Everyone has probably seen people with prominent veins in their arms. Some consider it to be the norm or an individual characteristic of a person. In fact, the veins should be hidden under the skin and any change is a reason to think about your health. In addition to the swelling of the veins, discomfort or change in skin tone can be an alarming signal.
Are there varicose veins of the upper limbs?
Varicose veins are a vascular disease. It can affect all vessels and occur anywhere on the body. Since excessive load is the provoking factor, varicose veins most often affect the limbs of the body. The disease mainly occurs on the legs, but varicose veins on the hands also occur. According to the international classification (MKB-10), it corresponds to code I86.
Varicose veins on the upper extremities are easy to recognize - the veins in the hand and forearm swell and look like blue snakes. The disease more often affects women after 50 years, as well as male athletes and bodybuilders.
Bulging and swollen veins: is the risk of varicose veins important?
Under the action of excessive loads, the venous walls stretch, and the venous valves cannot fully perform their functions. If your veins looked normal before but are now swollen, you should see your doctor for a detailed examination. The earlier a problem is detected, the easier it is to deal with.
If changes occur in the veins, the danger of varicose veins is really great.
In addition to unsightly external manifestations, varicose veins affect the well-being of the patient, causing pain and causing certain complexes.
Characteristics of varicose veins on the upper limbs
The first changes in varicose veins on the hands appear as blue nodules. After a while, they may disappear and then reappear.
This suggests that the veins cannot cope with the increased load, but quickly recover when the provoking factor is removed.
In the absence of timely treatment, nodules in the veins of the arms will be constantly observed, then the expansion will affect the longest section of the vessel. In this case, the vessel swells noticeably, which often attracts the attention of the patient and forces him to consult a doctor.
Other reasons
Not only an excessive load negatively affects ships. Other reasons for the extension could be:
- Stress.
- Taking birth control pills or hormonal imbalance in a woman.
- Smoking and alcohol abuse.
- Intensive exercise.
- Unbalanced diet. Learn more about the proper diet for varicose veins here.
- Heredity.
Hormonal background greatly affects the condition of blood vessels. As you know, it is less stable in women than in men.
Symptoms of the violation - watch out!
Even if a person is unaware of the existence of a problem such as varicose veins, they should be alerted to the following changes:
- Puffiness.
- Burns and discomfort.
- Fatigue and weakness fast.
- Numbness or pain.
- The contrast between the color of the vein and the skin is clearly visible.
- Raising the arms upwards decreases the size of the veins.
In thin people with thin skin, the veins may appear swollen. However, this is not a pathology, but a feature of the body.
If this symptom is seen from birth and is not accompanied by other symptoms, do not worry.
Looking at a photo of varicose veins on the arms and a healthy limb, you will immediately notice the difference and you will know what to look for.
Processing methods
The tactics of treating varicose veins in the hands depends on the stage of development of the disease. At the initial stages, conservative methods of treatment are used, at later stages - surgical methods.
People at risk are advised to engage in the prevention of varicose veins in order to avoid dangerous complications.
Conservative treatment includes the use of special compression stockings, special medications, diet, and physiotherapy. All this is aimed at increasing the tone of the veins, strengthening the blood vessels and reducing their permeability.
The medical jersey is represented by special gloves or sleeves made from special materials. Undergarments should be worn at all times to provide mechanical support to the vessels and prevent their expansion. The degree of compression is chosen by the doctor, taking into account the neglect of the pathology.
Treatment of late stages of varicose veins on the hands
When the deep veins are affected, limb function may be impaired. The person feels heaviness, pain, discomfort, becomes unable to perform usual work.
Surgical intervention is used in later steps. Some of the most effective and safe methods are laser correction and sclerotherapy. Their advantages are as follows:
- Painless.
- No scars or scars.
- Fast tissue repair.
- Good cosmetic result.
With sclerotherapy, a positive effect may appear several weeks after the operation. This will take only few minutes. The patient is injected into a bulging vein to inject a sclerosing agent.
The process is absolutely painless. The vein is stuck under the action of the drug and does not require the surgeon to cut the tissue. To avoid relapses, the patient should wear a compression garment.
The advantage of modern methods is that they do not have a negative effect on the surrounding tissues, eliminate incisions in the skin and almost never cause complications.
Hirudotherapy
For many vascular diseases, hirudotherapy is popular. Although this is an unconventional method of treatment, it requires compliance with certain rules. It is not recommended to put leeches on your own. For this procedure, only healthy worms are suitable, which are used only once.
The medicinal secret secreted by leeches helps to strengthen blood vessels and thin the blood. It helps to reduce edema, get rid of blood stasis, normalize microcirculation and restore the structure of the vein.
Home treatment
Many patients try to cure varicose veins on their hands with folk remedies. As monotherapy, they are suitable only at the very first stage of the disease.
If the varicose veins are severe enough, then folk recipes can be used only in addition to the basic scheme prescribed by the doctor.
Chestnut remedies help well against varicose veins. The healing properties of this plant are also recognized by official medicine, since the chestnut is part of many veinotonic ointments.
You can make your own cream at home. For this, the chestnut fruits are crushed and mixed with melted pork fat. The agent is used externally, using light rubbing on the affected area.
Compresses made from cabbage leaves or wormwood give a positive effect in the treatment of varicose veins. They are crushed in a blender with the addition of a small amount of oil or kefir, so that the beneficial substances penetrate deeper into the skin. The mixture is impregnated with gauze and applied to the dilated areas of the veins.
One of the popular methods of getting rid of any illness is a bath.
Prevention of varicose veins on the hands
To prevent varicose veins in the arms, doctors recommend:
- Limit physical activity in the upper limbs. Girls should not lift weights, and male athletes should use compression clothing during training.
- Change the activity type. People with sedentary keyboard office work should take breaks to raise their hands and stretch their joints.
- Eat well. Antioxidants and vitamins are helpful in strengthening blood vessels, especially C and PP. In your daily diet you need to include more fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as at least 1. 5 liters of clean water.
- When taking a contrast shower, don't forget your hands. The cool water trains the blood vessels, prevents the formation of nodules and allows you to achieve the desired venous tone.
- Control your weight. Excess body weight creates a constant load on the vessels, and over time their strength decreases.
- Minimize negative factors. Alcohol, smoking, stress - all this has a detrimental effect on the elasticity of blood vessels and their tone.
Possible complications
Veins in the hand are not only a cosmetic defect, but also a dangerous medical condition.
Blood stasis forms in the areas of enlargement, which leads to insufficient nutrition of adjacent tissues.
An area with poor microcirculation eventually becomes the focus of an inflammatory and even infectious process.
In the future, this may lead to thrombophlebitis or blockage of the vascular lumen by a thrombus.
The formation of a blood clot is facilitated by slowing blood flow to the expansion zone, increased coagulability and disturbed structure of the vascular wall. Most often, thrombosis occurs in the lower extremities, however, prolonged squeezing of the hand or an uncomfortable position can cause the formation of venous arms and thrombus.
Thrombophlebitis may be suspected if the patient complains of pain and swelling in the hand, while cyanosis increases with closing of the fist. Severe disruption of blood flow in a certain area causes necrosis of adjacent tissues and leads to the need to amputate a limb.
Male varicose veins are less common due to the fact that the stronger sex is emotionally more stable. However, in addition to stress, other provoking factors can cause venous dilation even in young men.
A feeling of heaviness in the hand, evening fatigue and the appearance of lumps are some of the first symptoms of varicose veins of the upper extremities. Taking care of your health and regular medical check-ups will help you maintain your health and look good.