Varicose veins are a very insidious disease. It can be difficult to manifest for years, because in the early stages a person is not bothered by anything, and mild ailments are attributed to living conditions, but not vein problems. And then it gets worse, the disease progresses and it becomes much harder to cure it. In this case, varicose veins can affect different parts of the body that have veins. However, the vast majority suffer from female legs, so the symptoms of varicose veins in women should be given special attention.
Varicose veins are a very insidious disease. It can be difficult to manifest for years, because in the early stages a person is not bothered by anything, and mild ailments are attributed to living conditions, but not vein problems. And then it gets worse, the disease progresses and it becomes much harder to cure it. In this case, varicose veins can affect different parts of the body that have veins. However, the vast majority suffer from female legs, so the symptoms of varicose veins in women should be given special attention.
Mechanism of disease development
The main cause of varicose veins in the legs is the weakening of the walls of the veins and blood vessels, due to which they can no longer push the blood upwards with optimal strength.
The blood stagnates and the veins grow even more. As they expand, they lose elasticity, become brittle and finally stop providing normal blood flow. Due to the fact that the blood is constantly standing in the veins, they swell, nodules and blood clots are formed, clogging the lumen in the veins. This leads to thrombophlebitis.
Skin cells that do not receive enough oxygen begin to die, tissue necrosis develops, trophic lesions and ulcers appear. This is called the final stage of varicose veins of the lower extremities and is treated only with the help of surgery.
It is no longer possible to completely cure this phase of the disease, but it is likely that it will slow down its course and achieve a more or less stable remission.
Bitan! Doctors believe that the main cause of varicose veins of the lower extremities is hereditary predisposition, therefore, if cases of the disease have been reported in older generations of the family, special attention should be paid to the health of the vessel.
How not to miss the onset of the disease?
It is very important to carefully monitor all the problems, even the mildest ones. If you catch the 1st phase of development, when the symptoms of varicose veins on the legs have just started to appear, in most cases it is possible to reverse the process and maintain healthy veins. So, the first signs of varicose veins on the legs are:
- an increase in swelling, which began to bother not only in the evening, but also at other times of the day;
- feeling of heaviness and "tired legs" syndrome, which appears in the middle of the day or even earlier;
- general weakness and state of apathy resulting from insufficient oxygen supply to tissues;
- spider veins or webs on the legs and thighs, which are often the first sign of varicose veins that people pay attention to.
In this case, with a timely visit to the doctor, the simplest methods of treatment can help: folk remedies, drugs to prevent varicose veins on the legs - venotonics in tablets and capsules, ointments, creams and gels.
If varicose veins in the legs need to be treated, a phlebologist may prescribe medications that thin the blood and prevent blood clots from forming, as well as wearing special compression underwear or using an elastic bandage.
Bitan! Despite the fact that many drugs have few side effects and are prescribed, including for disease prevention, the decision on which one to take should be made solely by a phlebologist, but not by the patient himself.
What is the risk of disease?
First of all, varicose veins, reaching an advanced stage, threaten the formation of blood clots, which can block the flow of blood and oxygen to the most important arteries and veins that are located next to the lungs and heart. Pulmonary embolism very often leads to a sad outcome.
In addition, varicose veins on the legs can be hidden, affecting the veins that run deep in the legs. Such a condition is dangerous in that external signs begin to appear when the disease has already passed into the 2nd or even 3rd stage, in which one cannot do without surgery. A visit to the doctor should not be delayed if:
- the legs began to swell frequently, while the kidneys were completely healthy, diabetes was not diagnosed, fluid intake was normal;
- pulling or sharp other pains in the pelvic organs, groin and thighs appear;
- legs twitch occasionally, especially at night;
- areas in the lower extremities along the veins began to swell after each load.
Internal varicose veins on the legs can seriously complicate a person's life, bringing constant pain into it and leading the situation to the intervention of a surgeon.
Bitan! Varicose veins are common during pregnancy. Most women are sure that this is temporary and will surely pass after childbirth, but in reality this does not always happen.
Much more often, after loading the veins during childbirth, the disease begins to progress. Therefore, the signs of varicose veins during pregnancy should not be ignored in any case.
Can other parts of the body be affected?
Symptoms of varicose veins can affect different organs. In particular, varicose veins on the arms occur much less frequently than varicose veins on the lower extremities, but they cause just as much anxiety and sadness. If you notice symptoms on the hands that are similar to the manifestation of this disease, see a doctor as soon as possible:
- veins become very visible, dark and swollen;
- swelling occurs on the hands, including the fingers;
- tingling and pain often occur;
- long-term performance of the same actions becomes problematic due to the weight in the hands;
Varicose veins on the hands occur in both women and men, with approximately the same frequency, but still this disease rarely affects the stronger sex 1, 5-2 times.
This is due to the fact that the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity are more susceptible to fluctuations in the hormonal system, which is one of the main factors that cause varicose veins on the hands.
Bitan! The first signs of varicose veins of the upper and lower extremities are very similar, but varicose veins of the legs have symptoms that are considered a consequence of flat feet, long walks or wearing shoes with heels, osteochondrosis, and are characterized by varicose veins on the hands. symptoms that many take to be a physical characteristic of the structure of the veins.
Intestinal lesion
With almost the same frequency as varicose veins of the legs, varicose veins of the rectum and its prolapse occur.
Well-known hemorrhoids are hidden under this name. Those who are unlucky enough to get this disease can tell you how unpleasant the signs of varicose veins are in such a sensitive area:
- sudden attacks of sharp pain while walking;
- severe pain when sitting to inability to sit;
- the appearance of blood from cracks in the anal passage and its pronounced swelling, itching and tingling;
- the act of defecation is also accompanied by pain, especially if combined with constipation, which often occurs in varicose veins in this area.
The symptoms of internal varicose veins are not as difficult to notice as external ones, because otherwise there are no unpleasant sensations in the anus.
However, with a proctologist, he usually has grade 2 varicose veins. It is not as easy to cure as the first stage of the disease, but it is quite possible without the application of radical measures.
If varicose veins on the arms and legs are more common in women, then varicose veins of the rectum affect the male body more. The main reasons for this are great physical exertion, serious sports, drinking alcohol and large amounts of junk food, as well as prostate diseases that contribute to the narrowing of the urethra.
Bitan! Once you discover the first symptoms of varicose veins of the rectum, you should start treating it as soon as possible, because the danger of disease in this area lies in the fact that the intestines can suffer and the work of the gastrointestinal tract can be disrupted. .
The disease develops gradually, without sudden jumps, but can lead to intestinal neoplasms, both benign and oncogenic.
male problem
If varicose veins on the legs in men are quite rare, then varicocele is a purely male disease. It consists in the fact that varicose veins of the spermatic cord and testicles become one of the causes of infertility due to the male factor.
The venous canal with varicocele is filled with blood, which the veins cannot move further into the renal or small vena cava. In most cases, this problem occurs on the left testicle, because two veins join in this area: the kidney and the semen.
Symptoms of varicose veins of the testicles do not manifest in any way as long as the couple does not have problems conceiving. Then both partners go to the doctors, the woman to the gynecologist, the man to the andrologist. And above all, an experienced doctor will examine the varicocele.
This disease can be detected with the help of ultrasound and Doppler, as well as by probing the veins during the patient's pressure. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the man is ordered a spermogram to determine how far the disease has gone.
Bitan! Varicocele can be cured only by surgery, and is carried out, as a rule, to eliminate infertility in men.
This phenomenon is not dangerous in itself and usually does not cause discomfort, but sometimes the veins expand so much that they cause discomfort or pain. In this case, surgery is also shown.
Conclusion
Varicose veins are caused by many factors, most of which can be corrected. And since this disease belongs to the category of dangerous and often causes serious complications, which can lead to disability, it will be much easier to take preventive measures in time to avoid the development of the disease:
- normalize the diet, eliminating the abundance of fatty, spicy, salty and fried foods;
- quit smoking and alcohol;
- after consulting a doctor, take venotonics, use ointments that strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
- do not spend a lot of time in the same position, long sitting is just as dangerous as being on your feet;
- set aside enough time for sports;
- control weight, preventing the appearance of excess weight, which is especially true for women during the period of childbirth and breastfeeding;
- choose comfortable shoes with low wide heels that do not tighten the feet, and for exceptional cases leave high heels;
- take a contrast shower every day, paying special attention to your legs, arms and pelvic organs;
- stay in warm rooms, hot saunas and bathrooms as little as possible;
- with a hereditary factor, it will be helpful to wear compression stockings, leggings or golfs.
After discovering the first signs of varicose veins, it is necessary to contact a phlebologist and make a treatment plan together with him.