Causes, symptoms and treatment of varicose veins in the legs of men

According to statistics, varicose veins in the legs of the stronger sex are about 3 times less common than in women. However, everyone, including men, is susceptible to this disease.

According to phlebologists and vascular surgeons, there is no major difference between varicose veins in men and women, but unfortunately, first, they seek help much later when the disease progresses and can be treated less. The article will discuss the features of the disease in men and ways to combat it.

The effect of varicose veins and bad habits on the development of varicose veins

First of all, it is worth noting that in medical practice, varicose veins or varicose veins are called pathological, accompanied by deformation of the venous vessels. In this situation, the latter expands, stretches, the walls become thinner, and the valve system ceases to cope with its functions. The results of the development of the pathological process are as follows:

• Blood stasis in the arteries, respectively, increases venous pressure.
• Circulatory disorders are accompanied by deterioration of lymph flow.
• Spider veins are also called vascular nodules.
• Vascular rupture and appearance of hematomas.
• Formation of trophic ulcers.
• Increased risk of thrombophilia.

Doctors studying the etiology of varicose veins have concluded that the disease is more likely to develop due to genetic predisposition. However, the hereditary factor does not belong to the varicose veins themselves, but to the weakness of the valve system, as a result of which the venous valves weaken and wear out faster. This process leads to the development of damaged blood circulation in the vascular bed and, as a result, blockage, vascular deformation, ie, very varicose veins.

In addition, bad habits such as smoking and alcohol topping the list play an important role in patients' medical history. Tobacco and alcohol abuse negatively affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system, the condition of the arteries and even the composition of the blood. Again, citing harsh statistics, both habits are more likely to be male, a fact that puts smoking and alcohol dependence at the top of the list of causes of varicose veins.

However, the two causes described are not the only ones, there are several other most likely factors in the list of causes of pathology:

1. Excessive stress on the legs due to excessive physical force due to professional activities (cooks, surgeons, etc. ), overweight, sports or similar professional activities (loaders, builders, etc. );
2. There is a downside to the medal, varicose veins can be caused by low tension, or rather sedentary or simply sedentary lifestyle. Continuing in this regard, people who are less active, including drivers, office workers, and others who are unwilling to do so, are susceptible to the disease;
3. Given the fact of smoking and hereditary predisposition, one of the most serious and common causes is various diseases that disrupt blood clotting.

When it comes to hormonal disorders, uncomfortable shoes and similar factors, they are more common in women, and for the same reasons (more of a trigger), the fairer sex is more likely to suffer from varicose veins.

The main symptoms of varicose veins

As for the clinical picture of the disease, much depends on its stage of development, as well as a number of individual factors and varicose veins. However, there are a number of symptoms that men experience the most:

1. The initial stage of varicose veins rarely bothers the patient. Mild fatigue in the legs, worse in the evening, may be a slight swelling, squeezing or squeezing sensations. In most cases, men do not pay attention to such events and in vain, because the disease develops, and over time, the symptoms become more pronounced and cause more problems.
2. As the pathological process progresses, blood vessels begin to appear under the skin. Initially, these are vascular networks and separate protruding veins, which are then completed with vascular "stars". The more the disease progresses, the more pronounced the clinical sign, in the later stages of the disease, the veins swell under the skin, forming nodules, and the risk of trophic ulcers increases.
3. Unpleasant explosions, heaviness in the legs, and swelling that previously appeared in the afternoon or at the end of the workday are becoming more and more common. Over time, the unpleasant sensations turn into a systemic pain that spreads along the veins affected by varicose veins.
4. Itching occurs on the skin where the dilated veins and vascular network are clearly visible.
5. Cramps involving most leg or calf muscles can also be bothersome at night.

It's important to remember!All the described clinical signs of varicose veins tend to increase in the evening, but the reason is obvious fatigue. That is, the symptoms worsen with increasing physical strength.

Stages of venous disease in men

As mentioned earlier, the symptomatology, as well as the patient's health status and treatment of varicose veins, depends on the stage of the disease. In general, there are three stages in the development of pathology:

1. Compensatory or mild- in this case the symptoms are the least severe and the patient himself complains of practically nothing. In the first stage, slightly protruding vessels may appear on the legs, but men do not pay attention to it.

2. Moderate- this stage of the disease is also called a subcompensator. The veins are more clearly visible on the surface of the skin, but their growth and deformation can still be considered insignificant, as is the pressure inside the vein. At this stage, other symptoms intensify, edema, fatigue become more and more anxious, painful sensations appear for the first time.
3. Decompensation stageis ​​the most severe form in which varicose veins reach their peak. There is a strong swelling, severe pain that can bother you during the day, the veins come out and change strongly on the surface of the skin. At this stage, vascular nodules form, excessive vascular pressure leads to damage to the walls of the arteries, and hematomas appear. Trophic ulcers and eczema occur especially in advanced cases. In the third stage, conservative treatment methods are completely weak, the specificity of the patient requires surgical intervention, chosen by the doctor.

Treatment of varicose veins

As with symptoms, the principles of treatment directly depend on how far the varicose veins have progressed. It is important to understand that conservative therapy mainly bears fruit in the first, sometimes the second stage of disease development, otherwise conservative treatment methods mainly limit the disease, but do not allow to get rid of varicose veins completely. However, there are many ways to deal with pathology.

Conservative therapy

An integrated approach to conservative treatment is very important, which primarily involves dietary adjustments and lifestyle changes.

In terms of nutrition, it is important to limit the consumption of harmful foods, fatty and fried foods, sweets, minimize salty, spicy and acidic foods, as all this helps to retain fluid in the body and impairs lymphatic drainage.

When it comes to adjusting your lifestyle, you should try to move as much as possible without straining your legs. Do light exercise, go for regular walks, if you have to sit a lot at work, warm up every hour. It is also important to eliminate bad habits, smoke and limit alcohol use as much as possible.

Drug treatment

Complete treatment is not possible without the use of some drugs, so when contacting a phlebologist, a specialist may prescribe drugs from the following groups:

• Anticoagulants - change the composition of the blood, reduce its viscosity, which improves blood circulation and prevents blood and lymph blockages.
• Venotonics - as the name implies, drugs in this group improve vascular tone. In turn, it helps to improve blood circulation, but is based on a different principle of action.
• As a symptomatic treatment, ointments from the category of NSAIDs are prescribed, which are specific ointments for varicose veins that reduce pain and stop the inflammatory process, as well as eliminate edema and other symptoms.
• In addition, as part of conservative treatment, compression underwear should be worn, which prevents the development of varicose veins and generally improves the patient's condition.

Surgical treatment

If conservative treatment does not give the desired result or the disease is very advanced, surgery is decided, in which case one of the types of surgery is chosen:

• Sclerotherapyis ​​a substance (usually in the form of a foam) that sticks to the walls of a blood vessel and removes it from the bloodstream. Over time, this vein eliminates itself and is replaced by connective tissue.
• Phlebectomyis ​​a full-fledged operation in which the vascular anastomosis is locked and the affected area is subsequently removed. This method is the most effective and radical at the same time, because it is a cut, the application of words and a long rehabilitation period.
• Miniphlebectomyis ​​a type of phlebectomy performed mainly on small vessels. A perforation is made in the skin, through which part of the vessel is removed using a special surgical instrument for further dissection. The operation is painless, the piercing heals quickly and no rehabilitation is required.
• Laser coagulationis ​​a method similar to sclerotherapy, but instead of placing a special composition in the lumen of a vessel, a thin laser-equipped catheter is immersed in it. Thermal action creates the effect of sclerosis, so the vessel also sticks to each other.