Many people think that varicose veins in the legs are just an unwanted cosmetic manifestation. However, over time, it becomes clear that varicose veins is a serious disease associated with pathological distortion of the venous vessels.
As a result, the tone of the vein walls weakens, and the tissues do not receive the necessary blood supply due to the loss of good flow pressure. Knowing how dangerous varicose veins on the legs in women are, it is worth preventing the disease or starting its treatment at the very beginning.
Features of the development of varicose veins
The disease develops more often in the lower extremities. Moreover, women suffer more from varicose veins than men. Therefore, the fair sex should especially be alerted by the first signs and symptoms of the disease - the appeared vascular "asterisks". Such signs cannot be ignored, but it is imperative to consult a doctor to prescribe conservative treatment.
Otherwise, the following may appear in the future:
- feeling of heaviness, itching and pain in the legs,
- cramps and numbness at night and in the morning,
- peeling and spots on the skin,
- muscle pain while walking and on palpation of superficial veins,
- venous nodules on the legs, feet, ankles.
Important!With advanced stages of vein disease, radical methods of stopping the development of varicose veins will be required, up to surgical intervention.
Why varicose veins in women appear more often
According to statistics, varicose veins of the lower extremities are diagnosed in eighty-nine percent of the fair sex versus sixty-six percent in men. This is due to the natural structure of the female body and those main functions, the implementation of which is assigned to it. And this is the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the onset of menopause, carrying and feeding a child, when hormonal changes in the body take place.
Other causes of female varicose veins include:
- love of high heels in shoes,
- pathology of the thyroid gland - women are more frequent than men,
- type 2 diabetes mellitus, more commonly diagnosed in women,
- female professions "on their feet" salespeople, waitresses, teachers, educators.
Not insured against varicose veins and those women who use hormonal drugs.
The risk of developing varicose veins is among fans of frequent sitting in a hot bath, being in a bath / sauna.
It is worth paying close attention to the condition of the veins on the legs of those who are overweight, cannot imagine their life without smoking, alcohol, immense consumption of fatty, salty and spicy foods.
Important!In women, varicose veins are mostly formed during pregnancy and postpartum recovery and progresses at an accelerated pace up to the 2-3rd stage.
What complications can there be?
Understanding the danger of varicose veins on the legs and why it is better not to start it, but to cure it right away, women who have discovered symptoms of varicose veins should visit a phlebologist. The specialist will talk about the consequences of the disease if it is not treated, and will prescribe therapy.
- The threat of varicose veins on the female legs leads to insufficient venous circulation. This has an unsatisfactory effect on the activity of the entire circulatory system, which directly affects the favorable course of pregnancy.
- A common occurrence in pregnant women is the formation of hemorrhoids. Such varicose veins in the anus, and this is hemorrhoids, frightens with bleeding and malignant modifications of varicose tissue.
- The disease develops faster in women than in men. As a result, the fair sex is previously faced with the consequences of varicose veins.
- If left untreated, varicose veins of the cervix and uterine body may occur during pregnancy. This manifests itself at the end of the 2nd trimester with pain in the lower back and lower abdomen. And if there is already an assumption about the presence of varicose veins, then before planning pregnancy, the vessels of the pelvic organs should be examined.
Most of the patients come to the doctor with complaints of pain and swelling of the legs. Such symptoms are characteristic of the 2nd stage of varicose veins.
And this is what varicose veins on the legs lead to, if you ignore the prevention and treatment of the disease:
- At the 1st stage, women are concerned about the non-aesthetic appearance of their legs and hide defects under trousers and long skirts.
- At the 2nd stage, an inflammatory process develops, causing stagnation of blood in the veins. This leads to the appearance of knots and pains - quite rare and not too severe.
- At the 3rd stage, swelling and heaviness in the legs appear, the skin on the ankles darkens. Skin inflammation, eczema, thrombophlebitis of subcutaneous vascular filaments, deep vein thrombosis are also possible. The danger of the latter is in the unpredictable separation of a blood clot, which, once in the heart or pulmonary artery, threatens a woman's life.
- At the 4th stage, varicose trophic ulcers are formed, which give, along with bleeding and wounds, intolerable pain.
Important!To avoid complications from varicose veins, you should adhere to the treatment tactics developed by the doctor.
Treatment methods
Treatment of a formidable disease must be carried out at any stage. Early examination and detection of the disease entail faster and easier relief. The neglect of varicose veins will require persistent and long-term therapy (conservative or surgical), as well as spending money.
The phlebologist's professional awareness of the dangers of varicose veins provides options for dealing with it:
- medicinal methods using venotonic drugs in the form of tablets, gels,
- bandage technique using compression knitwear, and these are leggings, knee-highs, stockings, tights (at home they are replaced with elastic bandages,
- hardware procedures using household appliances.
In a duel with the enemy, you should include the following home options:
- contrast shower, the stream of which is directed from bottom to top (you need to start with warm water and end with cool water)
- special diet restricting animal products,
- Refusal of high heels and wearing orthopedic shoes - especially indicated in the presence of flat feet.
Conclusion
Varicose veins of the female legs should be controlled. And if you cannot avoid the disease, at the first signs you need to start treatment in order to prevent the development of serious complications (trophic ulcer, acute thrombophlebitis, bleeding of varicose veins and others).