Varicose veins are not a disease, but a symptom associated with vascular abnormalities that are caused by excessive expansion of the veins. Most often, varicose veins affect the lower extremities, but can occur in the rectum and esophagus. Less common is this disease of the bladder and female reproductive organs.
These changes are painful and debilitating because they cause disruptions in the functioning of the circulatory system.
To understand what varicose veins are, you need to know the functions of the veins and the circulatory system. Veins are blood vessels that carry blood upward to the heart. This is possible thanks to valves that close when the blood flowing upward returns.
There will be good blood supply provided that these valves are working properly. Some people are born with defective valves, while others have them weakened as a result of lifestyle - poor diet, profession, poor physical activity, illness.
As blood flows down through the veins, its pressure increases, causing the veins to expand and swell without returning to their original shape.
1. Varicose veins of the lower extremities.
Caused by impaired venous circulation in the lower extremities and damage to the venous valves as a result of congestion and increased blood pressure in the veins. It is a symptom of chronic venous diseases.
The most common causes:
A fairly common disease that occurs due to pressure in the rectal veins. This may be caused by:
As we age, the tissue that supports the rectum and veins begins to weaken, and varicose veins can extend beyond the anus, causing painful symptoms. The first sign is rectal bleeding that occurs during bowel movements.
3. Varicose veins of the esophagus.
The cause of varicose changes in the gastrointestinal tract is liver disease, specifically cirrhosis acquired as a result of viral hepatitis or excessive alcohol consumption.
For a long time, the disease is asymptomatic and manifests itself when the arteries rupture, which means the appearance of uncontrollable bleeding, which is often accompanied by vomiting blood or the color of coffee grounds.
Significant blood loss causes a decrease in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate. Varicose veins of the gastrointestinal tract can manifest as jaundice and ascites. Bleeding due to esophageal varices is a medical emergency.
Appears in the veins that collect blood from the testicles and scrotum in men. Occurs as a result of congenital or acquired valvular insufficiency in the veins. This may be due to kidney cancer or renal vascular thrombosis.
5. Varicose veins of the uterus and vagina.
This type of varicose veins forms during pregnancy due to the pressure of the constantly growing uterus on the pelvis. It is also possible to form varicose veins of the bladder.
Certain factors increase the risk of developing varicose veins by interfering with the flow of blood in the lower extremities. They obstruct the flow of blood through the veins, which leads to increased retention of blood at the periphery of the body.
Many factors are beyond the control of patients, such as genetic or hormonal disorders. However, lifestyle has the greatest influence on the appearance of varicose veins. With a proper diet and regular exercise, it is possible to overcome non-modifiable risk factors.
Economists, IT specialists, and office workers are also susceptible to the disease. A sitting position, in which the legs are bent at the knees or crossed, contributes to the obstruction of blood flow.
An unhealthy lifestyle affects the formation of varicose veins. Hot baths, solariums, obesity - all these situations cause veins to dilate and impair blood flow to the heart. Smoking contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases, so the risk of varicose veins in this group of people is increased.
The use of contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy significantly increases the likelihood of varicose veins.
In addition, trends in the occurrence of varicose veins depend on other factors, such as:
• race – whites are more prone to the disease than blacks;
• gender – women are five times more likely to suffer from varicose veins than men;
• wearing tight-fitting clothes;
• high-heeled shoes;
• a diet low in fiber and vitamin C.
Symptoms of varicose veins are very diverse. They can appear together or separately. In the initial stage, patients most often experience discomfort in their legs while sitting or standing.
The most common ones include:
In later stages, the disease becomes obvious due to wide varicose trunks of the main veins of the lower extremities and saphenous veins. They are soft and painless, and the degree of filling depends on the position of the limbs; hypersensitivity also appears in places where the veins expand.
Symptoms that should be a reason to visit a doctor:
Pelvic varicose veins most often develop in women expecting a second child (or subsequent children).
One of the symptoms indicating the disease is constant pain in the lower abdomen, lasting several months. It develops similarly to varicose veins of the lower extremities.
Characteristic symptoms are pressure on the bladder, heaviness in the perineum, dull pain in the lower abdomen or sacrum, which increases during pregnancy, sexual intercourse or menstruation.
More information about varicose veins and its symptoms:
The basis of modern vein treatment is an adequate diagnosis of the disease and the use of the least invasive, but at the same time effective methods for treating leg veins.
There are many different ways to reduce the appearance of varicose veins, for example:
The goal of therapy is to improve blood flow to the affected limbs. One of the main methods is lifestyle changes. Recommended:
Conservative treatment is often recommended for patients who, for various reasons, cannot undergo surgical treatment, for example, women during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
At the initial stage, treatment with folk remedies in the form of tinctures of horsetail, wild rue, arnica, and horse chestnut extract is effective.
This method is used for mild stages of the disease. Compression is applied to the outside of the limb, which increases pressure in the veins and reduces blood stagnation. The patient wears special compression stockings of a certain size, which is determined by the doctor. Some patients use elastic bandages. It is recommended to wear these tights throughout the day and remove them at night. This method must be supported by appropriate medications.
An adjunct to primary therapy that treats symptoms and slows the progression of the disease. Pharmacology helps strengthen and thicken the walls of blood vessels, increases circulation, and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
1. Tablets, dragees and ointments.
This group contains drugs that contain diosmin, a substance that reduces the permeability of small vessels; it improves venous circulation, reduces tension in the vein walls and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Other drugs include troxerutin, which increases the elasticity of small blood capillaries and improves blood circulation in tissues.
Many products contain horse chestnut extract, which strengthens the walls of veins, reduces swelling and permeability of veins and capillaries. Here are some of the medications:
Such drugs act directly on varicose veins and heaviness in the legs. In addition to horse chestnut extract, they contain heparin, which reduces the formation of blood clots:
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics (“Diclofenac”);
It is a fairly popular treatment method because it does not last long and is quite simple to implement. Its essence is the introduction of a special drug into the affected veins, which helps reduce local inflammation and heal the veins. Rare side effects include: deep vein thrombosis, allergic reactions, neurological disorders, skin necrosis, superficial vein inflammation, hyperpigmentation.
Treatment of varicose veins is often carried out using waves of different frequencies. Their action causes fusion of dilated veins. Laser therapy replaces painful surgery to remove damaged veins.
Can be used at every stage of venous insufficiency. Advantages of this method:
Indications for surgical treatment are:
Depending on the extent of the disease, this method may include partial or complete removal of the superficial veins, ligation, removal or obliteration of the veins.
Surgical treatment is contraindicated in patients with bleeding, deep venous obstruction, and limb ischemia. The operation does not eliminate the cause of the disease, but affects its complications.
Men with varicoceles are often treated with sclerotherapy. Hemorrhoids are effectively treated with rectal ointments in combination with exercises, lifestyle changes, diet, cryotherapy and surgical methods.
Here are some ways to help prevent varicose veins:
Varicose veins are a chronic disease and their treatment can take a very long time. Prevention, minor changes in lifestyle and habits help prevent a body-disfiguring disease.
At the first signs of varicose veins, it is better to consult a doctor, taking advantage of the fact that the disease in the initial stages is easier, faster and less traumatic to cure.