Symptoms and treatment of varicose veins of the legs

One of the oldest diseases of the vascular system is varicose veins of the legs. The disease most often develops in women. The pathological process is based on dilation of internal or deep veins, which leads to an inflammatory process of the superficial venous network. As a result, blood flow and tissue nutrition are disrupted, which provokes the most dangerous complication in the form of trophic ulcers.

Causes of pathology

The disease most often affects the veins of the lower extremities, as this part of the body has the greatest load. Signs of varicose veins in women often appear during pregnancy.There are many reasons that contribute to the development of symptoms of varicose veins of the legs:

• The hereditary predisposition to the development of varicose veins is due to the transfer from the child's parents to a special gene that mutates and contributes to the formation of a weak vascular wall.
• Hormonal disorders in the female body during pregnancy, lactation, menopause adversely affect the condition of blood vessels, lead to the formation of blood clots and other pathological conditions.
• Severe forms of obesity lead to lack of physical activity, circulatory disorders, increased intra-abdominal pressure. As a result, venous blood flow is disrupted, leading to the development of varicose veins. An additional factor is the violation of lipid metabolism and the deposition of harmful cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels.
• Type 1 diabetes adversely affects the condition of the vascular system and ultimately leads to complications. The second type is not so dangerous for blood vessels, so it rarely provokes varicose veins.
• Sedentary lifestyle, hard physical labor invariably lead to impaired venous outflow.
• Frequent abuse of alcohol, coffee, strong tea leads to dehydration, especially when combined with the use of a minimum amount of water. As a result, the blood thickens, blood clots form, which provokes blockage of blood vessels and circulatory disorders.
• An unbalanced diet with an insufficient amount of vitamin C in the diet, which is responsible for the condition of the vessels, their strength.
• Congenital, chronic blood abnormalities, characterized by excessive formation of clotting factors and the formation of blood clots.
• Wearing tight clothing that prevents venous return.
• Periodic or chronic constipation. During straining, the intra-abdominal pressure increases, which disrupts blood flow.
• Chronic pathologies of the heart that have a negative impact on the entire vascular system.
• The use of drugs that increase blood clotting.

Another factor that provokes the symptoms of varicose veins of the lower extremities in women is the frequent wearing of high heels. It has been proven that men get sick 2 times less often.

Symptoms and stages of development of the disease

The symptoms and treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities depend on the stage of the pathological process. There are several stages in the development of the disease:

1. In the initial stagepathologies in the legs and feet appear spider veins with dark blue or purple color. They do not disturb the patient and do not protrude above the surface of the skin.
2. In the second stageseveral varicose veins appear, hard and painful to the touch. Nodes are felt in the affected veins.
3. Third stagecharacterized by the appearance of a large number of deformed veins protruding above the level of the epidermis.
4. In the fourth stageredness of the epidermis or blue spots appear at the site of the affected veins, which begin to itch. The itching is so unbearable that the patient cannot control it. A weeping, painful surface appears at the scratches.
5. In the fifth or sixth stagespots merge to form ulcers. In the absence of treatment, the process of tissue necrosis begins, reaching the bone in advanced cases.

In the initial stages, there may be no pain in the legs with varicose veins. The symptoms appear with the progression of the pathological process.Common symptoms of the disease include the following:

• Feeling of heaviness in the legs until the end of the working day, even with minimal effort.
• Swelling after exercise, disappearing after resting in a horizontal position.
• Convulsive muscle contraction at night.
• Excessive dryness of the epidermis in the shins, itching and burning.
• Increased fatigue.

In addition, the patient begins to worry about constant, writhing pain in the limbs. As a result, he avoids physical activity and spends a lot of time in a sitting position. In the advanced stages, when trophic ulcers turn into a necrotic form, the patient's movement is very difficult, as the pain becomes unbearable.

Possible complications of varicose veins

Lack of treatment leads to the development of severe consequences of varicose veins. Complications develop in 30% of patients. Common complications are venous bleeding, thrombophlebitis, dermatitis, eczema, which develop as a result of impaired blood supply to tissues.

Most often, trophic ulcers occur, which significantly reduce the patient's quality of life. Improper and untimely treatment provokes tissue necrosis. In this case, surgical treatment is indicated by excision of necrotic foci.

Methods for diagnosing disease

During the diagnosis of the disease it is very important to determine the cause that caused it. This will facilitate treatment.

The first stage of the test will be a test: the patient is placed on the couch, he raises his leg perpendicular to the body and holds it for 30 seconds to ensure blood flow from the veins of the lower extremities. Then, with a special tourniquet, the limb is pulled in the thigh area and the patient is invited to stand up. Usually the blood flow to the limb should last at least 15 seconds. If this period is shorter, the presence of the initial stage of varicose veins is suspected.

During phlebography, a special contrast agent is injected intravenously into the patient and the patency of the deep veins is assessed on an X-ray. Doppler imaging is performed to determine patency in a particular vessel.

The most informative method is ultrasound angiography, which not only allows you to assess the patency of the dilated vessel, but also to see the degree of its damage.

Based on the data from the diagnostic examination, the doctor draws up a treatment plan that is individual for each case.

Principles of conservative therapy

The initial stages of the pathological process are successfully treated conservatively. Tablets and topical agents in the form of gels and ointments are used to eliminate the symptoms of the pathology.The most commonly prescribed drugs are:

1. Varicose vein tablets. They have anti-inflammatory, decongestant, analgesic, tonic properties, stimulate blood circulation, strengthen the vascular wall, eliminate itching, burning, restore the elasticity of blood vessels. Some of them are in the form of ointments or gels.
2. External agents act similarly to tablets. Effective in the early stages of the pathological process. The use of such means is allowed in the absence of trophic ulcers.
3. A mandatory step in treatment will be the intake of anticoagulants, such as acetylsalicylic acid, which will help prevent further blood clots.
4. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain in the later stages of the disease.

The early stages of varicose veins are successfully treated with laser photocoagulation. During the procedure, the affected vessels are exposed to a laser that seals them, preventing further progression of the pathology. Most often, the manipulation is performed in order to remove a cosmetic defect, as the affected limb looks unattractive.

Methods of surgical intervention

Advanced cases of the disease are less susceptible to conservative therapy. When the pathological process moves to the stage of trophic ulcers, the patient is offered surgery, which will radically solve the problem.

Sclerotherapy refers to minimally invasive methods of therapy and consists of eliminating nodules. During the manipulation, a special sclerosing agent is injected into the lumen of the vein, which contributes to its gradual death. Prior to administration, the vessel is removed from the general circulation by ligation and excision.

Phlebectomy is the complete removal of diseased vessels through small incisions or punctures. It is performed to remove extensive lesions.

As a rule, the recovery period is painless. For 2-4 weeks the patient should wear compression underwear or bandage the affected limb with an elastic bandage.

Recipes for alternative medicine

In the early stages of varicose veins folk remedies are quite effective. Most doctors approve of the combination of conservative therapy and non-traditional prescriptions.The following are considered the most effective:

1. Compress of chopped green tomatoes will help relieve pain and swelling, normalize blood circulation, which are applied to the affected area and left overnight, fastened with a bandage. Many do not understand why green tomatoes because they have less nutrients. But the secret of this product lies in the high content of lycopene, which removes congestion. It is allowed to use ripe fruit in the form of a paste.
2. To enhance the effect of drugs, it is recommended to consume freshly squeezed vegetable juices from carrots and beets daily. Especially valuable is the juice of celery leaves, which has an extremely positive effect on blood vessels.
3. An effective means of relieving pain are grated potatoes, which should be applied to the feet, left for 4 hours, washed. Repeat the procedure daily until the patient's condition is relieved.
4. Protruding veins can be treated with a special compress of 1 part minced garlic and 2 parts oil. The compress is applied at night for 2 weeks.
5. Chestnut-based tincture will help relieve heaviness and pain in the legs. To prepare it, you need to take 200 g of peeled fruit, grind and pour a liter of alcohol, leave for 2 weeks to infuse. Use for rubbing every night for 21 days. Take a break for 10 days and repeat the course.
6. Chamomile oil is an effective remedy. It is necessary to prepare it from 150 g of crushed flowers and 500 ml of olive oil. After 10 days of infusion the composition is ready for use. It is allowed to rub inflamed limbs or apply compresses at night. Carry out treatment until the condition is relieved.

Such agents should be used with the permission of a physician. You can avoid allergic reactions with the help of a preliminary test for individual intolerance to a particular drug.

Disease prevention measures

People who are prone to developing varicose veins should take preventative measures. It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and loose clothing that does not interfere with venous outflow. You need to adhere to the principles of healthy eating, walk, give up bad habits.

As a preventive measure, it is necessary to periodically take multivitamin preparations that strengthen the vascular wall.

At the first signs of varicose veins, you should immediately contact a specialist who will prescribe the necessary treatment. This will help avoid serious complications.