If you want to learn more about varicose veins, read this article. It will help you understand the main causes of the disease and recognize the first symptoms of varicose veins yourself.
Few people know that varicose veins are a fairly common disease that affects almost 30% of women and 20% of men. This is because the initial symptoms can be almost invisible. This article will help you figure out how to independently identify varicose veins when they are still amenable to conservative and safe treatment.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are a common disease that can cause a lot of discomfort and significantly affect the quality of life. Varicose veins occur when the vein walls lose their elasticity and can no longer effectively pump blood back to the heart. Standing or sitting for long periods of time, hereditary predisposition, obesity, pregnancy, heart and vascular diseases – all of these can lead to varicose veins. There are various methods that can relieve symptoms and even eliminate the disease.
Varicose veins are a vascular disease that occurs when the venous valves are weakened and blood flow is impaired. That's why this happens.
Our vessels pump blood from the legs to the heart due to the functioning of special valves that prevent blood from flowing to the feet under the influence of gravity. However, it happens that the valves become weaker. And then some of the blood begins to linger in the veins, thereby increasing the pressure on them. The vein walls expand and become damaged. Over time, the veins become larger and larger. The legs of people with varicose veins can appear as if there are giant ropes under the skin.
Varicose veins are not just an aesthetic problem. This disease can lead to serious complications such as thrombosis, ulcers and even tissue necrosis. Therefore, it is extremely important to recognize varicose veins on your own and consult a doctor at the first signs. The milder the course of the disease, the easier the treatment is. The main reasons for the development of varicose veins.
The reasons for the development of varicose veins can be different. Let's take a closer look at each one.
- One of the main factors is heredity. Varicose veins occur in people with a weakened vein wall due to a genetic mutation. Remember whether your family members have had varicose veins. If this is the case, you are also at risk of developing this disease. However, do not rush to get upset. If you lead a healthy lifestyle and take care of your health, there is every chance of avoiding the appearance of varicose veins. However, it is always important to monitor your diet and lifestyle and take care of your health.
- Work on your feet. If you have a job that requires you to spend a lot of time standing, pay special attention to the condition of your legs. There is a high risk of developing varicose veins. People who work standing are particularly affected by the immobility of the leg muscles. When a person walks a lot, the muscles contract and compress the blood vessels, carrying blood to the heart. However, standing in one place all day leaves your veins without support. Therefore, standing increases the likelihood of varicose veins. Representatives of the following professions should pay particular attention to their health: teachers, chefs, surgeons, operating room nurses, hairdressers, waiters, salespeople, bartenders, turners, masseurs.
- Sedentary work can also have a negative impact on vascular health and the appearance of varicose veins. These are office workers, drivers, programmers, accountants, librarians, cashiers, seamstresses, bank tellers, jewelers and telephone operators. A sedentary lifestyle also increases the risk of developing varicose veins and is dangerous. Finally, the lower leg muscles do not work and the blood stagnates. Veins expand and turn into varicose veins. The habit of crossing one's legs is particularly bad. They can put pressure on the veins, which can lead to thrombosis. Don't forget to take breaks while working and at least warm up every now and then or at least walk around the office.
- Heavy physical work and heavy lifting can also cause varicose veins. This is due to the fact that when lifting heavy weights, an increase in intra-abdominal pressure occurs, which is naturally transmitted to the legs, causing stretching of blood vessels and disruption of the valves. If you are a loader, weightlifter, construction worker, warehouseman, miner, or have to lift weights for a living, remember that this is dangerous and can cause varicose veins.
- Long and frequent flights also endanger the function of the blood vessels. During the flight there are changes in air pressure, which also have a negative effect on the blood vessels. On a plane you can't stretch your legs and it's difficult to find a comfortable position. The dry air on board an airplane causes the body to dehydrate. Blood viscosity increases, causing venous stagnation and slow blood flow.
- Pregnancy. It often happens that the first symptoms of varicose veins appear precisely during pregnancy, as a woman's body is exposed to enormous stress and swelling appears in the legs. Doctors can often prescribe compression stockings, which can improve the course of the disease.
- Being overweight can also cause varicose veins. In addition, it is important to know that due to excess weight, a person may not notice a single varicose vein for years. Varicose veins can be hidden beneath a significant layer of subcutaneous fat. Visualizing them is not only difficult, it is also impossible without instrumental techniques. Therefore, if you are overweight and feel tired or swollen in the legs in the evening, you should consult a phlebologist as soon as possible.
- Poor lifestyle, alcohol abuse, smoking and other bad habits and addictions. In general, varicose veins and bad habits are incompatible. And when combined with smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, it can have serious consequences. Without treatment and control, varicose veins can cause other vascular diseases, such as arteriosclerosis of the lower extremities.
- Heels are the enemy of your blood vessels. Don't rush to chase beauty. Remember that high heels put a lot of strain on your feet. Shoes should be comfortable first and then beautiful. Wearing heels is of course acceptable, but only occasionally and not too often.
Symptoms of varicose veins at different stages of the disease.
The initial stage of varicose veins. Compensation phase. The initial stage of varicose vein disease is also called the compensation stage. It received this name because when the veins in the body malfunction, special mechanisms are activated that compensate for these disorders. That's why it's dangerous. A person may ignore the signs of varicose veins for several months or even years, missing valuable time for successful treatment.
External signs may be completely absent or appear in the form of spider veins. They should not be underestimated. These are real harbingers of varicose veins.
All a person can feel in the early stages of varicose veins is a feeling of heaviness in the legs, a feeling of fullness and swelling. Most patients attribute these symptoms to fatigue, especially if work involves strain on the legs.
However, if you are sensitive to your health, have noticed these symptoms and visited a phlebologist in a timely manner, you can have peace of mind. In this case, when diagnosing varicose veins in the initial stages, conservative, non-surgical treatment is prescribed. For example, different types of sclerotherapy.
Classification of varicose veins. What is important to know?
The classification of varicose veins depends on the level at which the affected vein is located. It is important to know this classification so that you can recognize the symptoms in time and see a phlebologist immediately.
The classification of varicose veins begins with identifying the main forms of the disease: primary (idiopathic) varicose veins, secondary varicose veins (consequences of traumatic venous injuries), age-related varicose veins (senile), congenital varicose veins (intrauterine formation). from varicose veins) etc.
Primary varicose veins are one of the most common forms of the disease. It can occur in people of all ages, but this type of varicose veins most commonly occurs in women. The hereditary factor is one of the causes of this disease.
Secondary varicose veins are a form of the disease that occurs after traumatic injury to the veins. Venous thrombosis, surgery, trauma and other factors can lead to secondary varicose veins. Typically, this type of disease occurs at the site of injury.
Age-related varicose veins most commonly occur in older people. The increasing aging of the body leads to a weakening of the walls of the venous vessels, which has a noticeable effect on their etymology.
Congenital varicose veins are characterized by the fact that the disease occurs during fetal development. An abnormality in the development of blood vessels leads to a violation of their vital function, namely reversible dilatation of the veins.
Second stage of varicose veins. Undercompensation.
This is the most common stage at which patients already see a doctor. Subcompensation is the stage in which the body can no longer cope with the disease on its own. In this case, at the end of the day the person not only complains of pain and swelling, but also feels constant discomfort. It is already difficult for the patient to lead a normal lifestyle. In this case, a visit to the phlebologist should be scheduled immediately.
Main symptoms: Veins are clearly visible, the skin may take on a blue tinge. Swelling, pain, burning and mild cramps in the legs are noted not only in the evening but also at night.
Simple treatment is no longer sufficient at this stage. In this case, EVLT and minimally invasive surgery are usually used.
Third section. Severe varicose veins. Decompensation.
In this case, disruption of blood vessels negatively affects the functioning of other organs and systems of the body. Tissue nutrition suffers, fluid accumulates in it and trophic ulcers may occur. The veins become severely deformed and severe complications in the form of thrombophlebitis are possible.
At this stage, urgent surgical treatment is required. Otherwise, varicose veins become life-threatening.
It is important to understand that the disease can have either one form of development or various combinations. And the classification of varicose veins is not unambiguous, but implies the possibility of various combinations of factors. But regardless of the form, varicose veins require treatment. Proper treatment can lead to a full recovery, prevent serious complications, and improve patients' quality of life.
Diagnosis of varicose veins.
A modern clinic has the most accurate and effective methods for diagnosing varicose veins. The main methods for diagnosing varicose veins are:
- Examination by a specialist. The first thing you need to do is make an appointment with a phlebologist.
- Ultrasound examination. This is the main diagnostic method for detecting varicose veins. An ultrasound scan of the veins allows you to detect changes in the structure of the veins, determine whether there is an obstruction to blood flow, and identify other problems with the veins.
- Phlebography. This is a diagnostic method that makes it possible to obtain a more detailed picture of the vessels of the lower extremities while injecting them with a contrast agent. This method allows you to diagnose both disorders of the venous structure and other problems of the lymphatic system.
- CT scan. This method allows you to obtain a three-dimensional image of the vessels, which significantly improves the scaling of the veins.
- MRI scan. This method is mainly used when an ultrasound examination is not possible, as its effectiveness in diagnosing varicose veins is limited.
- Thermography. This method is based on taking into account thermal radiation of the extremities and allows determining the presence of diseases in the venous structure.
Making a diagnosis based on research data usually does not take much time. Most procedures last between 10 and 40 minutes. Treatment at different stages can vary greatly, so you should never self-medicate. Any health manipulations can be prescribed only after receiving the research results.
Methods for treating varicose veins
Varicose veins are a serious condition, but one that can be treated. There are ways to prevent discomfort and reduce the risk of complications. It is important not to delay visiting a doctor and following his recommendations, as early treatment significantly increases the chances of recovery. There are various methods that can relieve symptoms and even eliminate the disease.
The first important way to treat varicose veins is to change your lifestyle. People with varicose veins need to pay special attention to physical activity. Regular exercise aims to strengthen the muscles of the lower body and stimulate blood circulation. Walking, swimming, gymnastics for the leg muscles - all of this can be a good help in the treatment of varicose veins.
The second option is to change your diet. There are many products that can worsen the situation with varicose veins: strong coffee, hot spices, alcohol, fatty and heavy foods. It is better to choose foods rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. For example vegetables, fruits, herbs, unfermented dairy products, nuts, fish.
The first two methods are mandatory requirements at any stage of the disease.
The next step, if prescribed by a doctor, can be medication. The use of ointments, creams and gels that contain substances that promote blood circulation will help relieve swelling and pain. You can also seek drug therapy; Your doctor will prescribe you tablets.
Modern methods of treating varicose veins include:
- Obliteration and coagulation. The emitter is inserted into the vein through a micropuncture. The laser precisely heats the blood, causing the walls of the blood vessels to burn and the vein to close (this is called sclerosis). Once the process is complete, the emitter is removed. Over time, the vein turns into connective tissue and then completely dissolves. The procedure lasts about half an hour. Immediately after completing treatment, the patient can return to normal life. To consolidate the results achieved, it is necessary to wear compression clothing for several days.
- Sclerotherapy. A special substance is injected into the affected vessel, which glues its walls together. The stuck vessel is excluded from the bloodstream and dissolves over time.
- Radiofrequency ablation. The mechanism of action is similar to laser therapy. During the procedure, a catheter is inserted into the vein, which heats up its walls and causes them to stick together. After some time the vein dissolves.
- Miniphlebectomy. This is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. The affected vein is carefully removed through a puncture and without cuts or stitches.
- In severe stages of the disease, surgical treatment is indicated, which deprives the deformed veins of the ability to drain blood.
Treatment of varicose veins in modern kinetics
In a modern clinic, they know how to help patients effectively. Doctors have performed thousands of operations and helped millions of patients get rid of varicose veins. If you suffer from varicose veins, you should know that it is never too late to go to the clinic and seek treatment.
The modern clinic only employs highly qualified doctors who specialize in the treatment of varicose veins and other venous diseases. Various treatment options are available to patients, including laser therapy, sclerotherapy, radiofrequency therapy and surgery. Only the most modern equipment and technologies are used. This guarantees maximum results and minimal risk of complications. In addition, the specialist clinic is one of the most advanced in the field of vein surgery in the country.
Another advantage of a professional clinic is that patients are only offered individual care. Each patient is unique and when choosing a method, all their peculiarities are taken into account during treatment. The main goal of the clinic is to allow the patient to return to a normal life and forget about venous problems.
Don't think that varicose veins will go away on their own. In fact, in rare cases, symptoms may improve due to lifestyle changes or certain medications. However, it is important to understand that this is only a temporary improvement and treatment is still required. Postponing a visit to the doctor can only worsen the course of the disease.