Varicose veins are a common disease that develops in many adults.
According to statistics, this disease develops in women more often than in men.Such veins appear on the legs and become more common with age.
Further, the article notes important facts about varicose veins, the corresponding photos are given for a better understanding how they look, what it is and how to treat them.
What is varicose veins?
Variciously expanded veins are abnormally expanded veins, which most often develop on the legs.Having, as a rule, blue, purple or skin color.
They look like extended, twisted and convex blood vessels that can protrude above the surface of the skin.
What are spider -shaped veins?
Aracular veins (also called telangectasia or vascular asterisks, vascular mesh) are an accumulation of tiny blood vessels, which develops near the surface of the skin.
They often have red, blue or purple, have the appearance of web.The most often vascular stars are found on the face and legs.
What leads to the development of varicose veins?
Varicose veins are caused by structural disorders in the blood vessels.
The veins carry blood from various parts of the body back to the heart.They have a number of unidirectional valves to avoid reverse blood flow.
For a number of reasons, these valves can become damaged, which leads to the opposite blood flow inside the veins. The long stagnation of blood increases the pressure inside the vein and weakens the wall of the blood vessel.
Then, due to stagnation of blood and the expansion of affected blood vessels, spider-shaped and varicose veins develop.
Reasons for development?
There are many different risk factors that increase human chances to develop varicose veins.
They include:
- elderly age
- long standing or sitting,
- obesity,
- pregnancy,
- Hormone therapy,
- taking contraceptives,
- injuries,
- Previous surgical interventions in the veins,
- Anamnesis of thrombosis veins,
- Family history.
Symptoms of varicose veins
Often varicose veins have no other symptoms and signs, except for their undesirable cosmetic species.However, some people may experience certain symptoms from varicose veins.
Symptoms may include:
- swelling,
- The feeling of pulsation,
- It's a dull pain,
- burning,
- itching,
- severity,
- Tingling or convulsions in the legs.
These symptoms often deteriorate after prolonged sitting or standing.Individuals can also develop brown skin color and ultimately trophic ulcers.
Complications of varicose veins
If you do not treat varicose veins, this can lead to the following:
- Trophic skin ulcers develop.These open wounds, as a rule, appear on the legs.Sometimes they can lead to the development of soft tissue infection.
- Cloudings of veins develop (surface thrombophlebitis).
- Bleeding from veins are possible.
Diagnosis of the vascular mesh and varicose veins
You can diagnose the presence of varicose veins using a thorough examination of the affected area, which, as a rule, is on the legs.
The examination consists of a visual inspection and palpation of a problem area.Particular attention is paid to areas with redness, swelling, changes in skin color and trophic ulcers.
Home treatment
There are various methods that can be applied at home to help weaken some symptoms if they appear.These conservative methods can also help prevent any potential complications.
Compression stockings
Compression stockings are a simple measure for treatment at home to help alleviate the symptoms in the legs.
They improve blood circulation, increasing the pressure in the legs.These stockings are of various kinds and strengths of compression.Your doctor may recommend a couple suitable for you.As a rule, sold in pharmacies.
Change in lifestyle
The program of regular physical exercises and weight loss can help alleviate the symptoms of spider -shaped and varicose veins.
Buried people should avoid prolonged standing or sitting, lifting their legs during sitting or sleeping to improve blood circulation and reduce swelling in the legs.
Sclerotherapy
Sometimes conservative treatment of varicose veins at home may not give the desired results.In these cases, more specialized medical procedures can be carried out, depending on the placement and size of abnormal veins.
These medical procedures are often carried out for cosmetic reasons.
Sclerotherapy is a common technique that can be performed by a doctor;It is very effective in eliminating the majority of spider veins and some varicose veins.
During this procedure, which does not require anesthesia, the doctor introduces a liquid solution directly inside the affected vein, which leads to its gluing and, ultimately, to disappearance.To achieve optimal results, several sessions may be needed.Potential side effects include bruises, swelling, bleeding, infection and a change in skin color.
Sclerotherapy: before and after
Treatment with sclerotherapy may need several sessions, and the healing time may change, depending on the person.
Basically, spider-shaped veins begin to disappear within 3-6 weeks after treatment, while varicose veins can be needed to improve several months.
Laser treatment of varicose veins
Laser therapy is another alternative medical procedure that the doctor can also be performed.It is sometimes used in addition to sclerotherapy in order to maximize the results.This technique is most effective for arachnid and small varicose veins.
For those patients who are afraid of needles, laser therapy gives an alternative for treatment, although the doctor can advise you about which method of treatment is better in your specific situation.
Laser therapy uses a focused bunch of light, which heats the affected blood vessel, which ultimately disappears.
Potential side effects include slight redness or tumor around the treatment area, a change in skin color, blisters, and rarely scars.
Laser therapy is a recently developed method for the treatment of varicose veins, in which the affected area is treated with pulses of light of different range.
Laser therapy: before and after the procedure
As with sclerotherapy, to achieve optimal results, several sessions of laser therapy are often necessary.Improvement can take from several weeks to several months of time after treatment.
Surgical intervention in veins
Operation is a treatment option for more severe cases of varicose veins.Your doctor will discuss with you various possible surgical procedures to help decide on which treatment of varicose veins is optimal for you.One of the surgical methods is the ligation of the veins and their removal through small cuts on the skin.
Operation on Vienna: before and after treatment
The ligation and removal of veins often successfully eliminates the symptoms and cosmetic problems of varicose veins.This operation is carried out under local, spinal or general anesthesia in the medical institution.
The full restoration of this surgical intervention, as a rule, takes about 2-4 weeks.Potential complications may include infection, bleeding, scarring, damage to nerves, deep vein thrombosis, adverse reactions to anesthesia.
Intravenous laser therapy
Intravenous laser therapy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that consists in laser irradiation through a thin conductor introduced into the affected vein, which causes its narrowing.
Intravenous laser therapy is characterized by 98% of initial success.This procedure is carried out on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia or using mild sedation.
Patients report less pronounced pain and faster recovery with intravenous laser therapy, in comparison with the ligation and removal of veins surgically.
Radio frequency ablation
Intravenous radio frequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that is similar to intravenous laser therapy.
Instead of using laser light, a catheter introduced inside the vein applies radio frequency energy, which leads to heating and narrowing of the affected vessel.
As with intravenous laser therapy, patients report less intense pain and faster recovery, in comparison with the dressing and removal of veins surgically.
Prevention of varicose veins
Although varicose veins are not always possible to prevent, there are various methods that you can take to reduce your chances of their development.
Preventive tips include:
- Regular physical exercises;
- Maintain healthy weight;
- Avoid prolonged sitting or standing;
- Avoid overcoming your legs in a sitting position;
- Raise your legs higher while relaxing;
- Do not wear clothes that squeeze your body in the waist, groin and legs.
Dear friends.The article is not a medical council and cannot serve as a replacement for a consultation with a doctor.