Varicose veins

Varicose veins- This is a pathology that affects the blood vessels of the lower extremities, and due to the unfavorable course of the disease, various complications may occur. These can be relatively harmless symptoms, such as feeling tired, sore and swollen legs, or reach dire consequences such as blood clots and trophic ulcers.

According to the World Health Organization, varicose veins of the lower extremities are diagnosed in almost every 4-5 adults. Currently, it is still considered one of the most common diseases on Earth. In recent years, the cohort of patients with the disease has become significantly younger—more than 80% of cases are between the ages of 30 and 50, and even occur in adolescents.

causes of varicose veins

Women are most likely to develop varicose veins. This is due to the fact that the female body has several physiological characteristics at the same time:

• First, these are hormonal changes that occur at different times in life that cause the venous network and blood vessels to weaken. This happens during pregnancy, during childbirth, during menopause. For example, during pregnancy, blood volume increases by up to 30%, and the growing uterus compresses the blood vessels of the small pelvis, making normal venous outflow difficult. After delivery, the situation only partially returns to normal, as changes in the structure of the deep veins remain. Hence the tragic statistic that after the first childbirth, every three to four women face the manifestation of varicose veins. After the second - already every second.
• Also, varicose veins can develop due to genetic predisposition. That is to say, if the female relatives have vascular problems, then under the influence of adverse factors, the disease will appear sooner or later. However, even with a predisposition to the disease, that doesn't mean you'll actually have varicose veins. Genetics may or may not work, but you will always be at risk.
• Due to the peculiarities of daily life, varicose veins also often occur under the influence of external factors. Long-term sitting and standing work, constant loads of heavy lifting, excess weight, unhealthy diet, and a sedentary lifestyle also contribute to its development.

Although women are statistically more likely to suffer from vascular problems, men are also at risk of developing varicose veins. Excessive weight, a sedentary lifestyle, and the strength load of frequent heavy lifting can lead to pathology.

stages of varicose veins

There is a disease classification according to which there are several stages of varicose veins: from zero to the most severe. At grade zero, there are still no external signs of disease, but the person will feel heavy, with slight swelling by the end of the day. For this reason, many refer to varicose veins as an unpleasant cosmetic defect.

In fact, varicose veins are classified as a group of serious cardiovascular diseases that will lead to the development of serious complications in the future, limiting life activities.

Traditionally, the symptoms of varicose veins are divided into several stages, showing neglect of the pathology:

1. First, discomfort occurs - constant pain and "heavyness" in the legs, swelling of the feet and ankles at the end of the day, leg cramps. Usually by the end of the day, marks from socks and shoes will be visible on the skin. At the same time, the vein pattern on the skin became more obvious, and spider lines appeared in some places. Sometimes the legs remain the same in appearance, but unpleasant symptoms develop daily.
2. In the second stage, the veins already take on the appearance of varicose veins - they begin to protrude above the skin, forming entire clusters and nodules. As they progressed, they became more and more "bulging" outward, appearing bluish-black.
3. In the third stage, tissue nutrition deteriorates. The dryness and pallor of the skin on the legs combined with the constant swelling and heaviness of the legs, not only at night, but also during the day have been cramps. Sometimes, a rash and itching develop on the affected area.
4. In the final stage, inflammatory processes of the skin and blood vessels are added to all the above symptoms of varicose veins. Nutrient ulcers that do not heal can occur where a large number of swollen veins accumulate. In addition, there may be attached thrombophlebitis or secondary infection.

If the patient does nothing, the disease progresses. If unpleasant symptoms and the development of varicose veins can still be prevented in the initial stages, serious surgical treatment may be required in the later stages.

What are the treatments for varicose veins?

Doctors have long looked for ways to get rid of varicose veins. Over time, it was found that if the dilated vein was removed, blood circulation to the extremities remained normal. This is because during the disease, blood vessels that are not surrounded by muscles and lie on the surface of the body are mainly affected. Therefore, when they are "disconnected" from the circulatory system, nutritional functions are performed by a network of blood vessels located deep in the legs and thighs.

In addition, during the 20th century, many drugs were developed to inhibit the progression of the disease. Therefore, two types of treatment are currently used - conservative and surgical. In some cases, they are combined. Therefore, the final treatment regimen depends on the individual characteristics of the patient and is ignored.

What is conservative treatment?

It should be understood that when varicose veins appear, it is no longer possible to fully recover from the disease.

The pathological process cannot be reversed, the structural changes in the blood vessels do not return to their original state, but there is an opportunity to significantly slow their progression and partially eliminate unpleasant symptoms.

Therefore, in the initial stages of the disease, when no surgical intervention is required or there are any contraindications to surgery, conservative techniques are required. For this, the following are assigned:

• Take medicines, so-called IV protectors. Oral preparations mainly fight the cause of appearance - they increase the tension of the venous network, improve blood flow in the tissues, restore valve function and stop the inflammatory process. At the same time, together with venotonics, the drug is prescribed to reduce blood viscosity and prevent blood clots.
• In addition to the internal intake of tablets, ointments and gels of venotonics are prescribed. They are designed to reduce uncomfortable symptoms in the legs - heaviness, pain and swelling. Typically, these drugs combine cooling, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects.
• The essence of compression therapy is reduced to continuous wearing of compression stockings (stockings) and elastic bandages. In this case, the material takes over the muscle function. It compresses the blood vessels, so blood flow is normalized vertically and toward the heart. With continued use of the compressed product, patient well-being has improved significantly. In addition, for pregnant women with varicose veins, a prescription will definitely be prescribed after surgical intervention.
• When trophic ulcers appear in the final stage of varicose veins, local measures should be taken. These include dressings, systemic antibiotics, antihistamines, and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Only an experienced phlebologist should choose conservative treatment options, including compression bras. Here, not only the course of the disease, but also the presence of individual contraindications, that is, the condition of the patient, must be considered.

Treat with surgery

Because the deformed blood vessels with damaged valves can no longer be repaired, phlebologists use various surgical techniques to remove them. The key is to "close" the deformed vein from the general circulatory system and remove it. This can be achieved in a number of ways:

1. The classic method of surgical treatment is phlebectomy. It is surgically removed, bandaged and removed from the body. Such an operation takes 1-2 hours under general anesthesia and leaves a 5mm scar on the leg. This procedure cannot be used for coronary heart disease, old age, severe infectious diseases and the second half of pregnancy because it is traumatic.
2. A gentler way to remove varicose veins is laser coagulation of the dilated veins. In this case, there are influences from within: electrodes with laser radiation are introduced into them. Under this influence, the walls of the blood vessels heat up and stick together, preventing blood flow, and over time, it contracts and subsides completely.
3. Another low-trauma method is sclerotherapy. A special sclerosing drug that resembles microbubbles is injected into the problem vein. Under its influence, it was sealed and gradually overgrown. The procedure is very quick and completely non-invasive as it takes about 20 minutes to complete and does not require anesthesia.
4. Depending on the type of laser, radiofrequency coagulation is performed. Just instead of laser exposure, a different type of energy is used. The advantage is that it can be done even in advanced cases where trophic ulcers have already developed and there are other skin lesions.

Preventive measures to control disease

With the help of surgery and medication, good results are achieved, but when you return to a normal lifestyle, lack of prevention, the disease returns to its original state. Therefore, preventive measures should not be forgotten, either in the presence of the first symptoms of varicose veins, or in severe cases, as they will stop the progression of the disease:

• Pay attention to your weight and try to keep it as normal as possible. Because of the excess weight, the load on the legs increases and therefore the load on the boat increases. Therefore, it is important to have a balanced diet, eat healthier foods, and quit bad habits.
• Don't forget about physical activity: The more exercise you do during the day, the more often you'll "pump" blood through your veins and train your vessels. So when you are sedentary, take a break with mini-exercise, don't cross your legs, walk up the stairs and add the right exercise to your regimen (yoga, fitness equipment, Nordic walking, exercise therapy, swimming, skiing). At the same time, it is also worth excluding those sports occupations with heavy load on the legs.
• Be critical about your everyday shoe and clothing choices. Clothing should not restrict movement and fully conform to the intended activity. Avoid high heels and flats as much as possible, or wear them sparingly, such as on special occasions.
• Try soaking your feet at the end of the day - alternating warm and cold water, varying the pressure. Also, do a self-massage to improve muscle tone. At the same time, "hot" procedures should be excluded or minimized - this applies to hot baths, baths, hair removal with hot wax, etc.
• Pick your compression stockings with an expert. You should not buy such products yourself, as it is the doctor who chooses the appropriate degree of compression, taking into account the current state of the venous network, and prescribes them. Combined with other precautions, use such knitwear more frequently. At the same time, it is also important to buy quality products with the right effects from trusted medical brands.
• Before taking any hormonal medication, especially in women during body restructuring, it is necessary to additionally consult a phlebologist.

It is important to seek qualified help if you experience any symptoms of illness. If you don't want to endure the pain and heaviness of your legs all the time, "hide" your legs, reject your nice clothes, and want to deal with varicose veins and stay healthy, it's enough to see a doctor and get a full checkup.

It includes consultation with a vascular surgeon, visual examination, medical history, examination of the status of veins and arteries using modern diagnostic methods (duplex scanning). Based on the data obtained, a diagnosis is made and a comprehensive treatment plan is developed.

The clinic's arsenal includes all progressive approaches to getting rid of varicose veins - from outpatient sclerotherapy and laser correction to complex surgical interventions. After performing any procedure, the vascular surgeon makes recommendations to each patient based on individual characteristics, which, if followed, ensure lasting results. If you do not follow the recommended rules, the disease will start to develop again.

So, if you are experiencing worrisome symptoms for the first time and have persistent discomfort in your legs, and you have not successfully fought the disease for over a year, then consult a specialist. The clinic employs experienced doctors who will choose the appropriate plan based on the current situation.