Today, a disease such as varicose veins is the most common.As a rule, a sedentary lifestyle leads to the development of the disease, and a late response to body signals leads to quite serious consequences, which in turn are harmful to health.In this article we will consider such a topic as varicose veins on the legs, photos, the initial stage and how to treat them.I would like to emphasize that varicose veins are a disease characterized by stagnation of blood in the blood vessels of the lower extremities, which causes swelling of the peripheral veins.The swollen vessels have a dark blue color;in the absence of adequate treatment, they acquire a purple tint, the formation of blood clots and ulcers begins, and severe pain appears.
Symptoms of the disease at the initial stage of development
Varicose veins of the legs are a rather insidious disease - this is explained by the fact that this disease is very difficult to diagnose at the initial stage of development.The symptoms of the disease are similar to many other diseases, such as osteochondrosis or flat feet.Often, patients suffering from varicose veins consult a professional doctor when sufficient swelling and pain appear in the limbs.
However, there are several common symptoms.If you notice them, you should immediately contact a specialist to find out the cause of the disease and find out what varicose veins on the legs are, photos, initial stage and how to treat them.The first symptoms of the disease include an increase in the venous pattern, but as a rule, in this case, no swelling, pain and swelling of blood vessels are observed.
Let's look at the most obvious symptoms indicating the presence of a disease such as varicose veins:
- the appearance of pain in the legs, which can appear at any time;these symptoms are also often accompanied by itching and cramping in the limbs during sleep;
- the appearance of a feeling of fatigue and swelling in the legs;
- the skin changes color, the skin in problem areas acquires a bluish tint and becomes drier;
- bulging veins above the surface of the skin and the appearance of characteristic spider veins.
Why are varicose veins dangerous?
Note that, as mentioned above, a topic such as varicose veins on the legs, photo, initial stage, how to treat, is very relevant for many.This is explained by the fact that varicose veins are a rather dangerous disease, and a cosmetic defect in the form of swollen veins is just the tip of the iceberg.The disease can lead to quite serious complications, so treatment of dilated veins is mandatory!
As you can see in the photo of the initial stage of the disease, its characteristic symptomatology is bloating of the veins, which is far from harmless;we list the conditions that can be caused by varicose veins.
- Phlebitis– this disease involves the appearance of an inflammatory process in the vein walls.As a rule, patients with phlebitis constantly experience quite strong pain.Additionally, painful bumps appear in the affected area.
- Thrombophlebitis– the disease is characterized by the formation of blood clots in inflamed and dilated veins.Note that thrombophlebitis occurs due to lack of adequate treatment for phlebitis.In addition to pain in the limbs, the patient feels general weakness and loses appetite.
- Trophic ulcers- this is another complication of varicose veins, which manifests itself in a lack of nutrition of the epidermis, which leads to the appearance of dermatitis, the consequence of which is trophic ulcers that are difficult to heal.
Medicines for varicose veins
Ointments
Today, the pharmaceutical market offers a wide selection of drugs for the treatment of diseases associated with varicose veins, and ointments for varicose veins deserve special attention.
Anticoagulants.These drugs are the most popular for the treatment of varicose veins.The main task of the ointment is a complex effect that helps reduce blood viscosity, resolve existing blood clots, reduce the inflammatory process and reduce pain symptoms.Medicines provide the maximum positive effect when used at the initial stage of the disease, improving blood circulation and strengthening the walls of blood vessels.
Heparin sodium ointments prevent blood clots and reduce blood clotting.
Venotonics help to effectively cope with the symptoms of varicose veins, strengthening blood vessels and inhibiting inflammatory processes.
Creams
Creams against varicose veins are as effective as ointments thanks to the active ingredients they contain, which can effectively combat the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.
Creams based on ketoprofen actively suppress inflammatory processes in the vessels of the lower extremities.These drugs belong to the group of non-steroidal drugs, which indicates their effectiveness in relieving swelling and eliminating pain.
Creams based on natural ingredients that effectively help eliminate varicose veins.The advantage of the cream is that it does not have any negative effects on the patient suffering from varicose veins.
Creams based on rutin act effectively at the cellular level, thereby quickly suppressing the inflammatory process.The drug has an anti-edematous effect, improves vascular tone, regulates intravenous pressure, and also quickly eliminates pain.
Pills
The main effect of bioflavonoid tablets is to increase vascular properties such as elasticity and tone, which improves blood circulation and prevents the formation of blood clots.By taking these medications, the phenomenon of venous congestion and permeability of venous vessels is eliminated.
Effective folk remedies for varicose veins
Cabbage.Our ancestors also used various folk remedies to treat conditions such as varicose veins.One of them is cabbage leaf treatment.The effectiveness of this vegetable lies in the fact that cabbage can quickly relieve inflammatory processes thanks to the vitamins and microelements it contains.Typically, white cabbage leaves are used in the form of compresses to treat varicose veins.To make a medicinal compress, you will need a cabbage leaf, which must first be thoroughly beaten off.After that, one side of the sheet is smeared with vegetable oil and applied to the inflamed area for a day (fixed with a bandage).The duration of treatment is 1 month.
Ginger.This plant, used in cooking, can be used to treat varicose veins in external or internal medicine.Ginger tea will help you cope with almost any disease, at any stage of its development, including varicose veins.You can also make ginger compresses.To do this, grate a piece of ginger root, mix it with natural honey and apply it to the painful area for 3-4 hours.
Kalina.Like ginger, viburnum can be used to treat varicose veins, both as a fortified drink and as an effective compress.To prepare a compress, the berries should be crushed to a pasty state, placed on a prepared bandage or gauze and applied to the problem area.It is best to do this compress in the evening.
The initial stage of varicose veins - the first symptoms
Today, varicose veins are one of the most common dangerous diseases among women and men.According to WHO statistics, varicose veins of the lower extremities can lead to death from thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers and cancer tumors associated with them.
Each patient should know the causes, symptoms and stages of development of the disease in order to prevent the serious consequences of this pathology.
Causes and stages of development
Varicose veins result from pathologies of the vein walls and dysfunction of the venous valves, whose task is to transport blood enriched with carbon dioxide from the lower limbs to the lungs for gas exchange.
Due to poor blood circulation and valve dysfunction, blood accumulates in the vessels, increasing the pressure in the leg veins, resulting in swelling of the weak vein wall.This is how varicose veins develop.
A number of factors can cause the disease.These include:
- Heredity.
- Obesity.
- Have bad habits.
- Pregnancy.
- Taking hormonal medications for a long time.
- Cardiovascular diseases leading to thickening of the blood.
- A sedentary lifestyle, which causes blood stagnation.
- Professions that require long periods of downtime.
- Walking in high heels.
Under the influence of these factors, a disease of the legs develops, which proceeds in several stages.Each of them is characterized by specific clinical manifestations.In total, in medical practice, there are 4 stages of varicose veins:
- varicose veins at the initial stage, shown in the photo above, passesvirtually no symptoms.A person feels only a predominant feeling of heaviness in the legs, slight swelling and pain.Small spider veins begin to appear on the skin of the thighs and legs;
- 1st degree varicose veins, which is also shown in the photo, is characterized by frequent cramps of the calf muscles, a burning sensation spreading from the lower leg to the sole of the foot, as well as swelling of the ankles;
- for the second degreecharacterized by an abundance of spider veins, severe swelling, constant pain in the legs, the area of bulging veins increases;
- third degreeindicates an involvement of the skin in the pathological process: it becomes scaly, thin, often pigmented around the ankle.The risk of thrombosis is very high, because the veins are significantly enlarged and dilated.The patient, in addition to pain, is haunted by a constant burning sensation, eczema and dermatitis on the skin of the lower extremities;when the skin is injured, deep ulcers form.
IMPORTANT!If treatment is not started at an early stage, then the disease is very difficult to treat conservatively in the future and poses a mortal danger to the patient!
The first symptoms of varicose veins
The first symptoms of varicose veins on the legs are difficult to diagnose.For a while, the patient confuses them with fatigue and muscle tension.If you experience such sensations, especially if there was no significant stress on your legs before, you should contact a specialist, since the disease can be cured at an early stage.without resorting to surgery and grueling procedures.Phlebologists and surgeons treat varicose veins.
The first signs of varicose veins are indicated by the following symptoms:
- Constant heaviness in the legs.This is due to poor circulation in the legs due to dysfunction of the venous valves.As a result, the pressure in the vein increases sharply, it stretches even more and causes pain.
- Swelling of the lower limbs.The symptom manifests itself as a strong load on the venous system.If the swelling is accompanied by pain in the venous area and redness of the skin above, we can talk about thrombophlebitis - an extremely dangerous complication of varicose veins.
- Increased calf circumferenceup to 1 cm in the evening is associated with edema.
- Painful sensationsworsen with exercise and disappear the next morning.
- The appearance of spider veinson the legs and thighs.Some patients consider them to be an aesthetic defect.Their appearance indicates the pathology of a large varicose vein that feeds them.Only ultrasound diagnosis can confirm or deny it.
- Presence of protruding veins.
At first, the first signs of varicose veins on the legs disappear quickly if you let your legs rest in a comfortable position.Howeverthis should alert the patient, as it is a sure symptom of an incipient disease.
The patient may then feel a burning sensation in the veins.If you do not pay attention to these symptoms, the patient may experience cramps in the calf muscles at night and fatigue in the legs below the knees.
ATTENTION!Symptoms of early varicose veins are similar to other diseases - flat feet and lumbar osteochondrosis.That is why it is so important to consult a phlebologist to rule out other diagnoses and start treatment on time!
Diagnosis and treatment
As a rule, varicose veins at the initial stage, shown in the photo,is painless.A patient, and according to statistics, women suffer from varicose veins twice as often as men, seeks help from a doctor regarding the vascular network.The doctor conducts an examination and prescribes the necessary studies to assess the degree of impairment of venous circulation.
For this purpose, a general blood test may be prescribed., which will show the presence or absence of thrombocytopenia, a biochemical blood test to detect liver problems, as well as vascular ultrasound.
It shows pathologies of the vascular wall.If the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is sent for X-ray venography, with the help of which the localization of the venous lesion is determined.
After research, the doctor prescribes treatment that can prevent the transition from the initial stage of varicose veins to later stages.
For this purpose, the underlying disease is treated– endocrine, cardiovascular, etc.Then the risk factors are eliminated, only then the patient is offered to change his lifestyle, diet and abandon bad habits.
Drug treatment in the early stage of varicose veinsnot provided.Experts believe that it is enough to usecompression clothing - either special stockings and tights, or elastic bandages, which should be applied to the legs when waking up and worn throughout the day.This therapy can evenly distribute the load on the legs and improve blood circulation.
Forms of the disease
The type of vascular insufficiency depends on which veins are affected by the disease, the extent of the process and its location.There are varicose veins:
- reticular (finely vascular);
- segmental (focal);
- perforating (damage to the connective veins);
- main (pathology of a small or large vein under the skin).
Each type of varicose veins has characteristic features in terms of external manifestations.The presence of complications depends on the stage of the disease.
Reticular shape
Of all the known types of varicose veins, this one is the simplest.The disease mainly affects women's legs;men are rarely affected by this pathology.
In the photo of varicose veins at the initial stage, the reticular shape can only be determined by strengthening the vascular pattern.It is a bluish mesh of small vein fragments with a diameter of no more than 3 mm.Most often it is localized on the thighs at the level of the lateral surfaces.First, several asterisk-like fragments appear, then larger areas are affected.
This form of varicose veins is often called cosmetic;it is not dangerous for blood circulation, but causes aesthetic discomfort in women.Reticular varicose veins of the legs can cause:
This form is the most treatable.One of the most effective methods for treating these varicose veins is microscopic sclerotherapy.It is not dangerous and painless.But often patients do not consider the manifestations of spider veins as a serious reason to consult a phlebologist.In this case, the disease becomes a chronic pathology.This can cause bleeding from superficial vessels.
The reticular form of varicose veins requires compulsory medical consultation.This will prevent complications from occurring.
Segmental shape
This type of varicose veins can appear in the early stages of the disease.In segmental form, larger vessels with a diameter of 3 mm or more are affected.But the disease is focal in nature, only one or more tributary veins lose their tone.This type of pathology is characterized by the absence of reverse blood flow, which facilitates treatment.
If you look at a photo of varicose veins on the legs in segmental form, you can see swollen branches of the main vein in the lower leg.These are the tributary vessels.
Treatment of the disease is conservative.In cases of late presentation and formation of tributary lymph nodes, miniphlebectomy may be used.Segmental varicose veins are located on the anteromedial and posterior aspect of the leg and in the popliteal fossa.
Magistralnaya
This pathology affects the large and small main veins.The big one suffers several times more often than the small one.In the photo of varicose veins on the legs, the protrusion of the main vessels of the lower leg, side thighs and feet is clearly visible.The vascular wall of the legs is tense and nodular formations are visible.
The disease manifests itself with symptoms characteristic of chronic circulatory failure.Due to damage to the vascular valves, reflux occurs.Normally, blood flows in only one direction.If the valves are insufficient, they do not close completely and the tanks are overloaded.For this reason, the veins stretch and lose their elasticity.
Major varicose veins require serious treatment.Minor surgical interventions and conservative methods are used more often.
In the absence of adequate treatment, the main varicose veins of the legs are complicated by thrombophlebitis and thrombosis.
Perforated shape
There are deep and saphenous veins in the legs.They are connected together by vessels called perforators.
These are veins no less important than the main ones.Their defeat leads to circulatory failure in the legs.Blood is not fully directed into the bloodstream.This contributes to stagnation and thrombus formation.
- a photo of varicose veins on the legs with damage to the perforating veins clearly shows the presence of swollen vessels;
- bumps and bruises are visible in places;the skin becomes darker;
- Rashes and scratches may occur.
The location of this form is varied and depends on the location of the affected vein.These are the legs, thighs and ankles.Sometimes the vessels even bulge at the Achilles tendon and below the knee.Treatment is often surgical, but for single lesions, minimally invasive methods are possible.
Stages of varicose veins of the legs
Phlebologists around the world hold forums and seminars dedicated to varicose veins every year.The types and forms of the disease are constantly changing.Experts describe the stages of varicose veins in the legs differently.Their number is constantly changing.The latest approved classification contains seven diplomas:
- Prime or zero.Does not show external signs.Patients only complain of heaviness, fatigue and swelling.Sometimes the occasional occurrence of seizures can be bothersome.
- Second.In the photo of the second stage, we can clearly see the vascular network at the level of the popliteal cups and the thighs.The symptoms do not change.
- Third.The protrusions of the blood vessels are clearly visible, especially during exercise or while sitting.In addition to veins, you can see blue nodules on the legs.Patients feel pain and tension.
- Fourth.The appearance of edema adds to the swollen veins.In the evening your feet are full and in the morning everything returns to normal.The swelling may cause a feeling of numbness or tingling in the legs.
- Fifth.Metabolic processes are disrupted.There is not enough nutrition for the tissues and trophic changes are formed on the skin.They may appear as dry patches, redness and scratching.The skin around the veins becomes darker.Thrombophlebitis may develop.
- Sixth.The photo of this step is different from the others.He presents with pronounced trophic ulcers in the veins of the lower limbs.With massive treatment, injuries heal by first intention.
- Seventh.Last step.In other classifications it is called decompensatory.The most negative outcome of the disease.Non-healing ulcers form on the legs.They can get wet and become infected.This degree requires urgent hospital treatment.This can be complicated by sepsis and thromboembolism.
Types of varicose veins on the legs, complicated by a violation of the integrity of the skin and the addition of a secondary infection, can threaten the patient's life.
There is another classification, which provides for three stages of varicose veins:
- Compensatory.It only manifests itself through local symptoms (pain, cramps, heaviness).No external changes in blood vessels are observed.
- Subcompensatory.External signs of moderate varicose veins develop.Varicose veins and signs of segmental lesions appear.
- Decompensation.Serious consequences of chronic venous insufficiency.Trophic lesions, ulcers and thromboses.
General characteristics and causes of varicose veins
In a healthy person, venous blood rises from the legs towards the heart under the influence of pressure, which in a normal state is quite enough to overcome gravity.When this mechanism is disrupted, the body is forced to increase pressure to push blood upward.
As a result of this process, valvular insufficiency occurs, characterized by the flow of blood into the superficial veins from the deep veins.As the pressure inside the vessels increases, their walls lose elasticity, stretch and become exhausted, which leads to the formation of visible bluish subcutaneous nodules.
Causes of the development of varicose veins of the lower extremities:
- Increased levels of progesterone in a woman’s body.This hormone has a negative effect on the condition of the walls and valves of the veins, making them weak and unprotected.
- Congenital pathologies of the valves or venous walls, lack of connective tissue, poor permeability of deep veins, genetic predisposition.
- Tumors located on the legs, in the abdominal region.
- Lower limb injuries.
- Diseases of the endocrine system.
- Thrombophlebitis.
- Joint diseases - osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
- Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives.
- A sedentary lifestyle, which often leads to leg congestion.
- Increased intra-abdominal pressure.This usually occurs in cases of lung diseases or frequent constipation.
- Overweight.
- Wear tight clothing and shoes.
- The presence in the diet of a large amount of high-calorie and fatty foods, the lack of fiber of plant origin.
- Smoking, frequent alcohol consumption.
During pregnancy, ARVNK occurs especially often, because during this period there isoverall changes in hormonal levels, as well as an increase in body weight.
Men suffer from this disease if theylifestyle associated with heavy physical work, or long periods of standing - machine operators, loaders, etc.Varicose veins of the legs can also occur following certain sporting activities.
Varicose veins require immediate treatment, the absence of which can lead to serious consequences: development of thrombophlebitis, bleeding from venous lymph nodes and a trophic ulcer that can cause leg amputation.