Today, such a disease as varicose veins is the most common.As a rule, a sedentary lifestyle leads to the development of the disease, and a late response to body signals leads to quite serious consequences, which in turn is harmful to health.In this article we will consider such a topic as varicose veins on the legs, photos, the initial stage and how to treat them.I would like to note that varicose veins is a disease characterized by stagnation of blood in the blood vessels of the lower extremities, which causes swelling of the peripheral veins.Swollen vessels have a dark blue color; in the absence of adequate treatment, they acquire a purple tint, the formation of blood clots and ulcers begins, and severe pain appears.
Symptoms of the disease at the initial stage of development
Varicose veins of the legs are a rather insidious disease - this is explained by the fact that this disease is very difficult to diagnose at the initial stage of development.The symptoms of the disease are similar to many other diseases, such as osteochondrosis or flat feet.Often, patients with varicose veins seek professional medical help when sufficient swelling and pain in the limbs appears.
However, there are several common symptoms, if you notice them, you should immediately contact a specialist to find out the cause of the ailment and find out what varicose veins on the legs are, photos, the initial stage and how to treat them.The initial symptoms of the disease include an increase in the venous pattern, however, as a rule, in this case, swelling, pain and swelling of blood vessels are not observed.
Let's look at the most obvious symptoms indicating the presence of a disease such as varicose veins:
- the appearance of pain in the legs, which can appear at any time; such symptoms are also often accompanied by itching and cramps of the limbs during sleep;
- the appearance of a feeling of fatigue and swelling in the legs;
- the skin changes color, the skin in problem areas acquires a bluish tint and becomes drier;
- bulging veins above the surface of the skin and the appearance of characteristic spider veins.
Why are varicose veins dangerous?
Note that, as mentioned above, such a topic as varicose veins on the legs, photo, initial stage, how to treat, is very relevant for many.This is explained by the fact that varicose veins are a rather dangerous disease and a cosmetic defect in the form of swollen veins is just the tip of the iceberg.The disease can lead to quite serious complications, so treatment of dilated veins is mandatory!
As you can see in the photo of the initial stage of the disease, its characteristic symptomatology is bloating of the veins, which is far from harmless; we list the ailments that can be caused by varicose veins.
- Phlebitis– this disease implies the onset of an inflammatory process in the venous walls.As a rule, patients with phlebitis constantly feel a fairly strong aching pain.In addition, painful lumps appear in the affected area.
- Thrombophlebitis– the disease is characterized by the formation of blood clots in inflamed and dilated veins.Note that thrombophlebitis occurs due to the lack of adequate treatment for phlebitis.In addition to pain in the limbs, the patient feels general weakness and loses appetite.
- Trophic ulcers- this is another complication of varicose veins, which manifests itself due to lack of nutrition of the epidermis, which leads to the appearance of dermatitis, the consequence of which is trophic ulcers that are difficult to heal.
Medicines for varicose veins
Ointments
Today, the pharmaceutical market offers a wide selection of drugs for the treatment of diseases involving varicose veins, and ointments for varicose veins deserve special attention.
Anticoagulants.These drugs are the most popular for the treatment of varicose veins.The main task of the ointment is a complex effect, which helps to reduce blood viscosity, resolve existing blood clots, reduce the inflammatory process, and reduce pain symptoms.The drugs provide the maximum positive effect when used at the initial stage of the disease, improving blood circulation and strengthening the walls of blood vessels.
Ointments based on heparin sodium prevent the formation of blood clots and reduce blood clotting.
Venotonics help effectively cope with the symptoms of varicose veins, strengthening blood vessels and inhibiting inflammatory processes.
Creams
Creams for varicose veins are as effective as ointments due to the active ingredients they contain, which can effectively combat the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.
Creams based on ketoprofen actively suppress inflammatory processes in the vessels of the lower extremities.These drugs belong to the non-steroidal group, which indicates their effectiveness in relieving swelling and eliminating pain.
Creams based on natural ingredients that effectively help get rid of varicose veins.The advantage of the cream is that it does not have any negative effect on the patient with varicose veins.
Creams based on rutin effectively act at the cellular level, thereby quickly suppressing the inflammatory process.The drug has an anti-edematous effect, improves vascular tone, regulates intravenous pressure, and also quickly eliminates pain.
Pills
The main effect of tablets based on bioflavonoids is to increase vascular properties such as elasticity and tone, which in turn improves blood circulation and prevents the formation of blood clots.By taking these drugs, the phenomenon of venous congestion and permeability of venous vessels is eliminated.
Effective folk remedies for varicose veins
Cabbage.Our ancestors also used a variety of folk remedies to treat such ailments as varicose veins.One of them is treatment with cabbage leaves.The effectiveness of this vegetable lies in the fact that cabbage can quickly relieve inflammatory processes due to the vitamins and microelements it contains.As a rule, white cabbage leaves are used in the form of compresses to treat varicose veins.In order to make a medicinal compress, you will need a cabbage leaf, which must first be thoroughly beaten.After this, one side of the sheet is smeared with vegetable oil and applied to the inflamed area for a day (secured with a bandage).The course of treatment is 1 month.
Ginger.This plant, used in cooking, can be used to treat varicose veins as an external or internal medicine.Ginger tea will help you cope with almost any disease at any stage of its development, including varicose veins.You can also make ginger compresses.To do this, you need to grate a piece of ginger root, mix it with natural honey and apply it to the sore area for 3-4 hours.
Kalina.Like ginger, viburnum can be used to treat varicose veins, both as a fortified drink and as an effective compress.To prepare a compress, berries should be ground to a mushy state, placed on a prepared bandage or gauze and applied to the problem area.It is best to do this compress at night.
The initial stage of varicose veins - the first symptoms
Today, varicose veins are one of the most common dangerous diseases among both women and men.According to WHO statistics, varicose veins of the lower extremities can lead to death from thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers and cancer tumors associated with them.
Each patient needs to know about the causes, symptoms and stages of development of the disease in order to prevent the serious consequences of this pathology.
Causes and stages of development
Varicose veins occur as a result of pathologies of the venous walls and a malfunction of the venous valves, the task of which is to carry blood enriched with carbon dioxide from the lower extremities to the lungs for gas exchange.
As a result of improper blood flow and valve dysfunction, blood accumulates in the vessels, increasing pressure in the veins in the legs, which leads to bulging of the weak vein wall.This is how varicose veins develop.
There are a number of factors that can cause the disease.These include:
- Heredity.
- Obesity.
- Having bad habits.
- Pregnancy.
- Taking hormonal drugs for a long time.
- Cardiovascular diseases leading to blood thickening.
- A sedentary lifestyle, which causes blood stagnation.
- Professions that require long periods of standing.
- Walking in high heels.
Under the influence of these factors, leg disease develops, which occurs in several stages.Each of them is characterized by special clinical manifestations.In total, in medical practice there are 4 stages of varicose veins:
- varicose veins at the initial stage, shown in the photo above, passesvirtually no symptoms.A person only has a predominant feeling of heaviness in the legs, slight swelling and pain.Small spider veins begin to appear on the skin of the thighs and legs;
- varicose veins 1st degree, which is also shown in the photo, is characterized by frequent cramps of the calf muscles, a burning sensation spreading from the lower leg to the sole of the foot, as well as swelling of the ankles;
- for second degreecharacterized by an abundance of spider veins, severe swelling, constant pain in the legs, the area of bulging veins increases;
- third degreeindicates involvement of the skin in the disease process: it becomes flaky, thin, often pigmented around the ankle.The risk of thrombosis is very high, becausethe veins are greatly enlarged and dilated.The patient, in addition to pain, is haunted by a constant burning sensation, eczema and dermatitis on the skin of the lower extremities; when the skin is injured, deep ulcers form.
IMPORTANT!If treatment is not started in the early stages, then the disease is very difficult to treat conservatively in the future and poses a mortal danger to the patient!
The first symptoms of varicose veins
The first symptoms of varicose veins on the legs are difficult to diagnose.For some time the patient confuses them with fatigue and muscle strain.If you experience such sensations, especially if there was no serious stress on your legs before, you should contact a specialist, becausethe disease can be cured at an early stage,without resorting to surgery and grueling procedures.Phlebologists and surgeons treat varicose veins.
The first signs of varicose veins are indicated by the following symptoms:
- Constant heaviness in the legs.This is due to poor circulation in the legs due to dysfunction of the venous valves.Because of this, the pressure in the vein increases sharply, it stretches even more and causes pain.
- Swelling of the lower extremities.The symptom manifests itself as a result of a heavy load on the venous system.If swelling is accompanied by pain in the vein area and redness of the skin above it, we may be talking about developing thrombophlebitis - an extremely dangerous complication of varicose veins.
- Increasing calf girthup to 1 cm in the evening is associated with edema.
- Painful sensationsworsen with exercise and go away by the next morning.
- The appearance of spider veinson the legs and thighs.Some patients consider them a cosmetic defect.Their appearance indicates the pathology of a large varicose vein that feeds them.Only ultrasound diagnostics can confirm or refute this.
- Presence of prominent veins.
At first, the first signs of varicose veins on the legs quickly disappear if you let your legs rest in a comfortable position.Howeverthis should alert the patient, because it is a sure symptom of an incipient disease.
Then the patient may experience a burning sensation in the veins.If you do not pay proper attention to these symptoms, the patient may experience cramps in the calf muscles at night and fatigue in the legs below the knees.
ATTENTION!The symptoms of early varicose veins are similar to other diseases - flat feet and lumbar osteochondrosis.This is why it is so important to consult a phlebologist to rule out other diagnoses and start treatment in a timely manner!
Diagnosis and treatment
As a rule, varicose veins at the initial stage, which is illustrated in the photo,is painless.A patient, and according to statistics, women suffer from varicose veins twice as often as men, seeks help from a doctor regarding vascular network.The doctor conducts an examination and prescribes the necessary studies to assess the degree of venous circulation impairment.
For this purpose, a general blood test may be prescribed., which will show the presence or absence of thrombocytopenia, a biochemical blood test to detect liver problems, as well as vascular ultrasound.
It shows pathologies of the vascular wall.If the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is sent for X-ray venography, with the help of which the location of the vein lesion is determined.
After research, the doctor prescribes treatment that can prevent the transition of the initial stage of varicose veins to subsequent ones.
For this purpose, the underlying disease is treated– endocrine, cardiovascular, etc. Then risk factors are eliminated, only then the patient is offered to change their lifestyle, diet, and give up bad habits.
Drug treatment at the early stage of varicose veinsnot provided.Experts believe that it is enough to usecompression garments - either special stockings and tights, or elastic bandages, which must be applied to the legs when waking up and worn throughout the day.This therapy can evenly distribute the load on the legs and improve blood circulation.
Forms of the disease
The type of vascular insufficiency depends on the veins affected by the disease, the extent of the process and its location.There are varicose veins:
- reticular (finely vascular);
- segmental (focal);
- perforating (damage to the connecting veins);
- main (pathology of a small or large vein under the skin).
Each type of varicose veins has characteristic features in terms of external manifestations.The presence of complications depends on the stage of the disease.
Reticular form
Of all the known types of varicose veins, this is the easiest.The disease predominantly affects women's legs; men are rarely affected by this pathology.
In the photo of varicose veins in the initial stage, the reticular shape can be determined only by the strengthening of the vascular pattern.This is a bluish mesh of small venous fragments with a diameter of no more than 3 mm.More often it is localized on the thighs in the area of the lateral surfaces.First, several fragments similar to asterisks appear, then larger areas are affected.
This form of varicose veins is often called cosmetic; it is not dangerous to the blood flow, but causes aesthetic discomfort for women.Reticular varicose veins of the legs can cause:
This form is most treatable.One of the most effective methods of treating such varicose veins is microscopic sclerotherapy.It is not dangerous and painless.But often patients do not consider the manifestations of spider veins to be a serious reason for visiting a phlebologist.In this case, the disease becomes a chronic pathology.It can cause bleeding from superficial vessels.
The reticular form of varicose veins requires mandatory medical consultation.This will prevent complications from occurring.
Segmental form
This type of varicose veins can appear in the early stages of the disease.In the segmental form, larger vessels with a diameter of 3 mm or more are affected.But the disease is focal in nature, only one or several tributary veins lose their tone.This type of pathology is characterized by the absence of reverse blood flow, which facilitates therapy.
If you look at a photo of varicose veins on the legs in a segmental form, you can see swollen branches from the main vein on the lower leg.These are the tributary vessels.
Treatment of the disease is conservative.In case of late presentation and formation of tributary nodes, miniphlebectomy can be used.Segmental varicose veins are localized in the anteromedial and posterior surface of the leg and in the popliteal fossa.
Magistralnaya
This pathology affects large and small main veins.The large one suffers several times more often than the small one.In the photo of varicose veins on the legs, the protrusion of the main vessels in the lower leg, lateral thighs and feet is clearly visible.The vascular wall of the legs is tense and nodular formations are noticeable.
The disease occurs with characteristic symptoms of chronic circulatory failure.Due to damage to the vascular valves, reflux occurs.Normally, blood moves in one direction.If the valves are insufficient, they do not close completely, and the vessels are overloaded.For this reason, the veins stretch and lose their elasticity.
Main varicose veins require serious treatment.Minor surgical intervention and conservative methods are more often used.
In the absence of adequate therapy, main varicose veins in the legs are complicated by thrombophlebitis and thrombosis.
Perforated form
There are deep and saphenous veins in the legs.They are connected to each other by vessels called perforators.
These are no less important veins than the main ones.Their defeat leads to circulatory failure in the legs.The blood is not directed into the bloodstream in full.This contributes to stagnation and thrombus formation.
- a picture of varicose veins on the legs with damage to perforating veins clearly shows the presence of swollen vessels;
- bumps and bruises are noticeable in places;the skin becomes darker;
- Rash and scratching may occur.
The localization of this form is varied and depends on the location of the affected vein.These are the legs, thighs, and ankles.Sometimes the vessels bulge even in the area of the Achilles tendon and under the knee.Treatment is often surgical, but for single lesions minimally invasive methods are possible.
Stages of varicose veins of the legs
Phlebologists around the world annually hold forums and seminars dedicated to varicose veins.The types and forms of the disease are constantly changing.Experts describe the stages of varicose veins in the legs differently.Their number is constantly changing.The latest approved classification contains seven degrees:
- First or zero.Does not show external signs.Patients complain only of heaviness, fatigue and swelling.Sometimes the occasional occurrence of seizures can be annoying.
- Second.In the photo of the second stage, you can clearly see the vascular network in the area of the popliteal cups and thighs.The symptoms do not change.
- Third.Protrusions of blood vessels are clearly visible, especially during exercise or in a sitting position.In addition to the veins, you can see blue nodules on the legs.Patients feel pain and tension.
- Fourth.The appearance of edema is added to the swollen veins.By the evening, your feet become full, and in the morning everything returns to normal.Swelling may cause a feeling of numbness or tingling in the legs.
- Fifth.Metabolic processes are disrupted.There is not enough nutrition for the tissues, and trophic changes form on the skin.They can be in the form of dry plaques, redness and scratching.The skin around the veins becomes darker.Thrombophlebitis may develop.
- Sixth.The photo of this stage is different from the others.It shows pronounced trophic ulcers in the area of the veins of the lower extremities.As a result of massive treatment, wounds heal by primary intention.
- Seventh.Last stage.In other classifications it is called decompensatory.The most negative outcome of the disease.Non-healing ulcers form on the legs.They can get wet and fester.This degree requires urgent inpatient treatment.It can be complicated by sepsis and thromboembolism.
Types of varicose veins on the legs, complicated by a violation of the integrity of the skin and the addition of a secondary infection, can threaten the patient’s life.
There is another classification, which provides for three stages of varicose veins:
- Compensatory.It manifests itself only with local symptoms (pain, cramps, heaviness).No external changes in blood vessels are observed.
- Subcompensatory.External signs of moderate varicose veins develop.Spider veins and signs of segmental lesions appear.
- Decompensation.Severe consequences of chronic venous insufficiency.Trophic lesions, ulcers and thrombosis.
General characteristics and causes of varicose veins
In a healthy person, venous blood rises from the legs to the heart under the influence of pressure, which in a normal state is quite sufficient to overcome gravity.When this mechanism is disrupted, the body is forced to increase pressure to push blood upward.
As a result of this process, valve insufficiency occurs, which is characterized by the flow of blood into the superficial veins from the deep ones.As the pressure inside the vessels is increased, their walls lose elasticity, stretch and deplete, which leads to the formation of visible bluish subcutaneous nodules.
Causes of development of varicose veins of the lower extremities:
- Increased levels of progesterone in a woman’s body.This hormone has a negative effect on the condition of the vein walls and valves, making them weak and unprotected.
- Congenital pathologies of valves or vein walls, lack of connective tissue, poor patency of deep veins, genetic predisposition.
- Neoplasms located on the legs, in the abdominal area.
- Injuries of the lower extremities.
- Diseases of the endocrine system.
- Thrombophlebitis.
- Joint diseases - osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
- Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives.
- A sedentary lifestyle, which often leads to congestion in the legs.
- Increased intra-abdominal pressure.It usually occurs with lung diseases or frequent constipation.
- Overweight.
- Wearing tight clothes and shoes.
- The presence in the diet of a large amount of high-calorie and fatty foods, lack of fiber of plant origin.
- Smoking, frequent alcohol consumption.
During pregnancy, ARVNK occurs especially often, since during this period there areglobal changes in hormonal levels, as well as increased body weight.
Men suffer from this disease if theylifestyle associated with heavy physical labor, or long periods of standing - machine operators, loaders, etc.Varicose veins of the legs can also occur as a result of certain sports activities.
Varicose veins require immediate treatment, the absence of which can lead to serious consequences: the development of thrombophlebitis, bleeding from the venous nodes and a trophic ulcer that can provoke leg amputation.