What are varicose veins: symptoms and treatment

Vascular diseases pose a serious threat to human health and even life. Among them are varicose veins. This pathology in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) is defined by code number 183. Fighting such a disease is quite a laborious process and requires a lot of effort from the patient himself. What is varicose veins? Lower extremity disease is a pathological process, during the development of which there is damage to the blood vessels of the legs, which manifests itself in the form of their expansion, curvature, as well as the appearance of irreversible changes in the valvular apparatus (anatomical structures). which prevent non-physiological blood flow). As a result, a person may develop valvular venous insufficiency.

In the initial stages of varicose veins, the symptoms are characterized by the formation of nodules in the venous network or spider veins, an increase in the size of the saphenous veins, their soreness and a feeling of heaviness in the legs. In case of disease progression, symptoms of chronic venous circulatory insufficiency of chronic nature are added (for example, swelling of the lower leg, feet, trophic ulcers, cramps in the leaf muscles, thrombophlebitis and damage to altered blood vessels). on the overall clinical picture.

Sometimes, if a person has some congenital diseases, swelling can occur not only in the veins of the legs, but also in the veins of certain internal organs. For example, the development of portal hypertension often causes esophageal vasodilation, and when varicocele occurs, capillary varicose veins of the spermatic cord are observed.

Regardless of the localization of the pathological process, there is a hereditary predisposition for the appearance of capillary enlargement, the appearance of which is associated with the presence of congenital weakness of the vascular walls in humans and venous valve insufficiency. At the same time, varicose veins in men, according to medical statistics, occur somewhat less frequently than in women. At any stage of varicose veins, the treatment has many nuances and takes a lot of time.

Causes that contribute to the development of the disease

Vascular disease such as varicose veins of the lower extremities can have many predisposing factors. The most common of them are:

1. hereditary predisposition. As a result of the lack of connective tissue in the human body, the tone of the vascular walls can weaken, which in turn will contribute to the expansion of the venous system of the legs.

2. Presence of overweight.
3. Pregnancy. In this case, the pathology may occur due to an increase in the volume of blood circulating in the body and squeezing by the uterus of vessels located behind the abdominal cavity.
4. Malnutrition. The possibility of developing the disease increases in those people whose diet does not contain raw vegetables and fruits or with a small amount of their consumption.
5. Hormonal imbalance. Scientists have proven that long-term use of drugs that have hormonal substances in their composition, they can negatively affect not only the human hormonal background, but also the condition of blood vessels.
6. Sedentary lifestyle. For example, a long stay of the body in the same sitting or standing position contributes to the development of congestive disorders in the bloodstream of the lower extremities. Also, long-term wearing of corsets, which cause an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, negatively affects the vascular system of the legs. The same detrimental effect is caused by tight upper and lower clothing, which compresses the arteries located in the area of the inguinal folds.
7. Psychosomatic factor. Constant impact of strong stressful situations on a person.

Clinical manifestations of pathology

The symptoms and treatment of varicose veins depend entirely on the stage of development of the disease. Sometimes some patients, even before the appearance of visual symptoms of varicose veins, may complain of a feeling of heaviness in the legs, increased fatigue, pain in the ankle area. In addition, there is a possibility of developing telangiectasia.

The initial phase is characterized by the absence of venous outflow disorders. Often the disease can take place in the compensatory phase, which is expressed in the form of asymptomatic development of the pathological process. In this case, most patients are not even aware of the presence of varicose veins, so they simply do not go to the doctor.

As the disease progresses, the person has well-defined first signs of varicose veins, which have the following manifestations:

1. Transient pain syndrome, swelling, which is mainly formed during a long stay of the body in an upright position. Such symptoms disappear immediately after the person takes a position on his back.
2. Feeling of constant heaviness in the lower extremities, dull pain, fatigue in the legs and convulsions, which occur mainly at night.
3. Itchy skin. This manifestation of vascular disease becomes more pronounced in the evening and indicates the development of trophic disorders (deterioration of the nutrition of epidermal tissues, which manifests itself in the form of ulcerative neoplasms that form on its surface). Pathological changes in the dermis are often localized on the front and inside of the ankle.
4. During the external examination of the patient's legs, the doctor reveals a large enough swelling of the capillaries and widespread violation of venous circulation. In some cases, varicose veins are accompanied by severe dizziness and loss of consciousness, resulting from a sharp drop in blood pressure.
5. The skin in the area of deterioration of the circulation process becomes taut, rough and dry.

Disease treatment method

How to deal with varicose veins? Three main treatment regimens are used to combat this disease:

1. Conservative therapy. How to remove varicose veins in conservative ways? This method of eliminating the disease includes adherence to general recommendations, ie maintaining an active lifestyle, regular physical culture, the use of elastic bandages and compression stockings. In addition, the patient is prescribed certain phlebotonic medications. It is impossible to treat varicose veins only with conservative therapy, because this method of removing the disease cannot completely restore varicose veins;

2. Compression sclerotherapy. This method of removing the pathology involves the introduction of a special drug into the varicose vein. As a result, there is a spasm in the affected vein, after which a compression stocking is placed on the patient's leg to keep him in the resulting condition. After 3 days the vein walls begin to stick. The patient should wear such a sock for 1 month - until thick growths are formed. Treatment of varicose veins without surgery is prescribed only for patients who do not have an advanced condition of the pathological process.
3. Operation. How to cure varicose veins with surgery? A large number of surgical techniques are used for surgical removal of vascular pathology, including microsurgery, laser and radiofrequency vein coagulation. How to get rid of varicose veins surgery? Surgical treatment of the disease involves complete removal of the affected blood vessels.

Can varicose veins be cured without surgery? Experts say that it is possible without excision of varicose veins, but only under the condition that the disease is not in an advanced state, when it is not possible to restore normal blood circulation in the lower extremities.

Its effectiveness will also depend on the therapy it will apply, so the patient should not neglect the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor, but fully adhere to all the doctor's recommendations.