Varicose veins on the legs: symptoms and treatment

Varicosis is a systemic disease that can affect vases anywhere in the body. Its essence is the dysfunction of the valves that control the direction of the bloodstream. For this reason, there is an accumulation of excessive volume of fluid in the veins, under the influence in which the walls extend and lose their elasticity.

Very often, medical publications focus on the symptoms and treatment of varicose veins on the legs, since this variety of disease is considered the most common: according to statistics, over 80% of all cases of varicose veins is precisely on the lower limbs. However, despite this, for most patients, the diagnosis of varicose veins is a surprise and its detection occurs in the following phases. All this indicates an insufficient awareness of people on the dangers that transport varicose veins.

Characteristics, causes and mechanism of the development of varicose veins

The main feature of the varicose veins of the legs is its vastness. The changes are subject to surface veins and deeply currents on a large length. Since there is a fairly large and long load on the feet, the valves in the circulatory system can begin to weaken during childhood. Therefore, the detection of varicose veins on the legs often occurs in young people and girls.

These are the lower ends that are characterized by a phenomenon such as hidden varicose veins: against the background of pronouncements in unpleasant veins and symptoms, there are no visible signs of the disease. Therefore, in about a third of all cases, the disease is detected in the advanced phases.

To carry out an effective treatment of varicose nodes on the legs, the doctor will have to discover the causes of his occurrence. Since even when using radical methods in 80% of patients, the impact of varicose veins occurs, particular attention must be paid to reduce the effect on the processes of factors that cause varicose veins. These include:

• The hereditary predisposition is an actually uncontrolled factor, which, however, can be retained by standard preventive measures;
• Physical influences: an increase in the load on the legs (longtime and sitting, the habit of crossing the legs, excess weight, weight lifting);
• Physiological effects - hormonal changes and intake of hormonal drugs (often contraceptive), metabolic disorders, lack of physical activity;
• The pathological causes are chronic liver diseases, kidneys, injuries and systematic layers of the soft tissues of the lower limbs, tumors, squeezing the veins in the abdominal cavity.

Depending on the position of the veins, doctors distinguish different types of varicose veins on the legs:

1. Surface. It is expressed by the appearance of a bluish or red varicose grill on the legs, which first recalls a net, and therefore from the plexus of fairly thick winding lines.
2. Deep. It is expressed by a defeat that is not visible during the external examination of the vascular plexus. The pain in the veins of the lower limbs with varicose expansion of this type is more intense, a higher risk of complications.
3. Combined when the deep and superficial veins are subjected to changes.

The establishment of the causes of varicose veins and its elimination are in close relationship. First of all, it is important to exclude the factors that have the greatest negative impact on the state of the veins.

In the diagnosis of venous changes, it is important to differentiate them with other diseases. For example, the varicose veins under the knee seem equal to the Becker cyst and is accompanied by similar symptoms.

Phases

The appearance of the first signs of varicose veins on the legs occurs in the progressive phases, when the venous valves perform their functions of less than 50%. In the first or zero stage of varicose veins, which is known as the "compensation phase", there is no discomfort, as well as visible changes. The detection of the initial phase of the varicose veins on the legs occurs with a careful examination of the limbs by a phlebologist.

In the second phase of the varicose veins, which is known as "subcompensation", the changes are expressed quite well:

• The contours of large veins are visible under the skin, but they may not protrude over the surface of the skin;
• On the surface of the skin on the sides and under the knees, a thin varicose grill model with blue or red capillaries is clearly visible;
• In the evening, the legs become swollen;
• At night, the calf muscles are narrow.

This phase of the varicose veins of the lower ends is distinguished by increasing the symptoms, which weakens after rest.

In the final phase of the varicose veins, the decompice occurs: the body cannot fill the needs of the tissues in the oxygen and the valves in the veins of 90% lose their functions. The condition of the limbs worsens due to insufficiency of blood. This phase of the varicose veins is characterized by a decrease in the tissue capacity for regeneration. The abundance of complications worsens the general condition of the patient. The symptoms in the final phase of the varicose veins are constantly preserved.

Symptoms

The most common and early symptom of varicose veins is the pain in the legs by the end of the working day. It appears with a change in deep and superficial vessels and is an insufficiently good blood supply signal for soft tissues. In some cases, pain is the only symptom of the varicose veins of the deep veins of the lower limbs. With a change in the surface vessels, the appearance of varicose veins on the legs, which often creates only aesthetic inconveniences, reports the development of the disease.

The nature of pain with varicose veins in different stages of the development of the disease can differ:

• In the initial phase, there is a slight discomfort reminiscent of ordinary effort;
• With progression to the second stage, a feeling of combustion appears in the legs of the varicose veins, which is often located under the knee;
• The pain with the varicose veins of the lower ends is accompanied by 2 and 3 phases of the disease, together with this, a cramps of the calf muscle can occur;
• The acute pain that causes chromium occurs in the final stages of the disease.

In addition to the obvious physical discomfort, the disease is accompanied by external changes. Most patients complain that their legs scratch - with varicose veins, this is considered a normal phenomenon that indicates ischemic processes. A thin varicose grill, which practically does not disturb in the first stadiums, over time protrudes stronger, transforming itself into a thick intertwining of thickened vases. Any physical activity, including coughing, sneezing or long walk, can lead to a breaking of enlarged and sometimes vene capillaries. The blood is poured under the skin, forming hematomas.

The presence of bruises on the legs with varicose veins indicates a stable progression of the disease, excessive stretching and thinning of the veins.

The appearance of red spots on the legs with varicose veins, peeling of the skin, its thinning and exposure to injuries indicate atrophic processes that are characteristic of the final stages of the disease. The complications are indicated by the redness of the lower part of the leg, which is accompanied by acute pain and lameness. This symptom is characteristic of phlebitis and thrombophlebitis. If the patient is blackened by the leg, this indicates a serious block of the veins and the beginning of the necrotic processes.

Diagnostics

The ease of diagnosis of varicose veins on the legs is exaggerated, since the vases do not always reach the surface. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor must conduct an external examination and conduct a series of instrumental research:

• Duplex or ultrasound scan on the lower limb - for varicose veins, it is first used to determine the degree of lengthening of the vascular walls, the nature of the blood flow in them and detect blood clots;
• Radiography of the limbs with contrast: the functional examination standard for the varicose veins of the lower ends, which allows to determine the patency of the blood vessels;
• Magnetic resonance imaging is the Gold Standard of the modern diagnosis of varicose veins in the lower limbs, which allows you to evaluate the functionality of the venous valves, identify the outbreaks of ischemia in soft tissues, detect blood clots and other pathological changes that have occurred against the background of varicose veins.

To clarify the complete picture of the disease, laboratory studies are prescribed: a coagulogram to evaluate the risk of thrombosis, an examination of the general and biochemical blood.

Characteristics of the treatment

The treatment of varicose veins on the legs is engaged in a phlebologist. After determining the degree of pathological changes, the doctor selects the most effective therapy methods, in his opinion. Unfortunately, it will not work to get rid of varicose veins on the legs forever, since the disease is systematic and even modern treatment methods give a long -term stable result but not 100%.

According to statistics, even after using radical methods for the treatment of varicose veins of the lower ends in 80% of patients, the impact occurs for 5 years.

In the initial stages of the varicose veins on the legs, the treatment is preferably conservative. Its base is the use of local and systemic drugs:

• anticoagulants that reduce blood viscosity and improve tissue nutrition;
• Anti -sagger that reduce the risk of thrombosis and improve trophic tissues;
• Venotonic to prevent further stretching of the veins, reduce inflammatory processes and swelling.

With the discomfort pronounced for the varicose veins on the legs, fans are prescribed. The preparations of this group help to reduce pain, prevent the development of complications.

What to do if the itching for varicose legs does not allow you to sleep, do family things and makes you nervous? It is worth trying ointments or gel with a cooling effect. They will not influence the veins and do not help to cope with the disease, but they will quickly alleviate the symptom.

In addition to conservative therapy, doctors often use the complex treatment methods of varicose veins of the lower ends, when minimally invasive and surgical operations are used. This scheme is used for intense symptoms and wide diffusion of venous networks. What measures to take and what to do if the varicose veins on the legs begin to progress suddenly, decides a phlebologist. At the same time, he takes into account all aspects of the development of the disease, individual characteristics of the body and health problems, which can become contraindications to certain procedures.

Which methods are used to eliminate pathological vessels:

1. Laser coagulation. It is used if the varicose veins have not passed to 2 and 3 phases, that is, in the presence of small "stars" on the surface of the skin. The method is painless and effective, but expensive. There is no 100% warranty of treatment, since the elimination of the visible vessels occurs, while the causes of the disease are preserved. Apply in the early stages to eliminate cosmetic defects.
2. Sclerotherapy. In thin and medium thicknesses, the vases are introduced by a sclerosing, which seals the light of the veins, excluding it from the blood flow system. The procedure is practically painless and relatively cheap, but has many contraindications. It is used at 1. 2 and sometimes 3 phases.
3. Flebectomy is a classic excision of pathological veins through dripping or cuts on the skin. This method eliminates varicose veins of surface on the lower sides and legs. After surgery, visible scars remain, but the operation is the only effective with advanced forms of varicose veins.

Conducting surgery or minimally invasive does not mean completing the liberation of varicose veins. The patient will regularly visit a phlebologist, take drugs to keep the venous tone and wear compression linen.

Contraindications

Experts attribute contraindications for varicose veins on the legs any action that can cause further stagnation in the vessels of the lower limbs. These include:

• long stay in static poses;
• weight lifting;
• Sit folding or crossing the legs.

In addition, patients should avoid taking alcohol, which helps to increase the viscosity of the blood and weakens the walls of the blood vessels. Smoking can negatively affect the course of the disease. Therefore, after making a diagnosis, it is necessary to abandon bad habits.

Complications

Thrombosis and inflammatory processes in the walls of the veins, which have been mentioned previously, are far from the only thing that the varicose veins on the legs are dangerous for the patient in terms of complications. Due to circulatory disorders, not only blood vessels, but soft tissues also suffer, therefore, among the consequences of the varicose veins on the legs, problems with the muscles and skin are mentioned:

• dermatitis, accompanied by rashes, skin ulceration, itching;
• Eczema, accompanied by skin cracking;
• necrotic changes in the skin up to the formation of the gangrene;
• trophic ulcers;
• Muscle atrophy.

Often, with the progression of the disease and excessive stretching of the walls of the blood vessels, the patient risks bleeding from the varicose veins of the lower limbs. It can be closed when the blood accumulates in the muscles and under the skin and form hematomas or open. The second option is full of a large amount of blood and from the arrival of a coma, especially if the patient takes anti -aging and anticoagulants.

This complication of the varicose veins of the veins of the lower ends can lead not only to injuries, but also to a slight physical effort, for example coughs or acute movements.

The most dangerous complications of the varicose veins of the lower limb are the thromboembolism of the lung artery and the myocardial infarction. They occur due to the breaking of the blood clot in the femoral artery and its migration according to the blood flow system in the coronary and lung vessels. Mortality in such processes is extremely high, so it is important that the patient always follows well -being and urgently sees a doctor with difficulty breathing and opaque chest pain.