This is a deformation and disruption of the normal functioning of the veins in the legs.In a normal state, blood in the veins moves from bottom to top; this is achieved due to contractions of the heart, the coordinated work of the elastic walls of the vessel, the muscles around the vessel and the valve in the vein.This valve allows blood to flow upward and prevents it from flowing in the opposite direction.When there is a violation, the vessel walls expand, the valve gap diverges, and the blood can partially move in the opposite direction, creating a counterflow, expanding the vessel walls even more and weakening the valve.Varicose veins appear.The disease is extremely common among people over 30 years of age, with women most often affected.
Causes and prevention of varicose veins of the lower extremities
The causes of varicose veins in most cases lie in a sedentary lifestyle: we spend a long time in a static position (especially sitting), and do not give the necessary stress to our muscles.The following risk factors may also affect:
- excessively tight clothing (pants, socks),
- uncomfortable shoes (especially high heels),
- disturbances in hormonal balance,
- frequent hot baths, sauna visits,
- prolonged serious physical activity, heavy lifting,
- obesity.
The main prevention of varicose veins is maintaining a healthy lifestyle.Even if you have a sedentary job, try not to sit without moving for several hours in a row: get up, stretch your legs, walk more;and don’t forget about a balanced diet, which, along with moderate physical activity, will protect you from many diseases.
Pregnancy is also one of the serious risk factors for varicose veins.But genetic predisposition is still being studied, and there are even a number of studies that refute it.
Symptoms
The disease can develop very slowly: years or even decades.The symptoms of the initial stage are varied, but for convenience they are combined into a certain complex under the general feeling of heaviness in the legs:
- fatigue in the legs without serious exercise,
- sore veins,
- night cramps in the calves,
- pulling sensation in legs.
If you do not track the symptoms of varicose veins at the initial stage, the vein will become more and more deformed.In the evenings, swelling in the feet and ankles will begin to appear, disappearing by morning;Spider veins will become visible, and then swollen veins and nodules on them will be felt.If you do not consult a specialist at this stage, then in addition to the obvious decrease in quality of life and obvious pain, the person risks getting skin pigmentation and trophic ulcers.The further course of varicose veins brings complications such as bleeding from the venous nodes and the risk of developing such a serious disease as thrombosis, which can be fatal without contacting a specialist.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of varicose veins is quite simple - it is a survey, examination of the patient and an ultrasound, which will show the affected area of the vein and the extent of the damage to select the optimal treatment.If for some reason (for example, when damaged veins are located deep), the ultrasound does not provide all the necessary information, then the specialist will conduct an additional examination - phlebography - injection of a contrast agent into the vein, which under X-rays will show the smallest changes in the vein along the blood flow.
Treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities
Non-surgical treatment of varicose veins (special physical exercises, massage, wearing compression garments, taking medications to strengthen the walls of blood vessels) will help only at the initial stage.But, unfortunately, very few patients turn to a specialist at this time.Perhaps due to such a wide prevalence of the disease, many either trust traditional methods of treatment, which have not proven their effectiveness, and waste precious time, or resign themselves to the expansion of veins up to an unbearable pain syndrome, signaling an advanced stage.
Surgical treatment of varicose veins, like any other surgical intervention, requires a highly qualified team of doctors treating the patient.After all, serious contraindications may be found for the operation, so trust your health only to experienced specialists in well-equipped medical centers.
For our patients, we are ready to provide all known, clinically proven treatment methods: from conservative (non-surgical) to surgical.Among the most effective are:
- laser coagulation (removal by laser, that is, by thermal exposure of areas of dilated vessels) - this method is suitable for small vessels and for removing spider veins located near the surface of the skin;
- sclerosis (injection of a special substance into a vein that safely clogs it) - this method is suitable only for peripheral, small vessels;
- phlebectomy is the surgical removal of the affected area of a vein, used in advanced stages of the disease in large veins;
- radiofrequency coagulation.
The choice of treatment method depends on many factors (the extent of varicose veins, the patient’s condition, contraindications to manipulation).Specialists try to provide the patient with the most detailed information about his condition, listen to wishes and decide on a treatment method appropriate to the specific situation.