Varicose veins of the lower limbs are a problem that affects more than 60% of the world's population. The term "varicose veins" from the Latin "varicose veins" is interpreted as "expansion". Hence the definition of the pathological condition - the expansion of the lumen of the veins of the lower extremities and pelvic organs, which significantly impairs blood circulation in the vessels and, as a result, worsens the general condition of the patient. In the material below we will consider the causes of varicose veins, possible complications of the disease and the main ways to treat the pathology.
Causes and risk factors: everyone is sensitive to it
Important:if varicose veins exceed young people under 25, then the gender distribution occurs here 50: 50. That is, boys and girls are equally sick. At an older age, women are more likely to have varicose veins due to pregnancies and the significant changes in hormonal levels associated with age.
If we look at varicose veins from the inside, then anatomically, the expansion of the lumen of the veins occurs due to a malfunction of the venous valves that regulate blood flow. Defective valves do not close completely with each heartbeat. As a result, the blood from the heart jerkily moves to the lower extremities due to the force of gravity.
<1_img_centerxx>Normally, the valves should close and allow blood to flow in portions to the legs. But, unfortunately, the blood flow enters the legs more intensely and in the opposite direction it moves less intensely due to the same malfunction of the valve system. The veins of the legs, which are overflowing with blood, lose their elasticity and stretch over time.
The main predisposing factors for the development of a pathological condition of the blood vessels are:
- genetic component (the disease can be transmitted through the female or male lineage within the family);
- Overweight;
- postponed pregnancies;
- passive lifestyle;
- excessive physical activity;
- smoking and drinking alcohol;
- hormonal disorders.
Male issues
If we consider the causes of varicose veins, depending on the sex of the patient, they are somewhat different in men and women. More precisely, each of the representatives of different sexes is subject to certain habits that sooner or later can provoke the pathology of the vessels of the lower extremities. Thus, for men, the risk factors are:
- strength training by lifting weights from a squatting position;
- overweight and obesity;
- unbalanced diet, which causes frequent constipation;
- pathological processes of the kidneys (tumors of various etiologies);
- inguinal hernia;
- sedentary work;
- smoking and drinking alcohol.
Important:men are characterized not only by the development of varicose veins of the lower extremities, but also by varicose veins of the spermatic cord. This pathology is called varicocele. Such a condition is hereditary, that is, it is exclusively genetic in nature and is not prevented even by strengthened preventive measures. Only 2-4% of men suffer from varicocele. The cause of the pathology is the asymmetric anatomical localization and structure of the male genitalia.
Due to the fact that men suffer from false shyness or do not have time to see a specialist at the very onset of the disease, varicose veins are more difficult for them than for women.
Women's varicose veins have their own laws
In women, varicose veins are more "familiar" than in men. More than 80% of women suffer from vascular pathology of the legs. In addition, the risk group includes the fairer sex who prefers this lifestyle or who has the following conditions:
- wear tight shoes with high heels;
- sedentary or standing work;
- hereditary predisposition;
- changes in hormonal levels during pregnancy or with autoimmune diseases;
- wearing too tight underwear, jeans;
- smoking;
- low percentage of fruits and vegetables in the diet (constant diets and starvation);
- love of tanning (frequent visits to the solarium or stay in the sun);
- significant weight gain;
- low mobility.
Pregnancy is where the "dog is buried"
Even if the manifestations of varicose veins, the causes and treatment of which should be established and prescribed only by a phlebologist, are not initially observed in a woman, in 30% of cases it becomes evident during pregnancy. The main pitfall here is the growth of the fetus and with it the uterus, which intensely compresses the pelvic organs. As a result, blood circulation in the lower body is drastically impaired. The return of blood from the legs to the top is difficult. This effect on the deep veins of the legs leads to the fact that the vessels are actively stretched in width and length.
In addition to the growth of the uterine organ and the pressure on the vessels of the pelvic organs, varicose veins in pregnant women also develop under the influence of such factors:
- Increased blood clotting. Thus, nature insures a woman against significant blood loss during childbirth. Thicker blood moves harder through the veins.
- An increase in the level of the hormone progesterone, which causes the muscles and blood vessels in the uterus to relax, so that it can rise freely and without tone as the fetus grows. But at the same time, the walls of the remaining vessels also relax. The veins become less elastic, and the thick blood stretches their walls, already weakened by progesterone, even more.
- Increased blood pressure for better oxygen supply to the fetus. As a result, the body tries to quickly pass thick blood through the relaxed vessels. Its volume in the legs increases because of this.
- Low mobility of a pregnant woman with growing belly. This leads to stagnation of blood in the legs and pelvic organs.
Complications of varicose veins
If varicose veins are not treated and taken into account, over time the patient can develop very serious complications that may even require full-fledged surgery. In the worst case, the patient may undergo amputation of the diseased limb. Below we will look at the most common and dangerous complications of varicose veins.
Chronic venous insufficiency
With the development of such a complication, active failure of venous valves occurs. In addition, the pathological process is divided into four stages:
- Zero. The patient experiences slight swelling and infrequent pain in the legs after a hard day.
- First. On the surface of the skin, the venous network of dilated vessels is visualized.
- Second. Swollen veins with blood clots and lymph nodes are clearly visible. There is redness of the skin areas in the places of inflamed veins, itching, sores.
- The third. Trophic ulcers form on the legs with inflamed veins.
Important:signs of chronic venous insufficiency are itchy legs, pain, burning sensation when sitting for a long time, swelling, night cramps.
Thrombophlebitis of superficial veins
In this case, the patient develops a tendency to form blood clots. Clots actively block the lumen of the veins, making it difficult for blood to flow. In most cases, blood clots and clots are localized in the vessels in the lower third of the thigh or the upper third of the leg. Symptoms of venous thrombophlebitis are:
- redness of the skin of the legs at the places of clot formation;
- pain in the legs;
- on palpation - induration in the veins.
Important:in the event of thrombophlebitis, it is necessary to wear compression stockings. The compression formula should be chosen by a specialist - angiosurgeon or phlebologist.
Trophic ulcer
This complication manifests itself already in the later stages of venous insufficiency. First, the patient develops increased vascular permeability. A whitish seal with a varnish-like surface forms on the surface of the skin. An ulcer forms below. At the slightest injury to the inflamed area, the ulcer is opened and the separation of exudate begins. The oozing wound can be secondarily infected, which leads to purulent inflammatory processes.
Important:in this condition, complete healing of the wound is required first, and only after this, a full-fledged surgical intervention is performed to remove the affected vessels.
Pulmonary embolism
An equally dangerous complication, in which a thrombus breaks away from the inflamed vein and goes to the pulmonary artery. This artery is directly involved in the organization of blood flow in a small circle, affecting the right ventricle of the heart. If the diameter of the detached thrombus is less than the lumen of the artery, the clot moves to the branches of the pulmonary artery, causing pulmonary edema or infarction. In this case, the patient will experience severe chest pain. A fatty cough mixed with blood, an increase in body temperature and weakness will also appear. If the diameter of the clot is equal to the diameter of the lumen of the pulmonary artery, then there is an instant blockage and death of the patient.
The detachment of a blood clot can be triggered by the following conditions:
- perform surgical interventions;
- oncology;
- heart failure;
- long bed rest.
Conservative and surgical treatment
Varicose veins can be treated both conservatively and operatively, depending on the stage of the pathology and the patient's condition. With conservative treatment, the administration of phlebotonic drugs is indicated. Externally, venotonic gels and ointments based on horse chestnut are used. It should be understood that conservative treatment only works in the very early stages of varicose veins.
As additional measures in the conservative treatment of varicose veins, physical activity (walking) and the wearing of compression stockings are indicated.
Minimally invasive and surgical treatment methods
If the process of varicose veins and venous insufficiency has gone far, then they resort to minimally invasive or full-fledged surgical intervention in order to improve the patient's condition. Minimally invasive intervention methods include the following:
- Sclerotherapy. In this case, a special sclerosing drug is injected into the lumen of the patient's varicose vein using a thin insulin needle. The injected substance first causes inflammation and then sclerosis of the diseased vein. The lumen of the diseased vessel simply expands. Rather, the technique has a cosmetic effect, but does not solve the problem (cause) of the pathology itself. Relapses are possible after sclerotherapy. Contraindications to such an intervention are pregnancy, lactation and intolerance to the components of the drug.
- Stripping. Using this method, the diseased vein is removed using the thinnest probe. The peculiarity of the surgical intervention is that it is possible to remove only the diseased part of the vessel, leaving its healthy parts. The operation is performed by two endoscopic punctures located on both sides of the site of the inflamed vessel. That is, scars and scars after such an intervention will not be visible.
- Microflebectomy. Removal of the diseased vein is also done through several small incisions in the skin.
- Laser coagulation. Exposure to the light of a diseased vessel with a laser. As a result, the lumen of the vein is completely invaded.
A full-fledged surgical procedure (abdominal operation) is called a phlebectomy. With this method, the surgeon makes a complete incision of the skin of the leg in order to remove the entire superficial vein. The indications for such an operation are:
- a large volume of varicose veins;
- large cavity (lumen) of diseased vessels (more than 10 mm);
- thrombophlebitis;
- the presence of large varicose veins;
- the formation of trophic ulcers in the patient;
- lack of effectiveness of minimally invasive surgery.
Traditional methods of treatment
In the early stages of pathology, you can also resort to traditional methods of treating varicose veins. In particular, in combination with drug therapy, you can use the following folk remedies:
- The tomato is green. Thin slices of vegetables are placed on the area of the inflamed veins and fixed with a bandage. You should change these apps every 2-3 hours. The course of treatment is until a marked improvement in the condition.
- Potatoes. A bandage soaked in freshly squeezed potato juice is applied to the legs. Cover the top with cling film. Such applications are best done at night until the patient's condition improves.
- Apple cider vinegar. Preferably homemade. The vinegar is diluted in water (1 glass of water and 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar). A bandage is moistened in a solution and applied to the area of diseased veins. The bandage is fixed at night. You can also simply lubricate your feet with this solution at night. It is shown to take vinegar and water inside. Add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey in a glass of water so as not to burn the esophagus with the vinegar (the walls of the esophagus are very sensitive to acids). Drink the mixture in the morning on an empty stomach. The duration of treatment with vinegar is 30 days.
Important:such treatment is contraindicated in patients with high acidity of gastric juice.
- Horse chestnut. Flowers of the plant in an amount of 50 gr. pour 0, 5 liters of alcohol and insist for two weeks in a dark place, periodically shaking the mixture. The finished product is filtered through a grill and drunk three times a day, one tablespoon at a time. The mixture is washed with water. The duration of treatment is 7 days. Then a 14 day break and again a seven day course. Treatment according to this scheme is carried out until the end of the infusion. Then it can be prepared again and the treatment regimen repeated.
- Burdock. In this case, fresh leaves of the plant are used to eliminate the disease. At night, sore feet are smeared with Vishnevsky's ointment and covered with a burdock leaf. Everyone is secured with a bandage and put on compression stockings. The bandage is worn for three days, then it is removed and everything is washed. It is possible to be treated in this way throughout the summer as the fresh burdock grows.
conclusions
You should know that varicose veins are an irreversible pathology in most cases. Therefore, it is so important to take care of the health of your feet. Especially if there is a genetic predisposition to varicose veins. It is enough to give up bad habits, balance your daily diet, walk more and drink enough clean water per day. At the manifestation of the slightest signs of varicose veins, it is advisable to immediately contact a competent phlebologist to prevent complications of the disease. Remember that your health and the internal health of your feet is completely up to you. And modern medicine and the hands of a professional can work wonders.