It is a deformation and disturbance of the normal functioning of the veins in the legs.In a normal state, blood in the veins moves from the bottom to the top.This is achieved due to the 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 upwards and prevents it from flowing in the opposite direction.When there is a breach, the vessel walls expand, the valve clearance deviates, and blood can partially move in the opposite direction, creating reverse flow, further expanding the vessel walls and weakening the valve.Varicose veins appear.The disease is extremely common in people over the age of 30, with women more commonly 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 lot of time in a static position (especially sitting) and do not give the necessary stress to our muscles.The following risk factors may also affect:
- overly tight clothing (pants, socks),
- uncomfortable shoes (especially high heels),
- disturbances in hormonal balance,
- frequent hot baths, sauna visits,
- prolonged vigorous physical activity, weight lifting,
- obesity.
The main prevention of varicose veins is maintaining a healthy lifestyle.Even if you do sedentary work, try not to sit without moving for several hours in a row: get up, stretch your legs, walk more.and don't forget a balanced diet, which, together 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 several studies that disprove it.
Symptoms
The disease can develop very slowly: years or even decades.The symptoms of the initial stage vary, but for convenience they are combined in a specific cluster under the general feeling of heaviness in the legs:
- leg fatigue without serious exercise,
- painful veins,
- night cramps in the calves,
- pulling sensation in the legs.
If you do not monitor the symptoms of varicose veins in the initial stage, the vein will be deformed more and more.In the evenings, swelling in the feet and ankles will begin to appear, which will disappear by morning.Spider veins will become visible and then swollen veins and nodules will be felt on them.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 acquiring skin pigmentation and trophic ulcers.The further course of varicose veins brings complications such as bleeding from venous nodes and the risk of developing such a serious disease as thrombosis, which can be fatal without contacting a specialist.
Diagnostics
The 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 choose the optimal treatment.If for some reason (for example, when the damaged veins are deep), the ultrasound does not provide all the necessary information, then the specialist will conduct an additional examination - venography - 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 drugs to strengthen the walls of blood vessels) will help only in the initial stage.But, unfortunately, very few patients turn to a specialist at this time.Perhaps due to such a high prevalence of the disease, many either trust traditional methods of treatment, which have not proven their effectiveness, and waste valuable time, or give up vein expansion to an unbearable pain syndrome, signaling an advanced stage.
The surgical treatment of varicose veins, like any other surgery, requires a team of highly qualified doctors to treat the patient.After all, serious contraindications to the operation may be found, so entrust 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 (laser removal, i.e. with thermal exposure of areas of dilated vessels) - this method is suitable for small vessels and for the removal of spider veins located close to the surface of the skin.
- sclerotherapy (injection of a special substance into a vein that safely blocks it) - this method is only suitable for peripheral, small vessels.
- Phlebectomy is the surgical removal of the affected area of a vein, used in advanced stages of large vein disease.
- 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 his wishes and decide on a treatment method suitable for the specific situation.