Probably everyone has seen people with prominent veins in their arms. Some see this as a norm or an individual trait. In fact, the veins should be hidden under the skin, and any change is a reason to think about your health. In addition to swollen veins, discomfort or changes in skin tone can also be a warning sign.
Are there varicose veins in the upper extremities?
Varicose veins are a vascular disease. It can affect any vessel and can occur anywhere on the body. Given that the trigger is an overload, most varicose veins affect the body's organs. The disease mainly affects the legs, but varicose veins expand in the hands. According to the international classification (MKB-10), it corresponds to the code I86.
Varicose veins of the upper extremities are easy to recognize - the veins in the hands and wrists are swollen and look like blue snakes. The disease more often affects women after 50 years, as well as male athletes and bodybuilders.
Swollen and swollen veins: Is the risk of varicose veins high?
Under the influence of excessive loads, the venous walls stretch and the vascular valves do not fully perform their functions. If your arteries used to look normal, but now they are swollen, you should consult your doctor for a detailed examination. The sooner a problem is detected, the easier it is to treat.
The risk of varicose veins is really great if there are changes in the veins.
In addition to external aesthetic manifestations, varicose veins affect the patient's well-being, cause pain and provoke some complexes.
Features of varicose veins in the upper extremities
The first changes in the varicose veins in the hands look like blue knots. It may disappear after a while and then reappear.
This means that the arteries cannot cope with the increasing load, but recover quickly when the stimulus is removed.
In the absence of timely treatment, nodules in the arm arteries will always be observed, and then the dilation will affect the longer part of the artery. In this case, the vein swells significantly, which often attracts the patient's attention and forces him to see a doctor.
Other reasons
Only excessive load does not adversely affect the arteries. There may be other reasons for the extension:
- Stress.
- Women taking oral contraceptives or hormonal imbalance.
- Smoking and alcohol abuse.
- Intense training.
- Unbalanced diet. Read here about the right diet for varicose veins.
- Heredity.
Hormonal background greatly affects the condition of blood vessels. As you know, women are less stable than men.
Signs of a violation - pay attention!
Even if a person is unaware that there is a problem such as varicose veins, they should be notified of the following changes:
- Swelling.
- Burning and discomfort.
- Rapid fatigue and weakness.
- Numbness or pain.
- The contrast between veins and skin color is obvious.
- Raising the arms reduces the size of the arteries.
In thin people with thin skin, the veins may look swollen. However, this is not a pathology, but a feature of the body.
Don't worry if this symptom is present at birth and is not accompanied by other symptoms.
When you look at the shape of the varicose veins of the arms and a healthy joint, you will immediately see the difference and you will know what to look for.
Treatment methods
The tactics of treatment of varicose veins in the hands depend on the stage of development of the disease. Conservative treatment is used in the early stages, and surgical methods are used in the later stages.
People at risk are advised to take precautions to prevent varicose veins to prevent dangerous complications.
Conservative treatment includes the use of special compression stockings, the appointment of special drugs, diet and physiotherapy. All this is aimed at increasing vascular tone, strengthening blood vessels and reducing permeability.
The medical uniform is represented by special gloves or sleeves made of special materials. Underwear should always be worn to provide mechanical support to vessels and to prevent expansion. The degree of compression is chosen by the doctor, taking into account the pathological neglect.
Treatment of late stages of varicose veins in the hands
When deep veins are affected, limb function may be impaired. A person feels heaviness, pain, anxiety, and is unable to perform normal activities.
Surgery is used in later stages. Some of the most effective and safe methods are laser correction and sclerotherapy. Their advantages are:
- Painless.
- There are no traces and traces.
- Rapid tissue repair.
- Good cosmetic result.
The positive effect of sclerotherapy can be seen a few weeks after the procedure. It only takes a few minutes. The patient is injected into a convex vein to inject the sclerosing agent.
The process is completely painless. The veins stick together under the influence of the drug and do not require the surgeon to cut the tissue. To prevent recurrence, the patient should wear a compression garment.
The advantage of modern methods is that they do not adversely affect the surrounding tissues, eliminate incisions in the skin and cause almost no complications.
Hirudotherapy
Hirudotherapy is popular for many vascular diseases. Although this is a non-traditional method of treatment, it requires some rules to follow. It is not recommended to leave leeches alone. Healthy worms used only once are suitable for this procedure.
The secret of leech secretion helps to strengthen blood vessels and thin the blood. Helps reduce edema, get rid of blood stasis, normalize microcirculation and restore vascular structure.
Home treatment
Many patients try to treat varicose veins in the hands with folk remedies. As monotherapy, they are suitable only in the early stages of the disease.
If varicose veins are severe enough, folk recipes can be used only in addition to the basic scheme prescribed by a doctor.
Chestnut-based medicines are good for varicose veins. The healing properties of this plant are also recognized by official medicine, because chestnut is part of many venotonic ointments.
You can make your own cream at home. To do this, chestnuts are crushed and mixed with melted lard. The agent is applied externally by light friction on the affected area.
Compresses made from cabbage or wormwood leaves have a positive effect in the treatment of varicose veins. They are crushed in a blender by adding a small amount of butter or kefir to allow the nutrients to penetrate deeper into the skin. The mixture is impregnated with gauze and applied to the dilated areas of the veins.
One of the most popular ways to get rid of any disease is a bath.
Prevention of varicose veins in the hands
Doctors recommend to prevent varicose veins in the arms:
- Limit physical activity in the upper extremities. Girls should not lift weights and male athletes should wear compression garments during training.
- Change the type of activity. People who work sitting on the keyboard should take a break to raise their hands and stretch their joints.
- Eat right. Antioxidants and vitamins, especially C and PP, are useful for strengthening blood vessels. In addition to more fresh vegetables and fruits in your daily diet, you should include at least 1. 5 liters of clean water.
- Take a contrast shower, don't forget your hands. Cool water trains blood vessels, prevents the formation of nodules and allows you to achieve the desired tone of the arteries.
- Control your weight. Excess body weight creates a constant load on the vessels, and over time their strength decreases.
- Minimize negative factors. Alcohol, smoking, stress - all this has a negative effect on the elasticity and tone of the arteries.
Possible complications
Hand veins are not only a cosmetic defect, but also a dangerous medical condition.
Blood stasis occurs in the areas of dilation, which leads to insufficient nutrition of adjacent tissues.
A place with poor microcirculation eventually becomes the center of an inflammatory and even infectious process.
In the future, this may lead to thrombophlebitis or blockage of the vascular lumen by a thrombus.
The formation of a blood clot is facilitated by a slowing of blood circulation in the area of dilation, an increase in the ability to coagulate, and a disrupted structure of the vessel wall. More often, thrombosis occurs in the lower extremities, however, prolonged squeezing of the hand or an uncomfortable position can lead to the formation of venous arms and thrombus.
If a patient with thrombophlebitis complains of pain and swelling in the hand, it may be suspected that the cyanosis is exacerbated by clenching the fist. Severe disruption of blood flow in a certain area leads to necrosis of adjacent tissues and the need to amputate the extremities.
Male varicose veins are less common because the stronger sex is more emotionally stable. However, in addition to stress, other triggers can also cause venous dilatation in young men.
The feeling of heaviness in the hands, evening fatigue and the appearance of nodules are the first signs of varicose veins of the upper extremities. Taking care of your health and having regular medical checkups will help you maintain your health and good looks.