Varicose veins or varicose veins is a chronic disease. One of the signs of varicose veins – varicose veins simultaneous violation of the outflow of blood and its stagnation in the venous system.
Varicose veins have symptoms, that may develop under the influence of a number of reasons. This can be a feature of the bulge of the thick, complex, and large veins. Very often there is varicose veins of the lower extremities.
Initial stage of varicose veins is possible to do without surgical intervention and use other methods of treatment. This makes it possible, that the patient can significantly improve the condition and prevent progression of the disease. Treatment of varicose veins without surgery is used in that case, surgical intervention for any reason contraindicated.
Varicose veins – an abnormal local expansion of the lumen of blood vessels. More common in the vessels of the lower extremities. Generally, varicose veins occur because of genetic predisposition, lack of exercise, anatomical abnormalities of the valve apparatus veins.
Varicose veins is significantly reduced elasticity of the veins and the veins begin to expand. Veins is the so-called. flap constant blood flow. If everything works correctly, no problem. When a malfunction occurs in varicose veins. The valves are no longer normal to shut down and delay the movement of blood to the heart. The pressure increases and pushes the blood in the thick veins are thinner vessels. System thin veins not adapted to such pressures – they are stretching and destruction.
Become very appear on the legs spider veins, which is a serious aesthetic problem. Varicose veins progresses, a thin weakened veins are becoming more pronounced, with a distinctive blue color, thicken, and soon they appear as nodules.
Cause of varicose veins
There are many causes of varicose veins, which increase the likelihood that the patient suffers from varicose veins:
- Genetic inheritance, relatives, in front of the varicose veins, the descendants could "take" the Vienna special structural (weakness of connective tissue, imperfect valves, etc.); and then, without the constant adherence to the preventive measures he surely must sooner or later become a patient of the diagnosis "varicose veins on the legs".
- Hormone fluctuations – most often it affects women (menopause, menstruation, pregnancy, etc.), what explains the apparent gender selectivity of the disease; in addition, the risk of varicose veins increases and treatment – it is scientifically proven that they contain female sex hormones and their deputies greatly reduce the elasticity of the venous walls.
- Disorders of the nervous system, stress, depression – all this leads to a decrease in tone of veins of the lower extremities;
- An inflammatory disease of the pelvic organs – these processes can lead to hormonal imbalances, but also can harm your small veins;
- Low physical activity – in the spirit of the time is compressed, it interferes with the blood circulation to reduce the tone of the venous walls, and finally the blood begins to stagnate, and there is varicose veins (today, doctors are even a special term – computer varicose veins, so a large number of patients, the cause of the disease, which was sedentary work in front of the flickering screen);
- High physical activity – these include weight lifting, excess weight, pregnancy, work, associated with the long-term; as a result, significantly increased pressure in the veins that lead to the occurrence of varicose veins;
- Flat feet;
- The habit of always and everywhere went to the wrong high heels;
- Constipation, which increases pressure in the abdomen;
- A variety of injuries and diseases;
- Paul. The risk of varicose veins in women is much higher.
- Structure of the body. Varicose veins often affects people of above-average growth.
Symptoms of varicose veins in the legs
Don't miss a moment of the occurrence of varicose veins on your legs, you need to know the symptoms and take timely corrective measures.
The main symptoms of varicose veins in the legs:
- The occurrence of pain in the legs, burning through his veins, the feeling of heat;
- Noticeable heaviness in the legs (not to be confused with fatigue);
- The appearance of swelling in the legs. Usually swelling appear in the evening;
- Leg cramps at night;
- Visible varicose veins;
- The skin of the Shin becomes noticeable in a dark color. There are seals and possibly venous ulcers.
There are other symptoms of varicose veins:
- Can be a manifestation of the region in the popliteal fossa or the entire rear surface of the foot. If your legs are thick or is the excessive hairiness, the manifestation of varicose veins less noticeable;
- Veins can easily be felt. With the defeat of varicose veins they can be curved;
- Mesh varicose veins can be lost, if the patient in a horizontal position and lift the leg. The vertical position of the body of the vein becomes thicker;
- There is an unusual heaviness in the legs, pain dull in nature, intermittent seizures. The patient may complain of a mild burning sensation in the legs;
- The feet often swell, mainly in the soft tissues.
These are the main symptoms of varicose veins. Varicose veins will progress without proper treatment of varicose veins.
If the disease progresses, you may show symptoms of varicose veins, such as:
- Indurata (seal);
- Disturbance of the nutrition of the skin;
- Pigmentation of the skin of the foot;
- Trophic ulcers.
If there are external symptoms of varicose veins, such as high body temperature, weakness – it is said that varicose veins have moved from the stage of complications.
The effects of varicose veins
Varicose veins is not only an aesthetic problem, but also the legs. This disease can "hit" the heart. Varicose veins gives serious problems and a lower quality of life. If there is no high-quality care, varicose veins give serious complications, including death.
As a result of varicose veins:
- The formation of blood clots, as a result of stagnation of blood in the veins;
- Detachment of the thrombus and occlusion of the vessel coincides with its diameter;
- Thrombophlebitis;
- Pulmonary embolism (detached blood clots in the blood into the pulmonary artery, which participates in blood circulation in a small circle. If the clot diameter is the same diameter of the trunk of this artery, it can cause sudden death.
- Sores or rash on the foot caused eating disorders (poor blood circulation leads to lack of oxygen in the tissue, which is the main nourishment of the body tissues);
- Swelling different areas of the body as a result stagnation in the veins (they are soft, flexible, bluish color, their training is not dependent on the time of day, often in the form of the affected area);
- Dermatitis (skin inflammation in the affected area), because of the malnutrition of the site;
- To change the color of the skin of the affected area;
- Sealing subcutaneous fatty tissue in the affected area due to swelling.
The diagnosis of varicose veins
- Functional tests (determination that the veins and their valves): Troyanova – Trendelenburg, Pratt, Shania and others. One of the most common test Troyanova – Trendelenburg, with which the patient is in a horizontal position, lifts the leg 450, the doctor makes stroking a leg up (as a result, the superficial veins are emptied), then placed a tourniquet on the thigh and ask the patient to stand normally, the filling of the veins of the lower leg should take place more than 15 seconds;
- Duplex ultrasound scanning of the veins is the most informative method to evaluate the blood flow of the ship and see the ship;
- Doppler ultrasound is a method, which evaluates the blood flow to the vessels;
- Venography is the injection of a contrast agent intravenously and the study of x-ray image;
- Intravenous drug for the purpose and findings of the special device.
Treatment of varicose veins
Special treatment of varicose veins in the legs may depend on the extent to which the development of the disease. If this is just the first step, it is possible to use conservative treatments.
Conservative treatments for varicose veins:
- The treatment of varicose veins medicines. Is tablets, creams, ointments;
- Its pack. Wearing special compression garments (socks, bandages);
- Pneumo massage. Use a special device, capable to intensify blood circulation, improve tissue trophism and significantly remove negative symptoms of varicose veins;
- Sclerotherapy. Is used when the removal of the damaged veins is not enough. Injected into a vein medication may reduce the patients ' vessels, which later disappear;
- Laser coagulation. Treatment of varicose veins with lasers is one of the modern methods, which is performed under local anesthesia. The results of laser treatment are visible after about a month;
- Physical therapy, i.e. the treatment of varicose veins with leeches. This is an unconventional method, but is quite popular.
Prevention of varicose veins
Prevention of varicose veins is necessary for those who are close relatives (the older generations), where there is this disease. In addition, it is recommended that prophylactic treatment of varices in people with excess weight, pregnant women and certain professions where there is a long stand on his feet.
Keep an active lifestyle and more exercise. In particular, to help Hiking to strengthen his legs, which makes them more durable.
There are some recommendations that will help to avoid the development of varicose veins:
- If you long to stand on your feet, it is desirable at times to cross and stretch the toes;
- Office workers (sedentary work) is recommended to periodically put his feet on the table. This makes it possible to improve the outflow of blood from the veins of the lower extremities;
- If you use a small footrest, can reduce the pressure on the feet while sitting;
- From time to time lift the toes. You can relieve tension in the leg muscles and improve blood circulation upwards;
- Several times a day to do exercise for the whole body.
In addition, use of compression garment, which helps in prevention of varicose veins.
If there is still a small degree of varicose veins, you should avoid the following:
- wearing shoes with heels;
- oral contraceptives, which can aggravate the situation;
- obesity and being overweight;
- eating spicy, salty and fatty foods;
- carrying a heavy suitcase and bag;
- hair removal wax;
- long hot baths;
- baths and saunas;
- Smoking, drugs, alcohol;
- to self-medicate.