intra-abdominal pressure, which does not allow blood to flow to the heart at a sufficient level.
With constipation, intra-abdominal pressure increases when a person pushes. So you can trace 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 surgeries, severe cardiovascular diseases with circulatory failure, chronic inflammatory processes of the pelvic cavity (prostatitis in men, inflammation of the appendagesin women) and, of course, smoking.
- Because of heredity. The disease is genetically determined by the immaturity of the valvular function of the veins, which is aggravated by the underdevelopment of the connective tissue components within the vascular wall.
- Due to blood coagulation pathology. This group includes people with congenital hypercoagulability factors.
- Due to hormonal changes. This group includes menstrual cycles and pregnancy, as well as menopause.
- due to increased body weight. Especially with the abdominal type, when it turns out that obesity mechanically affects the venous walls.
- Because of diabetes. In connection with the lack of insulin, the metabolism in the body is distorted. Hyperglycemia leads to a decrease in the elasticity of the blood vessel walls and vasodilation occurs.
- Because of alcoholism. Alcohol has the ability to remove fluids from the body. Dehydration leads to increased blood clotting and impairs blood flow.
Symptoms of varicose veins
They are the first warning signs of varicose veins of the lower extremities. It is worth paying attention to them. The main thing is not to miss them in order to start treatment in time.
- The appearance of veins and spider webs, because the small blood vessels have already dilated and even become visible through the skin
- The second stage, we observe the formation of prominent nodes, which are shaken and arranged in clusters.
- Visible swelling and fatigue of the legs begins, people begin to suffer from frequent leg cramps (more at night), feel itching, fever, "goosegun" crawling
All these symptoms appear depending on the classification of varicose veins.
About the classification of varicose veins
The international scientific community has introduced a systematization of pathological varicose veins using a special classification CEAP (Clinical Etiology Anatomy Pathology). This typology includes 6 clinical stages in varicose veins:
- Zero. The patient has subjective complaints without obvious etiology, suspicions of varicose veins, but according to the results of a visual examination and research, no obvious signs have yet been identified.
- Graduate. A small vascular network is visible through the skin, small, rare swelling, the appearance of: heaviness, burning, feeling of "buzzing" in the legs.
- degree II. This is already the starting point that shows true varicose veins. There are symptoms of a special external manifestation of dilated vessels, the formation of venous nodes, which increase after a long standing or a long static position. It is from this stage that the possibility of thrombosis can already be observed
- degree III. Here, the symptoms of the second group are aggravated by regular swelling, more noticeable by the end of the day, and pulling, aching pain in the calves.
- degree IV. Visible trophic changes in the skin. From a large accumulation 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 will cause atrophy of the dermis and ulcers over time.
- degree V. A similar course of symptoms, as in the fifth stage, but with a healed trophic ulcer
- degree VI. Caused by the already 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 joints (when even the slightest mechanical effect can lead to an elongated and thinned wall of the veins in an advance); bleeding in this case occurs very strongly and will lead to a large loss of blood.
Diagnosing
You should go to an appointment with a phlebologist. Who will be able to identify varicose veins at a glance, but still collect an anamnesis, listen to your complaints.
There are special functional tests that the doctor must prescribe.
In addition, there will be instrumental diagnostic methods, including X-ray contrast angiography and ultrasound in duplex Doppler scanning mode.
Everything about the treatment of varicose veins
A few decades ago there was still such a thing that he turned to a phlebologist, a 100% vascular operation would be done, otherwise veins were not treated then.
But, for the last 10-15 years, small and micro-invasive high-tech techniques have been used, such assh.
- Sclerotherapy (artificial disappearance, 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 by gradually removing it, the walls "stick")
In these cases, you no longer have to endure a major and traumatic surgery.
Plus, a powerful therapy with a complex character is added, it includes the appointment of venotonic drugs, anticoagulants, antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory agents.
Good efficiency gives the use of:
- Elastic bandage and compression stockings
- Hirudotherapy
- diets
- Therapeutic exercises
- 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 bandaging technique - you need to start from the toes, with the mandatory grip of the heel and gradually releasecompression closer to the knee)
But we must not completely forget that varicose veins still belong to the category of surgical diseases. And if, according to the advanced stage, according to the indications, a radical effect is needed, then it can be achieved only by surgery.
One of the basic operations is phlebectomy. The vein is removed, and the dry residual functional viability of the vein is only 10% of the norm.
However, it is better to do without taking it to the extreme stage, varicose veins of the lower extremities can be completely cured if, without delay, (however, this applies to any disease), consult a phlebologist.
It is absolutely not necessary to take the matter to a "major" operation: varicose veins of the lower extremities are completely healed today, but this disease does not go away "by itself".
Conclusion
No wonder they say: "the salvation of man, in the hands of man himself. "And although varicose veins are not an easy disease and tend to progress rapidly, it will take only 10 years, from the zero degree of varicose veins to the development of pathology in the 6th degree.
In total - 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 news that the body will tell you about the beginning of pathological changes in the veins. It is always easier to prevent than to cure an advanced stage of any disease. All health.