Varicose veins usually affects the lower limbs, may develop years, even decades. Varicose veins (varices) of the legs is always a dysfunction of the venous valves and blood flow. A proper flow of blood and is characterized by the movement of the blood through the veins of the legs, from the bottom up (reverse gravity). A large part of this process is possible because of venous valves, which prevent backflow of blood. The distortion of these valves lead to damage of the venous blood flow and, as a consequence of the elongation of the veins. In such veins the blood begins to flow in a chaotic manner, often zastaivayas in the veins of the legs. Due to this background of significant pressure on the vascular wall do not stand up, to expand and become thinner. Thus the dilated veins with the naked eye visible under the skin, in the form of nodes. Often, due to the slowing down of the flow of blood in varicose veins is thrombosis. Violation of the processes of nutrition of the skin leads to the appearance of venous ulcers.
The reasons for development of varicose veins in the legs quite a bit:
- Genetic predisposition (hereditary diseases predisposing factors – congenital weakness of the venous wall and valvular apparatus, loss of elasticity).
- Violation of blood circulation against the background of constipation, wearing tight shoes, Smoking, lack of physical activity.
- Hormonal medications (birth control monophasic pill with a high dose of estrogen in the body, leads to thickening of the blood).
- The increased pressure of the venous type, provocaverunt obesity, pregnancy, sedentary lifestyle (sedentary work), a permanent vertical loads (workers, whole day staying on the feet).
- Hormonal changes in old age.
These reasons can also lead to a wrong pathological flow of blood through the veins of the lower limbs – refluxus or backflow of blood from the deeper veins to superficial veins. These reasons contribute to the deterioration of the situation in the future.
Symptoms of varicose veins of the legs.
- extension of saphenous veins;
- burning sensation or heat in the course of the veins of the lower limbs;
- feeling of weight in legs;
- swelling of the soft tissues of the lower limbs in the evening (the area of the feet, ankles, lower legs);
- nocturnal cramps in the calf muscles;
- darkening and hardening of the skin of the lower part of the legs;
- pain after the veins;
- trophic ulcers.
Each patient has symptoms of varicose veins can be different but one point remains constant – the feeling of weight in the legs, which is also called the "syndrome of heavy legs". Usually symptomatic complex is the most expressed in the evening and also during extreme heat.
If the disease is started, the skin of the feet became cyanotic color, and the patient at this stage no treatment is not getting, not rarely observed skin hyperpigmentation and lipodermatosclerosis, and in more serious cases develop sores.
The danger is not varicose veins and the development of the background of this complication is thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the inner vein wall) which leads to the formation of blood clots. The blood clots often block the lumen of the vein (phlebothrombosis), and can also break away and enter the lungs. As a result of the serious complications of varicose veins in patients with lethal outcomes.
The diagnosis of varicose veins of the legs.
When you discover for yourself the above symptoms or some of them need urgently to go to the doctor phlebologist or vascular surgeon. The accuracy of the detection of the disease depends on the nature of the treatment and prevention of complications.
For the diagnosis of varicose veins prescribed the following studies.
- The ultrasound or venous duplex imaging – evaluation of the patency and extensio veins, direction of blood flow and detect blood clots in the veins.
- Contrast venography – assessment of the situation, determination of the presence of tumors and thrombi by way of reconstruction, accurate "picture" of the veins of the patient on the x-ray. Usually, this method is replaced with the ultrasound, because it is considered to be more simple to implement.
When you need to immediately consult a doctor
If the following symptoms a visit to the doctor should be immediate:
- The presence of acute pain in the lower limbs with every movement. While the leg look swollen and very tight, the skin is like burning.
- A feeling of weakness, accompanied by shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of oxygen.
- Of the diseased veins began to ooze blood.
The treatment of varicose veins of the legs.
Conservative treatments for varicose veins.
Non-surgical treatment applied in the initial stage of development of the disease when there are no complications. Conservative methods include receiving specialty medications (angioprotectors, anticoagulants, venotoniki, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets, ointments, and gels) that will help relieve pain, and prevent complications.
Of great importance in the treatment of varicose veins is the restoration of the tone of blood vessels. Exercise is possible with the help of special tools. So domestic manufacturers do not contain dyes, has a film shell, without any preservatives, therefore, the active substance is diosmin absorbs faster, minimizing the likelihood of the manifestations of allergic reactions.
Non-surgical treatment of varicose veins in addition to involves the wearing of compression underwear, after the special diet, systematic physical activity (a complex of therapeutic exercises).
These measures reduce the venous insufficiency, the prevention of the development of thrombosis. Then the doctor, in addition to the above measures of treatment of varicose veins may determine the course manual or the hardware lymphatic drainage, treatments for the improvement of outflow of blood from the lower limbs, reducing swelling. The effect of the procedure is not long-lasting.
The treatment of varicose veins with leeches.
Leech therapy is quite an effective way of dealing with varicose veins. Once the inside of the diseased vein, the saliva of the leeches, thanks to the contents hirudin (natural heparin), promote liquefactionibus the blood and prevents the formation of blood clots. Today, on the basis hirudin drugs are created, making "contact with the leeches" can be avoided.
Bezoperatsionnye modern methods of treatment of varicose veins of the legs.
Sclerotherapy.
Sclerotherapy is the most effective non-surgical treatment of varicose veins. In the course of the proceedings in the lumen of the vessel of the patient, the doctor injects a special drug that causes agglutination of its walls in the future (for 1.5 years), their resorption. The usual treatment at the stage of spider veins includes from 3 to 6 treatments for each leg. The result will be noticeable after 2-8 weeks, during which period there may be pain, bruising slight burning sensation, which gradually pass. The injected drug is in each case selected individually, so the risk of complications is minimal. In the course of treating the patient must wear compression hosiery.
The effectiveness of sclerotherapy in the treatment of varicose veins can be compared with the classical operation, it gives only the most modern techniques - endovenous laser coagulation, due to the appearance of "foam form" (foam) sclerotherapy, and the procedure under ultrasound or translyuministsentnoy lamp. All this significantly reduced the number of side effects.
Sclerotherapy can be performed using the ultrasound scanner, then the process is called echosclerotherapy. Additional scanner application allows the doctor to completely control the movement of the needle in Vienna and the distribution of the drug.
If the medicinal product is conducted in a modified vein in the form of a microfoam, the procedure is called the foam-form sclerotherapy. Through closer contact microfoam with the venous walls, the method has a high efficiency. Displacing blood from the united states, microfoam promote quick links and blocking features.
endovasal or endovenous laser coagulation.
One of the modern and minimally invasive treatments of varicose veins of the legs. The effects of laser light on the damaged vein is performed under local anesthesia. The results are visible after one month after the completion of the procedure. Method is rather expensive.
Medical therapy of varicose veins of the legs compliment the folk remedies that will not only improve the tone and elasticity of venous walls, but also can prevent further progression of the disease. Recipes of traditional medicine with regular use help to cure very advanced cases of the disease (skin ulcers, thrombosis).
Before the treatment, it is important to determine the cause of the disease, consult your doctor, do not tighten and do not wait for complications (skin ulcers, thrombosis), begin treatment as early as possible, while the thickness of the veins on the surface does not exceed 5 mm, and the nodes are not more than 7 mm. In the course of the therapeutic course, it is recommended to wear clothes and shoes that do not hinder the movement, to abandon the heavy physical activity and the habit to throw the leg over the other.
Modern methods of operational (surgical) treatment of varicose veins of the legs.
In the absence of the desired result, as a result of conservative treatment of varicose veins require surgical intervention. Surgery is a radical method of treatment of the disease, during which the removal of changed veins. Today it is not done under tumescent anesthesia (local anesthesia of a mixture of natural anesthetics). Advantages of the method is that the patient can leave the clinic two hours after surgery, no postoperative hematomas, better tolerated, no drunkenness, and during operations under General anesthesia.
Phlebectomy – through special punctures is the removal of the modified disease of the veins to normalize blood flow in the deep veins. The work in some cases is better to sclerotherapy. Among the advantages there is a rapid recovery of the patient, small scars, in addition to the effect are maintained over the years.
Short Stripping – the removal of only the changed area of the vein through two small incisions. Pre-defines the location and length of affected vein. In this method the soft tissue of the patient does not suffer, there is a rapid recovery, no pain after surgery.
Endoscopic vein dissectione - in this method a doctor with the small size of the affected Vienna introduces it into the endoscope, which allows to obtain information about the internal condition of the varicose veins, the extent of the affected area, as well as precision control over their actions during the critical part of the vein to minimize injury.
Prevention of varicose veins of the legs.
- The limitation of the access to the sauna, taking a warm bath, spending time in the sun (all of this leads to a decrease in venous tone and blood stasis).
- More physical activity (moderate Jogging, swimming, Walking, aerobics, riding a Bike, skiing).
- Control over their weight.
- The refusal of the tight, tight clothes, narrow and tight shoes.
- Get rid of the habit to sit "foot to foot".
- Avoid constipation (eat right, keep drinking mode).
- Evenly distribute the load of the legs (do not sit or stand too long in one position).
- Contrast shower with cold water and cold feet.
- Wearing compression underwear for people who are at risk (pregnant women with a hereditary predisposition, the employees who have sedentary work, or whose work is associated with serious physical effort or need to spend whole day on feet).
- Physiotherapy.
During the treatment of varicose veins, any physical exercise is only for the purpose of prevention.
Diet for varicose veins
- Limit salty, spicy and smoked food.
- Abstinence from alcohol.
- Restriction of meat products.
- Enrichment of the diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, food that promotes strengthening of vascular walls (carrots, olive oil, nuts, rosehips, green tea, sprouted wheat, beans, green onions).
- A daily dose of apple cider vinegar (per Cup water 2 tsp.).
After the detection of the first signs of varicose veins immediately contact a specialist. The people included in the risk group (those who have factors predisposing), and have a genetic predisposition to varicose veins is recommended every two years to visit a phlebologist with the mandatory ultrasound.