What is varicose veins: symptoms and treatment

Vascular diseases pose a serious threat to human health and even life. Among them are varicose veins. This pathology in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) is identified by code number 183. Fighting such a disease is quite a difficult process and requires a lot of effort from the patient himself. What is varicose veins? Lower limb disease is a pathological process, during the development of which there is damage to the blood vessels of the legs, which manifests itself in the form of their dilation, curvature, as well as the appearance of irreversible changes in the valvular apparatus (anatomical structures). which prevent non-physiological blood flow). As a result, a person may develop valvular insufficiency.

In the initial stages of varicose veins, the symptoms are characterized by the formation of nodules in the venous network or spider veins, an increase in the size of the subcutaneous veins, their pain and a feeling of heaviness in the legs. In case of disease progression, symptoms of chronic venous circulatory failure of chronic nature are added (eg swelling of the lower leg, foot, trophic ulcers, cramps in the calf muscles, thrombophlebitis and damage to the altered blood vessels). to the general clinical picture.

Sometimes, if a person has any congenital diseases, swelling can occur not only in the veins of the legs, but also in the vessels of certain internal organs. For example, the development of portal hypertension often provokes esophageal vasodilation, and when varicocele occurs, capillary varicose veins of the spermatic cord are observed.

Regardless of the location of the pathological process, there is a hereditary predisposition to enlargement of the capillaries, the appearance of which is associated with the presence of congenital weakness of the vascular walls in humans and insufficiency of the venous valves. At the same time, varicose veins in men, based on medical statistics, are slightly less common than females. At each stage of varicose veins treatment has many nuances and takes a long time.

Causes that contribute to the development of the disease

Vascular disease such as varicose veins of the lower extremities can have many predisposing factors. The most common of these are:

1. hereditary predisposition. As a result of the lack of connective tissue in the human body, a weakening of the tone of the vascular walls can occur, which in turn will contribute to the expansion of the venous system of the legs.

2. The presence of overweight.
3. Pregnancy. In this case, the pathology may occur due to an increase in the volume of blood circulating through the body and compression by the uterus of the vessels located behind the abdominal cavity.
4. Malnutrition. The possibility of developing the disease increases in those people whose diet does not contain raw vegetables and fruits or with a small amount of consumption.
5. Hormonal imbalance. Scientists have proven that long-term use of drugs that contain hormonal substances in their composition, they can adversely affect not only the human hormonal background, but also the condition of blood vessels.
6. Sedentary way of life. For example, a long stay of the body in the same sitting or standing position contributes to the development of stagnant circulatory disorders of the lower extremities. Also, long-term wearing of corsets, which provoke an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, has an adverse effect on the vascular system of the legs. The same detrimental effect is caused by the tight outer and lower clothing, squeezing the arteries located in the area of the inguinal folds.
7. Psychosomatic factor. The constant impact on a person of strong stressful situations.

Clinical manifestations of the pathology

The symptoms and treatment of varicose veins completely depend on the stage of development of the disease. Sometimes some patients, even before the onset of visual symptoms of varicose veins, may complain of a feeling of heaviness in the legs, increased fatigue, pain in the ankle. In addition, there is a possibility of developing telangiectasias.

The initial stage is characterized by the absence of venous outflow disorders. Quite often the disease can occur in the compensatory stage, which is expressed in the form of asymptomatic development of the pathological process. In this case, most patients are not even aware of the presence of varicose veins, so they simply do not go to the doctor.

With further progression of the disease, a person has well-defined first signs of varicose veins, which have the following manifestations:

1. Syndrome of transient pain, swelling, which are formed mainly during prolonged stay of the body in an upright position. Such symptoms disappear as soon as the person assumes a supine position.
2. Feeling of constant heaviness in the lower extremities, dull pain, leg fatigue and convulsions, which occur mainly at night.
3. Itchy skin. This manifestation of vascular disease becomes more pronounced in the evening and shows the development of trophic disorders (deterioration of the nutrition of epidermal tissues, manifested in the form of ulcerative neoplasms that form on its surface). Pathological changes in the dermis are often localized on the front and inside of the ankle.
4. When performing an external examination of the patient's legs, the doctor finds a sufficiently large swelling of the capillaries and a widespread violation of venous circulation. In some cases, varicose veins are accompanied by severe dizziness and loss of consciousness, which occurs as a result of a sharp drop in blood pressure.
5. The skin in the area of deterioration of circulatory processes becomes tight, rough and dry.

The method of treatment of the disease

How to deal with varicose veins? In the fight against this disease, three main treatment regimens are used:

1. Conservative therapy. How to remove varicose veins in conservative ways? This method of eliminating the disease includes following general recommendations, ie maintaining an active lifestyle, regular physical education, the use of elastic bandages and compression stockings. In addition, the patient is prescribed some phlebotonic drugs. It is impossible to treat varicose veins only with conservative therapy, because this method of eliminating the disease can not completely restore varicose veins;

2. Compression sclerotherapy. This method of eliminating the pathology involves the introduction of a special drug into the varicose vein. As a result, a spasm occurs in the affected vessel, after which a compression stocking is placed on the patient's leg to keep it in the resulting state. After 3 days, the walls of the vein begin to stick together. The patient should wear such a sock for 1 month - until dense adhesions are formed. Treatment of varicose veins without surgery is prescribed only for patients who do not have an advanced condition of the pathological process.
3. Surgery. How to treat varicose veins with surgery? A large number of surgical techniques, including microsurgery, laser and radiofrequency vein coagulation, are used surgically to remove vascular pathology. How to get rid of varicose veins through surgery? Surgical treatment of the disease involves complete removal of the affected vessels.

Can varicose veins be cured without surgery? Experts say that it is possible to do without excision of varicose veins, but only if the disease is not advanced, when it is not possible to restore normal blood circulation in the lower extremities.

Its effectiveness will also depend on which therapy to use, so the patient should not disregard the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor, but fully adhere to all the recommendations of the doctor.