The arteries normally have valves that block or open the blood flow in the arteries. Because the blood flow in the arteries is directed from the tissues to the heart, the function of the valves is to prevent venous blood from returning to the veins of the lower extremities.
When the elasticity of the vessel wall decreases and the vessel dilates, the valves do not regulate blood flow and varicose veins develop, which are characterized by stagnation of venous blood in the arteries. That is, blood cannot be transported normally from the legs to the heart - it is always delayed.
With varicose veins, the superficial veins in the legs turn blue or dark purple, appear lumpy, convex, and deformed. Varicose veins do not always come to the surface because they can be located deep in the tissues of the lower extremities. Therefore, leg pain often confuses people because there is no visible cause for the pain.
Varicose veins need to be treated, as this can lead to thrombophlebitis - an inflammation of the venous wall. With thrombophlebitis, blood clots form, and if they enter the pulmonary circulation, a person can die from a pulmonary embolism in which a vital blood clot clogs.
Causes of varicose veins
Varicose veins in the legs occur due to a decrease in the elasticity of the venous wall and valve insufficiency. The following contribute to the development of varicose veins:
- sedentary lifestyle and work for a long time. Often develops in office workers, weightlifters, dentists and surgeons;
- hereditary predisposition;
- Women: Women suffer from varicose veins more often than men because the "female" hormones estrogens have a negative effect on the venous wall. In addition, during pregnancy, the pressure in the vessels of the pelvis and lower extremities increases, so the risk of developing varicose veins of the lower extremities is higher.
- congenital weakness of the vascular system;
- Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome promotes reverse venous blood flow, in which pathological messages occur between arteries and veins.
Symptoms of varicose veins
Varicose veins can be symptomatic and almost hidden. In the first case, the symptoms of varicose veins are:
- discomfort and aching pain in the lower extremities;
- swelling in the ankles;
- burning or throbbing sensation in the legs;
- convulsions occurring mainly in the evening or at night;
- itching at the site of an enlarged vein;
- rapid fatigue of the legs;
- changed skin color.
These symptoms become more pronounced in the evening, at the end of the working day, in the hot season, and after a person has been standing for a long time. There are no external signs of varicose veins with hidden varicose veins, but there is pain in the legs.
As a rule, the pain in the lower extremities is severe and is located deep in the legs. Often the pain can signal phlebitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) and the formation of blood clots. The development of thrombophlebitis is accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
An enlarged vein can explode, and then bruises form where the affected vein passes. Even small skin lesions can cause ulcers. Typically, varicose ulcers are small, superficial, and painful.
The danger of phlebitis, thrombosis and ulcers in the varicose veins of the legs is that they cause the development of small blisters with thin walls on the ankles. These blisters are easily damaged and bleed. Blisters can explode during sleep, which can cause minor bleeding.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities cause other skin and vascular pathologies:
- lymphadenopathy. An enlarged vessel can damage the vessels of the lymphatic system, which carry and destroy toxins and metabolic products. Also, damage to the lymphatic vessels can lead to lymphedema, in which swelling of the lower extremities occurs;
- dermatitis, is accompanied by itching and rash in the area of varicose veins. Most often the rash is localized in the lower leg and ankle. Dermatitis can cause minor bleeding, skin irritation and infection.
How to treat varicose veins?
If the symptoms of varicose veins are mild, it is enough to take preventive measures prescribed by a phlebologist (treats vascular diseases). When varicose veins cause pain, cosmetic defects, fatigue in the legs, swelling or skin discoloration, therapy is needed, which includes the following methods:
- compression stockings, moderately compresses the legs and veins of the lower extremities so that the blood does not stop in them. Compression stockings can help relieve pain and swelling. Socks should be worn for at least 6 months to relieve symptoms. Also, wearing socks should be combined with regular physical activity in which the legs are more involved: running, sports equipment, cycling;
- radiofrequency ablation. This is a minimally invasive procedure: a disposable catheter is inserted into a vein, which heats up and causes the vessel to collapse. As a result, the artery closes and venous blood flows to the heart through healthy arteries;
- sclerosing therapy. The doctor injects a drug that turns part of the vessel into connective tissue, as a result of which the lumen of the vessel closes and the blood is transported by neighboring healthy vessels;
- surgical methodscovering the closure or complete removal of the affected vessel.
How to treat varicose veins in the legs in women?
Treatment of varicose veins does not depend on gender: in women it is the same as in men. However, there are features of therapy in pregnant women. Varicose veins in pregnant women increase the risk of obstetric and vascular complications, can lead to unstable pregnancies, and can lead to an increase in toxicosis in pregnant women. Therefore, special attention is paid to the treatment of varicose veins in pregnant women.
Surgical treatment is used in extreme cases, when varicose veins are accompanied by complications such as venous insufficiency and the development of trophic ulcers or thrombotic pathologies. Microinvasive methods such as sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation during pregnancy are contraindicated. Also, women rarely prescribe hormonal agents and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during pregnancy.
The main method of treatment of varicose veins in women is conservative therapy in the form of compression stockings (phlebotropic agents) in combination with drugs that improve the nutrition of the walls of blood vessels. If compression therapy is ineffective, doctors prescribe drugs that do not penetrate the placenta and do not affect the fetus.
Complications of varicose veins
Untreated varicose veins can be complicated by trophic ulcers, acute thrombophlebitis, and bleeding from the affected veins.
Trophic ulcers most often occur on the inner surface of the lower leg and above the ankle. The first sign of wound development is dermatitis: the skin becomes inflamed and itchy. Then there are single and many small painful sores, from which a small amount of pus or inflammatory fluid is secreted.
In acute thrombophlebitis, seals appear in the superficial vessels, accompanied by pain and redness along the vein. Patients with acute thrombophlebitis have difficulty walking due to discomfort and pain in the legs. A thrombosed vessel may rupture. Then there is heavy bleeding, which causes massive blood loss.
Prevention of varicose veins
You should follow the recommendations to prevent varicose veins in men and women. The most effective tips and tricks:
- always prefer physical activity over inactivity, for example, climb stairs yourself instead of the elevator, if you need to go 1-2 stops, do not get in the car and do not walk;
- look at your weight - excess body weight is a trigger for varicose veins;
- A mobile lifestyle is the key to preventing varicose veins. However, physical activity should be reasonable. Weightlifting is not recommended, because lifting weights puts a lot of pressure on the legs and causes blood stasis in them. The best sports for the lower extremities are running, cycling, swimming, aerobics. Choose an activity that covers your lower legs and ankles, such as soccer or skiing;
- If you have a sedentary lifestyle, get up from a chair every 40 minutes and do a little warm-up exercise: sit 5-10 times or just walk;
- choose comfortable shoes without high heels, try to walk barefoot as often as possible;
- walking at least 30 minutes a day, at least 3-4 times a week;
- If you have a regular job, take compression stockings and wear them while working. Thus, you tone the vessels of the lower extremities and the blood does not stagnate in them.
If your feet hurt for no reason, if you are tired and swollen, if there are crooked blue or purple veins on the skin, you may have varicose veins in the lower extremities. Do not delay treatment and consult a doctor for advice and diagnosis.