Problems with blood vessels are a fairly common phenomenon that occurs more and more often in modern society.Today, varicose veins of the limbs are diagnosed not only in the elderly.The disease affects young people and even children.
What are the symptoms of varicose veins on the legs, arms and other parts of the body?It is very important to know the first signs of the disease.Because the effectiveness of all subsequent treatment depends on timely diagnosis.
This article will be devoted to the symptoms of varicose veins on the legs and other parts of the body.We will also talk about the causes of diseases and the necessary preventive measures to prevent the development of the pathological process.And, of course, we will pay attention to all kinds of methods for the treatment of varicose veins of the legs, arms or other organs.
It is believed that this disease affects only the limbs of the human body.However, this is not true.Recently, doctors are increasingly diagnosing varicose veins of the small pelvis in women.Pathology is also found in the veins of the esophagus and other internal organs.How to identify and treat such abnormalities?Let's find out.
Definition of disease
Before you understand what the disease is, it is necessary to get general information about the structure of the human circulatory system.
As you know, the blood in our body circulates through vessels.Arteries are vessels through which blood flows from the heart to various organs and tissues.Veins are also vessels, but through them blood flows in the opposite direction - from organs and tissues to the heart.
In order for this process to proceed in the right direction, there are one-way valves in each vein.They ensure the necessary blood circulation in the right direction.What else can be achieved with such valves?Blood does not accumulate in one place, but circulates and enriches the body.
Varicose veins are characterized by damage to intravascular valves or even their complete absence.As a result, the general flow of blood is disturbed and accumulates in the place where the pathology is detected.Because of this, the veins increase in volume and expand abnormally.
There are several types of veins in our body - superficial (located just under the skin), deep (hidden deep in the muscle tissue) and communicating (connecting the first two types).
Varicose veins are most often diagnosed in superficial veins, for example on the legs in the knees, calves or thighs.However, the disease can also affect vessels located in the pelvis or rectum.
Lower limbs
First, let's pay attention to varicose veins of the lower extremities.Externally, the disease manifests itself as purple, blue or bluish-green veins under the skin that curve and protrude outward.Similar manifestations can be seen in the photo below.
Causes of varicose veins in the legs
The main cause of the disease, as mentioned above, is the pathological processes occurring in the blood vessels themselves.What can cause such changes?
The main provocateurs of the disease include a hereditary predisposition to vein deformation.Also, excessive load on the legs can have a negative effect on the blood vessels, for example, when a person, due to his professional work, is constantly standing or walking.It is not surprising that teachers, athletes and hairdressers are prone to this disease.
Other negative factors that affect the elasticity of blood vessels are overweight, hormonal changes and cardiovascular diseases (eg thrombosis).
Do not forget about bad habits that have a negative impact not only on the veins, but also on the whole body as a whole.It is clear that smoking and alcohol abuse can provoke the development of a pathological process in blood vessels.
Often, the development of the disease can be caused by pregnancy, which is a great stress and burden for the whole organism of a woman.Also, carrying a baby affects the hormonal background of the expectant mother, which can also cause pathological processes occurring in the circulatory system.However, it is worth remembering that pregnancy alone is not the cause of varicose veins.Carrying the fetus can be a reason or one of the reasons for the manifestation of the disease.
It's no secret that the disease is most often diagnosed in women, and this is not always associated with pregnancy or hormonal changes.Wearing uncomfortable shoes (too tight or with very high heels) is another of the main reasons for the development of varicose veins of the lower extremities.
An important factor in the development of abnormal expansion of blood vessels can be various damage to the veins.This can include injuries or inflammatory processes occurring in the vessels, as well as the formation of blood clots.
How to identify the disease at an early stage in order to start timely and high-quality treatment?Let's find out.
Details of symptoms
The first sign of a problem is pain in the legs, namely in the place where the valve violation occurred.It is also very important to pay attention to unpleasant sensations in the lower limbs, as if the leg is heavy.This sensation is an important signal of vascular deformation.
Abnormal bulging of the veins is another sign of developing pathology.Dark purple veins appear under the skin, they twist and swell.
The skin in the area of the affected vessel becomes dry, may peel and darken, itch and itch.At the site of development of the pathological process, edema forms, the skin swells or swells.
If you do not pay attention to these manifestations in time, the symptoms may intensify.A person begins to experience cramping and open sores form in the area of varicose veins, which can bleed and cause pain.Wounds are a possibility of infection, so you should consult a doctor as soon as possible in order not to complicate an already difficult situation.
Identification of the disease
What will they say at the hospital?Most likely, a specialist will refer you for the necessary tests to diagnose the disease and rule out other possible diseases.
The most important diagnostic step is the physical examination of the patient.The patient will be asked to stand, sit and swing their legs.It is on the basis of an external examination that a diagnosis will be made.
After that, the doctor can recommend a Doppler ultrasound, based on which it will be possible to examine the blood flow and, if there is one, to detect a blood clot.
A specialist can also prescribe an angiogram.This study involves injecting a certain dye into the vein, thanks to which the structure of the vessels and their pathological changes will be clearly visible on the X-ray.
General principles of recovery
Is it possible to treat varicose veins at home?Yes, especially when it comes to the initial stages of the disease.
The first thing your doctor will advise is to adjust your weight and diet.That is, if the patient has extra pounds, then he should go on a special diet to normalize his body weight.If the patient's weight is normal, then he will still have to monitor his diet, avoiding fatty and salty foods, which can negatively affect blood vessels and also provoke obesity.
In addition, a therapeutic diet may include giving up strong coffee (and sometimes even tea), smoked foods, and canned foods.Alcoholic beverages are also 100% contraindicated for people suffering from varicose veins.It is very important to eat more vegetables and fruits (including freshly squeezed juices), grains and soy.And, of course, don't forget about the greens.Parsley, fennel and lettuce are what will help you cope with any disease!
Your doctor may also prescribe the wearing of compression clothing, such as stockings or even pantyhose.
Many men may have complexes about such an unusual treatment for varicose veins in the legs.However, you should not get hung up on this problem.Compression garments are a fairly common method of treating vascular pathologies of the lower extremities.Its reasonable use will not only relieve the patient from unpleasant symptoms and pain, but also help prevent the progression of the disease.In some cases, such clothing will be recommended to the patient for permanent use throughout his life.Very often, compression stockings are prescribed to pregnant women to relieve their condition during pregnancy, when the body cannot be helped in any other way.
The essence of these therapeutic underwear is that they compress the leg in the area of the ankle, gradually weakening the effect on the skin up the leg.This stimulates proper blood circulation to the heart.
Today on sale you can find various compression socks and tights, which differ from each other not only in size, but also in the degree of compression (pressure on the leg).
Another way to treat varicose veins is to prescribe special exercises for the legs.The specialist recommends certain exercises to the patient that will help normalize blood flow in the limbs.
Let's move on to drug treatment
To help fight the disease, special ointments and oral medications can be prescribed, the purpose of which is to dilute the blood and improve its circulation.Also, such drugs can strengthen the walls of blood vessels, relieve inflammation and relieve pain.
Most often, doctors prescribe phlebotonics (or venotonic drugs).They improve lymphatic drainage, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, give them elasticity and reduce capillary permeability.
The patient may also be prescribed antiplatelet agents, which dissolve clots and improve blood flow by inhibiting platelet aggregation and suppressing their adhesion.
During an exacerbation of the disease, it is very important to take drugs that would prevent blood clotting.For this purpose, the attending physician can prescribe drugs based on heparin or its derivatives.
According to experts, it is best to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
And, of course, we must not forget about ointments.Local drugs are represented in huge quantities in the pharmacological market.
More radical treatments
The methods described above do not always achieve the desired result.
In such cases, your doctor may recommend non-invasive treatment options.What do they include?Let's discuss each method.
Laser treatment
One of the gentlest methods of treating varicose veins is the use of a laser on the surface of the epidermis.A small flash illuminating the walls of the vein promotes the development of sclerosis, as a result of which the affected vein disappears as if it had been removed.
Intravenous laser coagulation is another procedure for treating varicose veins.However, this involves making a small incision in a spot just above or just below the affected vein.A catheter is then inserted into the vessel and an ultrasound is sent.The laser action lasts for about a minute, after which the patient feels heat in the area of the affected vein, which after some time disappears, turning into the connective tissue.
Since the patient receives local anesthesia before the procedure, the person feels absolutely nothing.After the manipulation, a feeling of heaviness in the lower limbs and bruises may appear.However, this does not affect the recovery period in any way.The very next day, the patient can go to work and do his usual activities.
Radio frequencies
Along with the laser, the ablation method can be used, which is performed in almost the same way as the laser coagulation described above.The only difference is the equipment used.Instead of a laser, the specialist uses radio frequency energy, which enters the affected vessel through a catheter, heats it until the walls of the vein collapse and it closes.Then the blood is directed in another direction - to a healthy vessel.
Surgical intervention
This involves complete or partial removal of the affected vessel.Surgery for varicose veins is prescribed only as a last resort, when other methods of treatment have failed.To combat varicose veins, surgeons use a variety of surgical techniques.Some of them will be listed below:
- Crossectomy.
- Vein extraction.
- Miniphlebectomy.
- Endoscopy.
The essence of these manipulations boils down to the following: small incisions are made on the leg in several places (most often below and above the affected area), after which a flexible thin wire is inserted into the vessel, which removes the diseased vein.These operations are performed quite often and almost always proceed without complications, but they carry certain risks and inconveniences.
For example, such surgical interventions are performed under anesthesia (general or spinal).The use of anesthesia can lead to allergic reactions to the drugs used, bleeding and breathing problems.
Other negative factors that can occur after surgery include the possibility of infection, bruising and swelling in the affected area, nerve damage, vein irritation or blood clots inside the vessels.We must also not forget that surgical intervention does not guarantee the absence of recurrence in the future.
The postoperative period does not last long.Within a day or two, the patient can resume daily activities.He will be advised to wear a compression garment for a week.
Sclerotherapy
This is one of the methods of treatment of varicose veins that should also be paid attention to and can be performed directly in the doctor's office without hospitalization.During the manipulation, a special chemical solution is injected into the diseased vein, which has an irritating effect, as a result of which the vein thickens and closes.After that, blood circulation takes place through healthy vessels.
This procedure is applicable when a small vein located in the knee area is affected.Sclerotherapy is usually combined with other methods of treating varicose veins.
Various drugs are used as a chemical solution.After the procedure, the patient will need to wear compression bandages soaked in a sclerosing agent.The wearing time is determined individually by the attending physician.
Side effects of such injections include the following negative manifestations:
- The appearance of blood clots in other vessels of the lower extremities.
- Headache.
- Painful sensations in the lower back.
- Temporary visual impairment.
- Fainting.
- Irritation of the epidermis around the injection site.
However, most patients tolerate sclerotherapy well.If the contraindications are taken into account and the manipulation is performed correctly, the positive result in the treatment of varicose veins is guaranteed.
People's first aid kit
Is it possible to cure a disease with alternative medicine?In some cases - yes, especially if we are talking about the primary manifestations of the disease and if the treatment with grandmother's methods will be carried out with the permission of the attending physician.
So, what components should you stock up on to begin effective treatment of the pathology?First of all, let's take apple cider vinegar.Mix two tablespoons of the product in a glass of water, add a little honey and drink on an empty stomach in the morning.
Apple cider vinegar can also be used for topical application in the form of wipes after dissolving in water (ratio 1 to 10).Gently rub the affected area at night - by morning the unpleasant symptoms should decrease.
Very often, chestnut tincture is used against varicose veins.To do this, collect beautiful and intact fruits and grind them through a meat grinder.After that, fifty grams of raw material is poured into a half-liter bottle of vodka and placed in a dark place for two weeks.The tincture is then filtered and taken orally, thirty to forty drops per tablespoon of water, half an hour before meals three or four times a day.The course of such treatment is one month.Then take a break of two weeks and, if necessary, repeat again.
This tincture can also be used to rub the sore spot at night.
An ancient method of removing varicose veins is the use of leeches.How much hirudotherapy is needed in each case depends on the patient and their doctor.
So, we paid enough attention to the varicose veins of the lower extremities.Now let's talk about other types of diseases.
Pelvic vessels
This pathology is very easily confused with gynecological diseases in women.
Varicose veins in the pelvic area can be seen as hormonal disorders, pathologies of the genitourinary system or even as simple sciatica.However, it is very important to identify the disease as early as possible.Varicose veins of the pelvis in women can cause disturbances in the functioning of the ovaries and the entire circulatory system.
What are the causes of this intimate disease?
Provocateurs of diseases
The main reasons for the development of the disease include heavy pregnancy, regular high-intensity physical activity, a sedentary lifestyle, some gynecological diseases, long-term use of hormonal drugs, dissatisfaction with sex life, etc.Most often, varicose veins of the pelvic veins appear against the background of an increased amount of estrogen.And, of course, remember that excess weight and bad habits do not improve, but only worsen the situation.
How to identify such a disease?
This important symptom
First of all, pelvic varicose veins manifest themselves in pain of varying intensity, which intensifies after or during sexual intercourse, physical activity or prolonged stay in the same position.The disease is also characterized by bleeding, frequent urination, accompanied by pain, swelling, redness of the vulva or perineum, burning or itching in this area.
A few words about treatment
How to get rid of pathological enlargement of pelvic veins?First of all, you need to contact a specialist.He may recommend wearing compression clothing and special gymnastics (these are well-known exercises performed in a lying position - "birch", "scissors" and "bicycle").
Among the folk methods, decoctions of dandelion or chaga root, as well as chestnut tinctures, have proven to be the most effective.
What can be said about another type of varicose veins - pathology of the gastrointestinal tract?
Digestive organs
Varicose veins of the esophagus are not considered a very common disease;most often the disease is a concomitant symptom of some more serious disease.
Why does such a pathology occur and how to determine it?
Briefly about the causes and symptoms
The main reasons for the expansion of the veins of the esophagus are congestion in the vessels of the liver, provoked by thrombosis or cirrhosis.This pathology is most often diagnosed in men, as well as in patients with serious chronic diseases, especially those over the age of fifty.How to identify the disease?
Varicose veins of the esophagus are most often asymptomatic, manifesting in rare attacks of heartburn, heaviness in the abdomen, difficulty swallowing and belching.Sometimes patients can show external signs of a pathological process - protrusion of blood vessels and veins on the front wall of the abdomen (abdominal cavity).
Most often, the disease is diagnosed during a crisis, that is, when the wall of the vein ruptures and hemorrhage occurs.In most cases, bleeding is accompanied by vomiting (with blood), low blood pressure, general weakness, rapid pulse and bloody discharge (or impurities) in the stool.
If such symptoms appear, you should definitely take a blood test and take an X-ray (with the introduction of special contrast solutions).
Treatment of esophageal pathology
Most often, the treatment of this disease is carried out in intensive care.In bleeding conditions, the initial task of doctors is to eliminate it.Astringents, colloid solutions and hemostatic agents can be used for this purpose.In some cases, doctors recommend transfusion of blood or its main components (or blood substitutes).
If the methods listed above do not give results, specialists may consider that surgery or esophageal sclerosis is advisable.After recovery, the patient will have to adhere to a fairly strict diet for the rest of his life.Proper nutrition will include separate meals, avoiding fatty, smoked, salty and fried foods, excluding hot or too cold foods, etc.
Prevention
It is known that the disease is easier to prevent than to treat.What measures should be taken to prevent the occurrence of a pathological process in the veins?
Above all – a healthy lifestyle!A reasonable diet, moderate physical activity, giving up bad habits, wearing comfortable shoes and clothes - all this will help not only to improve your well-being, but also to avoid many serious diseases.Much health to you!