Varicose veins of the lower limbs is a chronic systemic pathology that develops against the background of dysfunction of the valves that control blood flow.
This leads to the accumulation of an excessive amount of liquid in the vessels, which gradually stretch, lose their elasticity and strength.Varicose veins are characterized by the formation of bulky lumps under the skin of the legs, but this is not the only symptom of the disease.Patients complain of pain and heaviness in the legs, burning and itching, dryness and irritation of the skin.In advanced cases, non-healing purulent ulcers form on the skin, which are very difficult to cure due to the irreversible necrotic processes taking place in them.In order for the treatment of varicose veins on the legs to be effective and to help prevent recurrence, the causes must first be found.
Causes of varicose veins on the legs
The tendency to develop such serious vascular diseases is often inherited, and in most cases this pathology is inherited by women.Therefore, if there are cases of varicose veins in your family, girls and women are at risk.
Other common causes of the disease:
- Bad nutrition.If the diet is dominated by fatty, heavy foods rich in animal fats, the risk of developing varicose veins in the lower limbs increases significantly.
- Heavy physical activity.Certain types of work, for example, a cook, a waiter, a surgeon, an office worker, a hairdresser, create the conditions for a gradual increase in pressure in the blood vessels.As a result of regular stress, blood vessels and valves are deformed;as a result of the constant high pressure, the walls of the veins thin, become fragile, and varicose veins form.
- Wearing uncomfortable high heels.Such shoes reduce the amplitude of muscle contraction and compress the blood vessels, which in turn contributes to impaired blood flow and the development of varicose veins.
- Sedentary lifestyle.In the absence of at least a minimal load on the muscles, the blood begins to stagnate in the venous bed, since the walls of the veins do not contract by themselves.Gradually, the blood vessels stretch, the function of the valves is disturbed, and varicose thickenings and nodes are formed.
- Overweight.The more excess weight a person has, the greater the load on the lower limbs and, accordingly, on the blood vessels.In addition, obese people exercise very little and usually eat poorly, so the chances of getting varicose veins on their legs double.
- Pregnancy.As the fetus grows, the amount of blood in the expectant mother's body increases, which causes additional stress in the veins.In addition, the growing uterus and fetus compress the pelvic vessels, preventing normal venous outflow.During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone is produced in excess, which relaxes the walls of blood vessels, promoting the formation of varicose veins.In most cases, varicose veins during pregnancy can be reversed, so after giving birth, a woman can completely get rid of the problem.
- Circle.As the body ages, the walls of the veins and the valves cease to fully perform their functions and weaken.Flexibility and strength are lost, which causes the vessels to stretch.
The mechanism of the formation of varicose veins of the lower limbs
Varicose veins of the lower limbs develop according to a complex mechanism:
- In the initial stage, in case of hereditary predisposition and provocation of exogenous and endogenous factors, the venous blood flow slows down.The long-term stagnation process causes the development of inflammatory processes in the vein wall and valves.
- When the valves are incompetent and the walls of the venous vessels are weak, blood begins to flow in both directions through the veins.This leads to an increase in intravenous pressure, which in turn leads to overstretching and deformation of the vessel walls.
- Further stagnation of blood and the progress of the inflammatory process contribute to the spread of pathology, the development of ischemia and the formation of trophic ulcers.
Gradually, the functioning of the affected veins is impaired.Varicose veins cause stagnation of blood in the vessels, which leads to local toxic changes and an increase in pressure.In an advanced stage, the blood vessels are no longer able to withstand the excessive pressure, which leads to ruptures, which lead to severe bleeding.
Symptoms
The disease is insidious in that it is virtually symptomless in its earliest stages.The first sign of varicose veins is leg fatigue, which is often ignored by patients and does not become a reason for consulting a specialist.However, as the pathology progresses, leg fatigue appears more often, especially in the evening after a day's work.Other symptoms of vascular diseases:
- A feeling of pain, tightness.Such signs begin from the second stage, when the pathological process progresses.The pain occurs mainly in the evening, after a working day, and disappears in the morning.If a person ignores the discomfort and there is no treatment, the pain syndrome becomes chronic and worries him constantly.
- Swollen veins and vascular network.At first, the affected veins are stronger than usual, but later they begin to bulge, bulge, forming nodes.The vascular network is most often localized on the thighs and legs.
- Cramps.A characteristic sign of varicose veins, which is caused by stagnation of blood in the veins.Stagnant processes lead to increased pressure in the vessels, as a result of which the muscles contract spontaneously.
In addition, vascular diseases are accompanied by pronounced external changes.With the development of ischemia, patients complain of constant itching.Excessive stretching and thinning of the veins leads to the formation of hematomas and bruises.In an advanced stage, when atrophic processes develop, the following external symptoms appear:
- red spots on the skin;
- peeling;
- formation of dark pigmented spots;
- hair loss.
If the patient develops trophic ulcers, along with blackening of the limbs, this indicates the progress of irreversible necrotic processes.
Complications of varicose veins of the legs
If varicose veins of the lower limbs are not treated, as the disease progresses, serious complications develop, such as:
- Venous thrombosis.With this complication, pathological processes affect the deep veins.Pathology is accompanied by blockage of a vessel with blood clots - thrombus.The main cause of venous thrombosis is the slowing down of blood flow to the lower extremities.
- Pulmonary embolism.A condition where a blood clot detached from the vessel wall enters the pulmonary artery together with the blood stream, blocking its lumen.If the clot is large, death occurs immediately.Smaller blood clots do not lead to death, but cause complex respiratory and circulatory disorders.
- Thrombophlebitis.It is characterized by inflammation of the superficial vessel walls, accompanied by the formation of blood clots.The disease is hyperemia, swelling along the inflamed and blocked vein, pain of varying intensity.Acute thrombophlebitis is accompanied by fever and chills, which complement the above symptoms.
- Trophic ulcers.It is an inevitable complication of untreated varicose veins of the lower limbs, which develops in the absence of timely treatment.Violation of the nutrition of the tissues and the progress of the inflammatory process contribute to the compaction and thinning of the subcutaneous tissue, the darkening of the skin, and the development of non-healing trophic ulcers.
- Varicose eczema.This manifests itself in local reddening of the skin, peeling and unbearable itching.If there is no treatment, the complication spreads rapidly and leads to deterioration of the patient's condition.
- Bleeding from varicose veins.A dangerous complication that develops against the background of the rupture of varicose nodes.
Bleeding may occur due to mechanical injury, as the walls of the affected veins are very fragile and thinned.Therefore, even slight friction can cause severe venous bleeding.
Diagnosis of varicose veins of the lower limbs
If there are symptoms indicating the development of varicose veins of the lower limbs, you should make an appointment with a phlebologist who diagnoses, treats and prevents such vascular pathologies.
The doctor will be able to make a preliminary diagnosis during the initial examination, during which they will discover a dense vascular network on the limbs, swollen veins protruding above the surface of the skin, and venous nodules.To confirm the diagnosis, a referral is given for further examination, which includes the following procedures:
- Doppler ultrasound;
- ultrasound duplex angioscanning;
- radionuclide and radiopaque phleboscintigraphy;
- phlebomanometry;
- plethysmography;
- photoplethysmography.
Treatment of varicose veins of the legs
If the disease is diagnosed at the earliest stage, when there are no serious complications, conservative therapy is prescribed, the main goals of which are:
- elimination of stagnant processes;
- normalizes the pressure in the veins;
- restores blood circulation;
- eliminates pathological symptoms.
For this purpose, drugs from the following groups are used:
- Venotonics and phlebotonics.It improves blood vessel health, normalizes blood circulation and improves lymphatic drainage.
- Anticoagulants.It is used to reduce blood viscosity and prevent blood clots.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect and relieve pain.
- Antiplatelet agents.It reduces the risk of thrombosis and improves tissue trophism.
If drug treatment is ineffective and the disease progresses, the doctor will discuss surgical treatment options with the patient.Surgical methods for the treatment of varicose veins include:
- Sclerotherapy.Introduction of a sclerosing drug into the lumen of the affected vein, which glues the vessel together, as a result of which it resolves itself, replaced by connective tissue.
- Laser coagulation.In cases where the diameter of the affected veins does not exceed 10 mm.The laser beams create a sclerotic effect in the blood vessel, as a result of which it disappears on its own.
- Phlebectomy.A surgical procedure during which the surgeon cuts out the deformed areas of the blood vessels and performs all the necessary manipulations through microscopic punctures in the skin.
Contraindications
In the case of varicose veins of the legs, all measures that contribute to the development of stagnation in the veins of the lower limbs are contraindicated:
- long stay in static positions;
- heavy physical activity, lifting heavy weights;
- sitting with legs tucked in or crossed;
- wears tight, uncomfortable shoes.
It is also necessary to get rid of bad habits such as smoking and alcoholism.Tobacco smoke and alcohol negatively affect the health of the entire body, making the veins fragile, thin and inflexible, which soon leads to the development of varicose veins and other cardiovascular diseases.
The cost of treating varicose veins of the lower extremities
The cost of treating varicose veins in the legs is influenced by the following factors:
- stage of disease diagnosis;
- related complications;
- individually selected therapeutic method - conservative or surgical;
- the need for additional therapeutic techniques, such as physiotherapy.