Varicose veins can affect the veins of various organs (esophagus, spermatic cord - varicocele, rectum - hemorrhoids), but varicose veins of the legs are most common.
Varicose veins, or varicose veins (from the Latin varix - node, swelling) - persistent and irreversible expansion and lengthening of the veins (vessels carrying blood to the heart) of the lower extremities with thinning of the venous wall and the formation of “nodes” as a result of gross pathology of the venous walls, as well as insufficiency of their valves due to a genetic defect.
Since ancient times, doctors such as Hippocrates, Avicenna, Galen and Paracelsus tried to treat varicose veins, but without success. The famous Italian anatomist and physician Marcello Malpighi, who discovered the mechanisms of capillary circulation more than 300 years ago, devoted many years to the study of the disease.
Varicose veins are a fairly common disease. Nowadays, every third woman and every tenth man suffer from varicose veins, and most often the disease begins in the working age of 30-40 years. The more time a modern person spends sitting at a computer or in a car, the higher the risk of developing varicose veins. For Russia this problem is very relevant. Russia, in terms of the prevalence of vein diseases, is among the leading countries (USA, France, Great Britain, where on average 30–40% of the population suffers from varicose veins). While a low incidence of varicose veins is observed in African countries and Mongolia (less than 0.1%).
Since varicose veins appear when venous pressure increases. Varicose veins occur not only in the lower extremities; there are also varicose veins of the stomach and esophagus, veins of the small pelvis, veins of the testicle and spermatic cord - varicocele. Varicose veins of the small pelvis are one of the causes of hemorrhoids, and varicocele threatens possible infertility, and surgical intervention is required to prevent this. However, varicose veins of the lower extremities are most common.
The main reasons for the development of varicose veins of the lower extremities are:
heredity - people in whose pedigree there are frequent cases of varicose veins of the legs are at risk;
gender: in women, varicose veins are provoked by pregnancy and taking hormonal medications;
increased venous pressure (sedentary lifestyle, static loads in an upright position, obesity).
These causes of varicose veins contribute not only to the dilation of veins, increased venous pressure or disruption of the normal functioning of venous valves. The consequence of the disease is abnormal, pathological blood flow in the veins of the lower extremities - reflux (pathological, reverse flow of venous blood from deep veins to superficial ones). They also cause the disease to worsen over time, since they increase the pressure on the venous system many times over. Therefore, the hemodynamic features of varicose veins are both a consequence of the disease and its cause. A vicious circle arises.
Correct blood flow is when blood flows through the veins of the legs from bottom to top, that is, against the force of gravity. This is achieved through several mechanisms: the pressure of blood from the arteries (the smallest contribution), the contraction of the leg muscles during movement (this acts as a pump), and the presence of valves in the veins that prevent the blood from flowing back. It is the inability of these valves to perform their function that causes disruption of venous blood flow, which leads to overstretching of the veins. As a result, the blood flow becomes chaotic, blood stagnates in the veins of the lower extremities, especially in the subcutaneous veins, the pressure in them increases so much that the walls of the vessel cannot withstand it and begin to expand and thin out.
People who stand on their feet for a long time (doctors, salesmen, hairdressers, etc.) have a very high risk of developing varicose veins in the legs.
In women, the causes of varicose veins may be associated with hormonal imbalance (for example, incorrectly selected hormonal contraception). In addition, varicose veins of the pelvis, as well as varicose veins of the lower extremities, often develop during pregnancy, when the pressure of the growing uterus on the veins of the abdominal cavity gradually increases, which, in turn, impedes the outflow of blood through the veins of the legs.
In addition, an increase in intra-abdominal pressure when lifting heavy objects, coughing, sneezing, chronic constipation, etc. also leads to disruption of the venous valves.
And finally, disturbances in the normal functioning of the veins are quite natural for older people.
The first symptoms of varicose veins are swelling of the legs at the end of the day, a feeling of heaviness and fullness in the calves, which appears when sitting or standing for a long time. Characteristic of varicose veins is the disappearance or significant reduction of these symptoms when walking and after a night's rest.
Later, bursting pain in the calves, a feeling of heat in the legs and night cramps in the calf muscles appear. In addition, small blue-red spider veins appear on the legs, dark blue intradermal veins become visible, and finally, the saphenous veins dilate, which look like bunches of overripe red grapes.
If varicose veins start to develop, eczema may develop in the affected areas.
So, if you notice the initial symptoms of varicose veins, contact a phlebologist - a specialist in vein diseases - as soon as possible.
The success of treating varicose veins directly depends on the stage of its development at which treatment is started. The sooner you contact a phlebologist, the easier the treatment will be and the risk of complications will decrease.
After the initial examination, the doctor will prescribe one or another type of instrumental examination. As a rule, Doppler ultrasound is sufficient to make a diagnosis. However, if the need arises, radionuclide and radiocontrast methods are also used - special substances are introduced into the bloodstream and their distribution throughout the vessels is examined.
How are varicose veins treated? Varicose veins can be treated using three methods: surgery on varicose veins, sclerotherapy, or medication. In addition, physical therapy and therapeutic knitwear are actively used in the treatment of varicose veins.
In Russia, sclerotherapy is used only in every second case, while in developed countries the prevalence of this method reaches 90 percent. The essence of sclerotherapy is the injection of special drugs into the veins, causing the walls of the vessel to stick together and close its lumen.
In the surgical treatment of varicose veins, the affected veins are simply removed. It is important to note that removal of the saphenous veins does not interfere with blood flow and is safe for the body. Only 10 percent of the blood normally flows through the superficial veins that affect varicose veins. The rest of the load is taken on by the deep veins of the legs. Therefore, after surgery to remove varicose veins, in most cases the function of the superficial veins is easily compensated by these vessels.
Remember: varicose veins can and should be treated, because if left untreated, they are fraught with unpleasant complications.
Varicose veins are a pathological expansion of veins due to disruption of the venous valves. In medicine, there are three degrees of varicose veins, each of which has its own symptoms and treatment methods.
Varicose veins of the 1st degree are called the compensation stage and are characterized by the following symptoms:
Varicose veins of the 2nd degree, or the stage of subcompensation, are determined by the following criteria:
At this stage, dilation of the veins is visible even in the presence of fatty deposits. Most patients seek medical help specifically for the second degree of varicose veins, when the disease requires longer treatment.
Grade 3 varicose veins are called the stage of decompensation. During this period, the disease is accompanied by complications such as thrombophlebitis, venous insufficiency; many patients experience trophic changes in the tissues of the lower extremities, which lead to the development of trophic ulcers.
For patients diagnosed with second-degree varicose veins, conservative or surgical treatment may be recommended.
To increase the effectiveness of therapy, it is recommended to reconsider your lifestyle. This primarily concerns nutrition and physical activity. Your daily diet should include foods rich in vitamins C and PP. This will strengthen the walls of blood vessels that have lost their elasticity. If possible, you should avoid consuming animal fats, which increase cholesterol levels.
Patients should alternate physical stress with rest, during which it is recommended to sit down or lie down with your legs raised. You should not stay in one position for a long time. Useful for second degree varicose veins are exercises to restore blood flow in the lower extremities.
During treatment, it is advisable to use special compression garments, which will stop further deformation of the veins. An elastic bandage has an almost similar effect. It is necessary to put on underwear or wrap a bandage in the morning before getting out of bed. Take them off before going to bed while lying in bed. This use can provide maximum therapeutic effect.
If a patient has grade 2 varicose veins, drug treatment is aimed at restoring the tone of the vascular walls. For this purpose, drugs with venotonic and angioprotective effects are used. The doctor can prescribe products for both external and internal use. Therapy can be supplemented with folk remedies based on medicinal plants and other natural ingredients.
As a method of treatment, hirudotherapy can have a good effect: when using leeches, a special substance hirudin enters the blood, under the influence of which the blood thins and its ability to clot and form blood clots is reduced.
If conservative therapy does not give the expected result or the disease develops too rapidly, varicose veins are eliminated through surgery. The most radical method is phlebectomy - surgical removal of deformed areas. The operation is usually performed under general anesthesia and requires a long recovery period.
Formally, surgical treatment also includes other techniques associated with minimal trauma to the skin and blood vessels. Vein enlargement can be eliminated using sclerotherapy, laser coagulation, and radiofrequency obliteration.
Sclerotherapy is a method of removing damaged veins in which a substance that glues the vascular walls is injected into the deformed area. In this case, the blood flow is gradually redistributed to other vessels, and the glued vein resolves over time. Manipulations take from 20 to 40 minutes, the intervention is performed without anesthesia and does not require long-term rehabilitation.
Laser coagulation is based on the same principle, only the walls are bonded under the influence of elevated temperature. Sealing is carried out using a light guide inserted into the lumen of the vein.
Radiofrequency obliteration is similar to sclerotherapy, but is performed without the use of chemical compounds.
Any intervention requires compliance with certain rules during the first time after surgery. For a quick recovery, it is necessary to use compression garments and follow all the recommendations of specialists.
It should be remembered that timely seeking medical help increases the effectiveness of treatment and will allow you to do without surgical intervention.
Varicose veins or varicose veins is a chronic disease that occurs as a result of impaired blood flow and increased pressure on blood vessels and veins. In recent years, varicose veins have become more common in young people, both in men and young girls. Treatment of varicose veins on the legs must be carried out immediately, because the disease poses a serious threat to human health and life.
There are a number of reasons why varicose veins may develop on the legs of young men and girls. The main causes of varicose veins:
Other causes of varicose veins include:
The causes of varicose veins can be very diverse, so at the first manifestations you should immediately consult a specialist doctor.
In order not to miss the onset of this disease, as well as to prevent its progression, it is necessary to know and remember the first signs and symptoms of the development of varicose veins, so you can consult a doctor in time and begin the necessary course of treatment.
The main symptoms of varicose veins: pain in the legs, burning, heaviness, swelling of the legs is possible in the evening, cramps appear at night, the veins in the legs dilate, the lower leg becomes dark in color. Usually people feel severe heaviness in the legs, aching pain and cramps, especially all symptoms appear with long-term symptoms; sometimes the feet, legs, ankles, and the inside of the knees may swell.
All of the above symptoms are basic; they can become more severe if treatment for varicose veins is not started on time. If other symptoms appear with varicose veins, for example, body temperature rises or a feeling of weakness occurs, then the disease progresses to complications.
There are quite a few methods of treatment for varicose veins, for example, drug treatment, therapeutic therapy, hydrotherapy, traditional methods of treatment, treatment with creams and gels for external use and other methods.
Treatment with creams, ointments and gels. Typically, when varicose veins occur, the superficial blood vessels are initially damaged, and only then the internal ones. Cream, gel or ointment can be used in the first stages of development of varicose veins at home. The most common drugs are: Venitan, Troxevasin, Voltaren, Fastum-gel, Flucinar, Sinaflan.
For drug treatment, tablets, injections and capsules are used; the following drugs are quite common: Angistax, Phlebodia 600, Detralex. Basically, approximately 2-3 tablets per day are prescribed for treatment; treatment generally depends on the physical condition of the patient, his individual characteristics of the body, tolerability of the drug or its individual components, as well as the stage of development of the disease. Treatment of this disease should only be done under the supervision of a doctor.
In modern medicine, water treatment (hydropia) is often used. The method is really effective, since under the influence of different water temperatures the veins narrow and expand, which gives them the greatest elasticity. It is best to use hydrotherapy at the initial stage of disease development.
Stockings or tights for varicose veins are one of the remedies against the disease. Since varicose veins appear less frequently in men than in women, special tights or stockings have been created that protect the legs from pain, fatigue and swelling. Tights compress your legs, which means your varicose veins also compress.
Surgical treatment is used in severe stages of the disease.
In order to undergo surgery, the patient must not have any extraneous cuts or rashes. The operation lasts about two hours and usually leaves a small scar.
General rules for the treatment of varicose veins: first of all, you need to get rid of the habit of crossing one leg on the other leg, walking more, eating as many healthy foods as possible, eliminating fried, salty and spicy foods, using various decoctions, compresses and tinctures.
Varicose veins in men and women can be treated with apple cider vinegar. It is able to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, relieve swelling, and tone the skin. Vinegar can be rubbed into the affected areas of the body, and compresses can be made. You need to soak gauze in vinegar and apply it to the varicose veins, then wrap it in a plastic bag and insulate it with a towel. You need to lie with such a compress for about half an hour or an hour.
Clay can be used to treat varicose veins. Blue, green and white clay are especially beneficial; they can be purchased at any pharmacy. The clay must be diluted with cold water and applied to damaged areas of the body with a thickness of no more and no less than one centimeter. This compress should be worn for about an hour.
It is often recommended to take a tincture made from white acacia flowers. This tincture can be used for compresses and rubbing. To prepare the tincture, you need to pour 100 g of the flower with vodka, leave for three weeks, then rub it into the legs where there are venous dilations.
Prevention of varicose veins is a special system; If you follow simple rules, you can prevent the disease or avoid its complications. Necessary:
It is recommended to ride a bicycle more often (this helps improve the functioning of the heart and blood vessels). In addition, swimming strengthens the body as a whole, veins and blood vessels. It is advisable to do morning and evening exercises every day, monitor your weight, maintain proper nutrition, give up all bad habits, smoking and alcohol, and take contrast showers more often. It is recommended to drink one and a half liters of water per day, perform special exercises that improve blood flow, and take medications that help increase tone.
To comply with preventive measures, you should not wear constrictive things, socks and stockings, because such things strongly compress the veins, and this provokes venous expansion. If there is a feeling of heaviness in your legs, then you should try to keep your legs higher than your body; if you need to constantly stand or sit at the workplace, then you should change the position of your legs more often. Cycling and skiing will be beneficial for legs with varicose veins. Activities such as swimming and walking help strengthen blood vessels and veins.
So, varicose veins are a serious chronic disease that occurs in people regardless of age and gender. It poses serious threats to health and life. The causes can be very different, often varicose veins are observed in people whose relatives have had this disease, in people who work a lot in a sitting or standing position, with hormonal imbalance, heavy physical activity, inflammation of the genital organs, a weak immune system, etc. .
At the first signs of varicose veins, you must immediately consult a specialist doctor so that he can conduct a diagnosis, make a diagnosis and prescribe the necessary course of treatment. Varicose veins can be treated using different methods: medications (tablets and injections), surgery, superficial creams (gels), hydrotherapy, and folk remedies that have been used since ancient times. In order to avoid varicose veins or degeneration into a more complicated degree, you need to follow fairly simple preventive measures (cycling, swimming, skiing, exercise, proper lifestyle and proper diet, etc.). If you try to follow these easy preventive measures, you can avoid the disease.
Varicose veins are a disease that manifests itself in the form of dilation of superficial venous vessels, damage to valves, and impaired blood flow in the legs. The photo shows the stages of varicose veins from the initial to the last. The development of the disease is caused by factors. Symptoms of varicose veins in the legs are usually mild in the early stages, so many people start treatment late; photos and descriptions will help determine the symptoms and first signs. Varicose veins grades 1 - 2: symptoms and causes of its development. The first step is to determine the causes of varicose veins. There are 4 main stages of development of varicose veins (stages of the disease). It is not easy to accurately determine varicose veins of the first degree (and especially zero) on your own. The most common techniques are News. Degrees of varicose veins. Manifestation. Author Alexander Pyatnitsky. Decompensation (varicose veins of the 3rd degree). Varicose veins of the 1st degree are called compensatory. This is caused by powerful conservative treatment. The disease has several stages. It is very difficult to determine the first stage of varicose veins from a photo. To treat varicose veins at the very beginning, it will be enough to take drugs that strengthen the walls of blood vessels and relieve swelling. Varicose veins manifest differently in each person. The disease varicose veins of the 1st degree (see photo below) and its subsequent progression develops when it is impossible to ensure normal blood flow.. Video. The most important sign that forces you to seek medical help for such a disease as varicose veins of the 1st degree will be the appearance of cosmetic problems of spider veins and Varicose veins are a very common disease.
Varicose veins of the legs are accompanied by the following symptoms. Photos of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Photos of the manifestations of varicose veins. First, let's look at the classification of varicose veins and then look at the symptoms of varicose veins on the legs with photos. Degree “II”.
At this stage of varicose veins, the development of thrombophlebitis (depicted in the photo), as well as life-threatening bleeding due to a ruptured varicose node, is possible. Symptoms and signs of the initial stage. Varicose veins, or varicose veins (pictured above), are dilation of veins that are irreversible. After the first examination, the doctor is able to assess the degree of development of the problem. It is based on the degree of circulatory impairment in the veins of the extremities and the body’s ability to resist and compensate for deviations. Look at different photos of the stages of varicose veins to better understand what the disease looks like at a certain stage of development. Varicose veins of the 2nd degree are determined by the following signs. Photo of the 2nd degree of varicose veins. The initial stage of varicose veins on the legs, how to start treatment correctly, disease prevention, reviews from doctors and users. It is characterized by hyper- or hypopigmentation (the skin over the source of inflammation darkens and acquires an uncharacteristic shine). Varicose veins are a very insidious disease, since the first signs of its development usually pass for a person. Therefore, we will next talk about what this disease is, and also consider the types and degrees of manifestation varicose veins in the photo. All medical knitwear is divided into 4 classes. Varicose veins of the 1st degree. I have a first degree, and some people say “just think, it can be worse.” First stage. Photo.1 initial stage: characterized mainly by the presence of subcutaneous (spider veins), intradermal varicose veins, segmental varicose veins can be observed in case of varicose veins of the 1st degree, there is a complete absence of pathological disorder of varicose veins of the 1st degree, which is also shown in the photo, is characterized by frequent cramps of the calf muscles, a burning sensation spreading from the lower leg to the sole of the foot, as well as swelling of the ankles Stages of varicose veins. The main stages of varicose veins are often associated with certain stages of a fixed disease. The reason lies in the virtual absence of varicose veins. Photo: initial stage of varicose veins. When the first signs of varicose veins appear, you should consult a vascular surgeon or phlebologist. Text. When varicose veins have already become a disease, it is quite easy to recognize its main symptoms. I know about varicose veins firsthand. At the site of a healed ulcer, scar tissue appears, a photo of which you can see on our website. Prevention of varicose veins. Methods of treating varicose veins: photos, initial stage, medications and folk remedies. It consists of three stages; with grade 2 varicose veins, obvious symptoms appear. Many people are interested in how to treat the initial stage of varicose veins? Next, we will look at the stages of varicose veins with photos (what it looks like) and its treatment. Varicose veins or varicose veins are associated with the superficial veins of the legs. What the initial stage of varicose veins looks like, photos and symptoms. In addition, there are reticular varicose veins, dilatation of the veins of the esophagus, rectum, pelvis, spermatic cord. In the world medical community, it is officially accepted to distinguish six stages of varicose veins. 1.1.2.1 Photo. Subsequently, the progression of varicose veins and an increase in the degree of insufficiency of the valve apparatus of the venous vessels is possible, on which, in fact, one of the classifications of varicose veins is based. Stages of varicose veins. It is quite common in the modern world and is accompanied by many factors. Everyone has encountered varicose veins. Varicose veins manifest themselves differently in each person. It is safe to say that varicose veins are constantly getting stronger and worsening over time. For some reason I thought that this was a woman’s disease - heels are one of its main causes. Depending on the location, varicose veins are distinguished, occurring in the basin of the large or small saphenous vein, varicose veins. In addition, most of the drugs are characterized by a low degree of effectiveness, although their use is theoretically justified. Symptoms and treatment methods depending on the degree of the disease. Photos will help you imagine what happens to the veins at each stage of varicose veins. - the appearance of venous patterns on the legs, legs and thighs, treatment at home, varicose veins, what to do, how to get rid of varicose veins, prevention of varicose veins, stages of varicose veins, varicose veins treatment, varicose veins photo. Stages of development of varicose veins, how the disease develops. As the disease progresses, the patient will experience more and more pain, a constant pulling sensation in the knee area. [Show slideshow]. Phlebologists classify four main degrees of varicose veins. Varicose veins of the 1st degree. We will talk about varicose veins of the 1st degree in a system that distinguishes 3 degrees of this disease. Nowadays, varicose veins occur in almost every third woman and every tenth man. Enlargement of the veins in the legs is an insidious disease, since the symptoms of varicose veins in the legs become noticeable for the patient only when. If we talk about symptoms, it should be noted that it depends on the severity and neglect of varicose veins. But you need to know that, in addition to an aesthetic defect, varicose veins can cause serious health problems. Varicose veins are a common disease among modern people. Stages (degrees) of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Photo. Varicose veins of the 1st degree are the first stage of the disease, in which the following symptoms are present. Treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities depends on the degree of development of the disease. The reasons why initial grade 1 varicose veins develop are pregnancy, excess body weight, and human heredity. Services. Website about varicose veins: symptoms and treatment of varicose veins. Initial stage of varicose veins (C0). The initial stage of varicose veins is characterized by the absence of visible changes in the veins. Dilatation of intradermal (reticular) veins and capillaries (telangiectasis) is quite common and widespread. In more rare cases, spider veins appear directly above varicose veins (see photo). The main causes of varicose veins are considered to be pregnancy, excess weight gain, prolonged physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Lack of treatment for grade 2 varicose veins (photo) leads to the formation of grade 3 varicose veins. 1.1 Clinical symptoms of varicose veins, photos, what is the degree of surgical risk for the patient, how likely is relapse, etc. And this makes it possible to start treatment.
Varicose veins mean a chronic, constantly progressive polyetiological disease. The main signs of the disease are disturbances in venous circulation and a characteristic modification of the veins with the formation of pronounced cords and nodes.
The superficial veins of the lower extremities are most susceptible to pathological changes, however, in complex cases, vessels of other basins are involved in the process, up to the veins of the arms.
Varicose veins in themselves are not dangerous, but if left untreated, they can lead to more serious pathologies, including deadly ones.
Against the background of varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency develops; circulatory disorders pose a threat to the development of thrombophlebitis and acute venous thrombosis.
Among the main reasons for the development of varicose veins:
Hereditary predisposition to vascular pathologies is considered one of the key reasons for the development of varicose veins. Presumably, an as yet unknown connective tissue defect is inherited, which phenotypically manifests itself as weakness of the vascular walls.
The presence of excess body weight increases the load on the lower limbs and complicates venous circulation. According to statistics, an increase in weight by 20% of normal increases the risk of developing varicose veins by approximately 5 times in women of childbearing and menopausal age.
Risk factors associated with lifestyle can be divided into two groups: dietary habits and physical activity. Violation of the principles of healthy eating leads to the development of obesity, or to disorders of the digestive system, in particular, to constipation. Frequent constipation leads to a prolonged increase in intra-abdominal pressure and ultimately becomes the cause of the development of varicose veins of the pelvic organs. A lack of plant fiber disrupts the self-healing processes of vein walls, and the situation is aggravated by a lack of certain vitamins and microelements.
Insufficient physical activity and prolonged sitting lead to stagnation of blood in the pelvis and lower extremities. Vascular pathologies, in particular disorders of venous blood flow, are also observed in people whose work is characterized as standing or associated with carrying heavy loads.
According to statistics, women are more susceptible to varicose veins. Various forms of varicose veins are recorded in approximately 40% of women and 20% of men of working age. This is partly due to physiological changes in the body that occur during pregnancy and childbirth. It is pregnancy that often becomes the “trigger” for the development of varicose veins. During this period, there is an increase in body weight, mechanical compression of blood vessels, and hormonal levels change greatly. Some forms of varicose veins, provoked by pregnancy, may undergo partial reverse development after childbirth, but in the absence of proper preventive measures, relapse of the disease is a matter of time.
Symptoms of varicose veins depend on the nature and location of vascular damage and the severity of hemodynamic disorders.
During the disease there are three successive stages:
Vascular pathologies in the early stages of development may be asymptomatic or cause minor discomfort. Patients do not consider it a sufficient reason for examination; the clinical picture of the disease is unclear, so the disease is detected quite rarely during this period.
In the compensation stage, varicose veins may not bother the patient at all. Over time, increased fatigue, tugging or other unpleasant sensations appear along the affected vessels, heaviness in the legs, a feeling of fullness, aching, and possible itching. There are no external visible manifestations. These sensations appear periodically, mainly after physical activity, and disappear spontaneously during rest. The compensated stage of varicose veins can last for years and decades. If preventive measures are followed, the patient's condition can be stabilized indefinitely.
The appearance of visible changes in blood vessels such as telangiectasia and reticular varicose veins indicate the transition of the disease to the stage of subcompensation. The intensity and frequency of symptoms characteristic of the compensated stage of the disease increases, and as the disease progresses, the discomfort becomes constant. The clinical picture is complemented by swelling of the affected area and a local increase in temperature.
When the veins of the lower extremities are affected, cramps occur in the calf muscles at night. After a full night's rest, the patient's condition improves, and manifestations of the disease may disappear completely. there is a risk of developing thrombosis and thrombophlebitis. The subcompensation stage can last from several months to several years, depending on the lifestyle and general health of the patient.
At the stage of decompensation, night rest no longer brings relief. Swelling, pain, heaviness and aching in the legs, cramps become permanent. This stage is characterized by trophic disturbances. The skin in the affected area becomes dry, turns brown, peels, and hair loss occurs. Violations of tissue trophism lead to the development of eczema, panniculitis, and if left untreated, trophic ulcers form.
The walls of the affected vessels become very vulnerable and often burst. Damage to pathologically altered veins is accompanied by bleeding. The course of the disease is aggravated by complications in the form of thrombophlebitis, vein thrombosis and lymphangitis; against the background of varicose veins in the stage of decompensation, recurrent erysipelas in the affected area is often observed.
Trophic ulcers that develop as a result of varicose veins most often form in places with severe manifestations of dermatitis or eczema, usually on the inside of the lower leg, sometimes on the back, above the ankles. The ulcers are painful, irregular in shape, single, flat with a smooth bottom and abundant purulent contents. Advanced ulcers have compacted edges, the skin around the ulcer becomes rough and acquires a characteristic brown color.
Bleeding is usually a consequence of injuries, even minor ones, and sometimes occurs spontaneously. The effusion of blood can occur externally or subcutaneously, with the formation of extensive hematomas. The walls of the affected vein collapse poorly, the blood stream is quite strong, and spontaneous stopping of bleeding occurs extremely rarely. To stabilize the condition, the limb must be fixed in an elevated position and a pressure bandage applied to the site of the ruptured vessel. A trophic ulcer subsequently forms at the site of damage to the vessel.
All symptoms of varicose veins are divided into two groups: pathological transformation of blood vessels and manifestations of venous insufficiency.
There are several theories of the occurrence of varicose veins, but none of them is able to fully explain the features of the development of the pathological process.
According to the theory of the mechanical origin of the disease, vascular changes occur due to high venous pressure caused by prolonged standing or congestion during sedentary work.
The valvular theory calls valvular insufficiency, congenital or acquired, the main cause of the disease.
A decrease in smooth muscle tone with changes in the hormonal status of the body provided the basis for the creation of a neuroendocrine theory of the origin of varicose veins. The first manifestations of pathology often coincide with periods of puberty, pregnancy and menopause.
Indirect confirmation of the inheritance of venous pathology is the increased incidence of the disease among people whose relatives suffered or suffer from varicose veins.
Another theory about the origin of varicose veins explains the origin of the disease by the pathological functioning of arteriovenular anastomoses, through which excess blood enters the venous bed. Presumably, arteriovenular anastomoses can open against the background of infectious diseases, intoxication, hormonal changes, prolonged standing, etc. According to most authors, the development of the disease is caused by several factors, the combination of which may vary in each specific case.
One way or another, the key condition for the development of varicose veins is the mechanism of blood outflow through the veins. Normal hemodynamics is ensured by the coordinated operation of the valve apparatus and muscles adjacent to the veins under conditions of stable blood pressure. The pressure of arterial blood in this process is of the least importance.
Violations in the functioning of at least one of the elements of the system leads to general failures. The muscular-venous pump can function fully only with normal operation of the valve apparatus. When the valves are completely closed, blood does not penetrate into the underlying sections of the vein and gradually moves upward. The presence of severe valvular insufficiency leads to stagnation of blood in the part of the vessel preceding the affected valve. Increased pressure in the stagnation zone over time leads to disruption of the valve located below.
An enlarged section of the vein injures the capillary network that supplies the walls of the vessel. Deterioration in tissue nutrition leads to the death of the cells that form the walls of the vein, it gradually loses its elasticity, becomes thinner, and the valve leaflets lose the ability to completely close. The blood flow is partially bypassed, but upon reaching the mouth of the affected vein, a certain amount of blood flow flows into the areas of the vessel located below (vertical reflux).
Thus, excess blood accumulates in the affected part of the venous system, the so-called ballast volume (in advanced cases - up to 1 liter). Ballast circulates within the affected limb, overloading the capillary network. Increased venous pressure provokes further pathological vasodilation.
There is another mechanism of veno-venous reflux - horizontal, in which blood flows from the deep veins to the superficial ones.
There are four forms of varicose veins:
The degree of venous insufficiency accompanying varicose veins has five degrees of severity:
When diagnosing varicose veins, in addition to external examination and clinical tests, several instrumental methods are used. The main method for diagnosing all forms of varicose veins is Doppler ultrasound. This method allows you to determine the condition of the valve apparatus of the affected vessels and assess its patency. If necessary, the patient may be prescribed ultrasound duplex scanning or occlusion plethysmography. X-ray contrast venography is used less and less, mainly in severe cases requiring surgical intervention.
Depending on the location of the lesion, differential diagnosis may be necessary to exclude other vascular pathologies, as well as disorders of adjacent organs, which may present with similar symptoms.
The treatment tactics for a specific case of varicose veins are selected depending on its individual characteristics and necessarily include three areas:
Conservative treatment methods aimed at normalizing blood circulation include wearing compression garments, drug therapy and physiotherapeutic treatment. In the early stages of the disease, conservative treatment can eliminate the clinical manifestations of the pathology within several weeks.
Patients who have varicose veins are prescribed drugs from the group of venotonics and angioprotectors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. To improve hemodynamics and prevent the development of venous thrombosis, the doctor prescribes antiplatelet agents and anticoagulant drugs. The course of treatment includes topical medications in the form of gels and ointments.
It is used as an independent method of treating varicose veins with a normally functioning valve apparatus without reflux phenomena. Effective against telangiectasia, reticular varicose veins, dilatation of small saphenous veins. The essence of the method is the intravenous administration of a sclerosant drug, which “glues” the walls of the problematic vessel, thereby excluding it from the venous system. In more severe cases, sclerotherapy is used as an auxiliary method to eliminate cosmetic imperfections.
The basic principle of surgical treatment of varicose veins is that only pathologically altered veins are affected. The priority is to use the most gentle methods with the possibility of outpatient use.
The most universal operation is phlebectomy - removal of a pathologically altered section of a vein. Depending on the condition of the vessels, an alternative to removing the affected area may be surgery to restore the valve apparatus or disconnecting the affected vessel from the system. To turn off the affected veins, coagulation operations are performed in different variations. Another type of surgery used in the treatment of varicose veins is hemodynamic, during which artificial pathways are formed to bypass the affected areas of the veins.
Tactics for the prevention of varicose veins are aimed at eliminating or minimizing the impact of risk factors for the occurrence or recurrence of the pathology. Patients are advised to optimize their daily routine, reduce body weight. The complex of preventive measures includes swimming or other sports that activate venous circulation and help maintain normal muscle tone. It is very advisable to review your diet, eliminating obviously harmful foods.
Additionally, wearing compression garments is recommended. Several times a year, patients are prescribed a course of venoprotective drugs and general restorative therapy. To prevent venous thrombosis, it is recommended to constantly take blood thinning medications. Varicose veins, varicose veins, varicose veins
Don’t know how to find a clinic or doctor at reasonable prices? Single registration center by phone +7 (499) 519-32-84.