Varicose veins on the legs: symptoms and treatment, causes and consequences

Varicose veins on the legs is a chronic change in the outflow of blood, as a result of the influence of mechanical, toxic, traumatic or other factor.

To better understand the essence of the pathological process, you need to refer to anatomical information.

The lower limbs are supplied with two main ways:

• On arterial branches.They carry blood rich in oxygen, which just provides cells with useful compounds.
• Through the veins.Liquid tissue tolerates carbon dioxide and unnecessary substances for processing, in the reverse movement of blood from structures, the veins are involved.

It should be noted that different types of blood vessels are not connected or reported, the systems are completely closed.

Blood through the veins move strictly in one direction.The muscle layer in these structures is quite weak, all the work falls on special valves.They are like partitions, doors that do not pass the liquid tissue in the opposite direction from the applied.

Against the background of increased venous pressure, injuries, damage and other factors, the valves weaken.Blood moves back, the load on the walls of blood vessels increases.Vienna wear out many times faster.

Under the mechanical effect, the dialing structures change their properties and sizes.Varicosis itself begins.

This disease is characterized by deformations of blood vessels, a decrease in their functional activity, aneurysm -like protrusion of the walls along the entire length.

Varicosis is dangerous in that over time leads to a break in the vein, the formation of blood clots, the death of local fabrics.Treatment should begin immediately, from the moment the pathological process is detected.

A characteristic feature of a disorder is a relatively unhurried progression.The main contingent of patients is men and women over 18 years of age.

Despite the relatively unhurried development, the disease behaves unpredictably.Never to say in advance at what point critical complications will develop.

A doctor who treats the disease is a phlebologist.

Development mechanism

The pathological process is based on heterogeneous factors, if they are generalized and composed of an approximate picture, the options will be as follows:

Mechanical influence

Increased physical activity on the veins of the legs.It is found, for example, with intensive sports.More common options are features of professional activity (builders, teachers, cooks and others suffer), increased body weight, since the load on the legs grows.

There are every chance to overcome the pathological process in time on their own.The main thing is to eliminate the abnormal factor.

Traumatic lesions of the surrounding tissues

Not the veins themselves, but the areas around.Bruises of soft structures, muscles, ligaments, partial and complete fractures.

There are two reasons for the development of varicose veins: compression of blood vessels with changed tissues, and also uneven redistribution of the load on the lower limbs.

Interestingly, the culprits of varicose veins can also be diseases of the musculoskeletal system: arthritis and similar.

Compression of the legs of the legs

This refers to external influence.Violation of blood flow often provoke patients themselves with their own unreasonable actions.

For example, the wearing of tight tights or socks is affected.Especially similar are women who are ready to put in the stake of health in the pursuit of beauty.

When compressing the legs of the region, which lie below the compression site, are subjected to stagnant processes.The venous-lymphatic outflow is significantly disturbed.This leads to rapidly progressive varicose veins.

There are cases when the pathological process began later, years later from negative influence.

Hormonal balance violations

Disorders of the production of substances of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and the pituitary gland are affected.

Change can affect other compounds: hormones of the reproductive system, androgens, estrogens.They partially regulate the tone of large vessels, veins and arteries.

Genetic features

Infused history, according to research, plays almost the main role in the development of the pathological process.This is not a trigger, but a clear premise that increases the probability several times.

Of course, the presence of a relative who suffered from varicose veins is not a guarantee of the development of the pathological process, but the probability is significantly higher.

It is necessary to adhere to the rules of prevention in order to minimize risks.

Hypovitaminosis

For normal work, regeneration of veins, arteries, ascorbic acid is needed.Also, vitamins of group B, E, D. There can be no normal restoration of blood vessels without them.They wear out quickly, lose their former elasticity.

If the state of deficiency lasts long enough, from several months, not to avoid changes from the veins.

The disease develops faster than usual, progression to a pronounced, dangerous stage takes only a few months, a maximum of a couple of years.

Congenital vessel anomalies

Views, as a rule, do not develop in isolation.Other deviations can be found.Therefore, diagnostics are not of problems.

Natural states

Pregnancy, severe birth, features of the hormonal background in adolescence or closer to old age.

There are other mechanisms that are less common.For example, intoxication, exposure to the body of radiation and others.The most common are named.

Varicose veins is a disease that is characterized by a deviation system: vein deformations, the formation of aneurysm, stars, thinning of the internal lining.The influence of a group of pathogenetic factors is possible.

Classification

The methods of the unit relate to the stage of the pathological process, its form.About everything in order.

The technique adopted in medicine distinguishes three degrees of development of the disease:

• Compensated.Symptoms as such are absent, the patient does not make any complaints about health.The pathological process at the very beginning of its development.But there are already visible signs: dilated veins stick out through the thickness of the skin.For several years, the violation will go to a new stage.
• Subcompensation.The clinical signs of varicose vessels are clearly expressed.Among them, you can distinguish pain, severity in the legs, a feeling of running goosebumps, weakness, convulsions at night.After rest, they come to naught.Visible manifestations are also present.You can make a diagnosis without problems.
• Decompensation.In addition to the already mentioned symptoms, additional: numbness of the legs, loss of sensitivity, common skin rash, constant itching and burning areas of the lesion.

  There are real risks of tissue necrosis, thrombosis.The treatment is urgent, otherwise - not to pass the disability.

Standing

There is a generally accepted, international typification of the pathological process in stages (classes):

• 0. Visible symptoms of disorders are minimal.Patients talk about severity in the lower extremities.This phase can last indefinitely.
• 1. Stars form on the surface of the legs, the veins are expanding and become clearly visible.The clinic is the same yet.The maximum - episodes of night seizures develop, which are interrupted as rapidly and suddenly as they began.
• 2. Clinical signs are identical.With a visual assessment of the lower extremities, the doctor reveals visible varicose changes from the veins: they branch, protrude, form complex deformations.
• 3. From this stage, pronounced edema begins.
• 4. Rashes appear, itchy varicose dermatitis.The skin above the surface of the lesion changes the shade to the dark one, significantly compacts and dries.It becomes thin, because any mechanical effect provokes painful, deep combs.
• 5. Small erosions appear.
• 6. Complete trophic ulcers are developing.

For the complete formation of the pathological process, from 0 to the 6th stage, it takes up to several decades.

Symptoms

The clinical picture depends on the phase of the disorder.If you present an average list of manifestations, the list will be as follows:

• Heaviness in the legs.Especially, after a mechanical load, a long -term work day.Walking, standing in one place become problematic.Over time, the symptom only intensifies, which indicates the progression of the violation, and allows you to suspect varicose veins at the very early stage.
• Physical activity intolerance.At first the patient is unable to walk for a long time, then stand.If you start a disorder, it will only get worse.A person will not be able to climb the stairs without long breaks, breaks.This is due to the venous lymphatic stagnation in expanded veins.
• Pain of different intensities.At the initial stage are absent.Then, after a few months or years, the severity of manifestation is growing.Dumb, uncomfortable sensations begin.

  They intensify after physical activity, with a sharp change in body position.By the final stages of the disease, the symptom remains with the patient constantly, does not go away at all.

• Visual changes from the vessels.They look like abnormal branching, the formation of stars on the legs.These manifestations clearly indicate the beginning of varicose vessels.Therefore, diagnostics over time is becoming easier.It remains only to clarify the localization of changes and their degree.
• Swelling.They begin gradually, approximately with the second or third stage of the pathological process.First - by the end of the day.Pass after a night's rest.Then, changes in volume are constantly preserved, do not end at all.As a rule, the signs relate to first, then the other leg.
• Cramps in the dark.Violation of the muscles tone, cramps, is one of the first signs of varicose veins, which is due to the slowdown in the venous lymphatic outflow, tissue trophics and cellular respiration.

  Cramps in the legsThey prevail at night, accompanied by very severe pains.The patient cannot stand on the affected leg during the day, or even several.Gradually, the frequency of spasms becomes only higher.


• Skin itching.An alarm sign of varicose veins, which characterizes gradual dystrophic disorders.At the initial stage of erosion, there are no ulcers yet.But this is a matter of time.
• Changing the shade of the dermis.Hyperpigmentation.The darkening of the surface of the skin.Closer to the final phase of the pathological process, the lower leg acquires a rich raspberry hue.

  A characteristic symptom of varicose veins of the lower extremities is the seal of the skin above the lesion, which is associated with gross scarring of tissues under the surface of the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin.

• The formation of a rash.So -called varicose dermatitis.This is a harbinger of the final stage of the pathological process.Small papules are very itchy, they do not allow the patient to live normally.Complications are possible, secondary infection of wound surfaces.
• Trophic ulcers.A clinical sign, which is characterized by the formation of large erosion, foci of tissue decay.First - superficial, then fat fiber.And there is not far from necrosis.Therefore, you cannot pull with treatment.

Symptoms of varicose veins are caused by impaired tissue trophics, venous-lymphatic outflow disorders, epidermal destruction, and subcutaneous fat.

Clinical signs progress slowly, because there is every chance to start timely treatment.The patient's task is not to miss an important point.

Profile specialists who need to contact - phlebologist, dermatologist, hematologist.

Reasons

Varicosis develops as a result of a combination of factors or the influence of one, but a very intense provocateur.

There are several options:

• Physical activity.Long walking, standing still.Usually, such a moment is associated with the features of professional activity, lifestyle.
• Injuries.Fractures, full or partial.Also bruises, damage to the soft tissues.
• Hypovitaminosis.The lack of substances of the group B, E, D, ascorbic acid.
• Genetic factors.Hereditary moments, burdened family history.The likelihood of a pathological process increases, but there is no guarantee that the disease will begin.
• Myosites against the background of hypothermia, physical overload.
• Arthritis.Joint inflammation.
• Hormonal imbalance.Lack or excess joints of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, pituitary gland.
• Flebitis of the vessels of the legs.The cause of varicose veins in inflammation of the veins of an infectious or nonpetic nature.
• Vasculitis of the vessels of the lower extremities.Autoimmune lesions.
• Pregnancy.Since the hormonal background changes and the load on the legs, the entire musculoskeletal system, grows.
• Perthetic period.Up to about 17-20 years.
• Menopausa (Andropauza).Klimax.The gradual attenuation of reproductive function.

The causes of varicose veins can be traumatic, inflammatory, degenerative, dystrophic.

Diagnostics

Flebologists are engaged in examination.Only then, if necessary, other specialists are connected.Among the methods:

• Oral survey.The doctor must understand what complaints the patient himself makes.
• Hang -up collection.The study of the likely origin of the problem.
• Visual assessment of the state of the legs.On the grounds, there is an opportunity to study the nature of the pathological process, its features.
• Palpation.Physical technique.
• Uzdg.Dopplerography of the vessels of the legs.Allows you to detect anatomical changes from the lower extremities, deviations of blood flow velocity.Used as the main methodology.It makes it possible to quickly make a diagnosis and study the degree of disorder.
• X -ray.If there is such a need.
• In especially difficult cases, the doctor prescribes an MRI.

The development of varicose veins on the legs is a sufficient, visually characteristic sign of expansion of the veins of the lower extremities, it can be diagnosed on it.Next, it remains to determine the severity of the pathology.

Treatment

Therapy in the initial stages is conservative.In total, three approaches to correction can be distinguished.

Medication.It involves a systematic administration of drugs.Means are prescribed that stimulate microcirculation, blood flow, valves, protect the vessels from further tissue destruction.

Among groups of funds:

• Venotonics.
• Angioprotectors.
• Vitamins, antioxidants.

In addition, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, massage are actively prescribed, wearing compression knitwear is shown.

A conservative technique is used in the initial stages of the disease or for auxiliary correction in the leading other method.

A minimally invasive approach.Treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities involves the destruction of the affected vessels using a special sclerosing drug, liquid nitrogen.

The methodology of sclerotherapy, or radio frequency ablation is used in pronounced, but not critical stages of the disease.

Surgical approach.Treatment of varicose veins on the legs requires the use of laser, electric currents or direct excision of the affected vessels - phlebectomy.

The doctor removes the half structure, sews end healthy areas, forming anastomosis.Very soon the blood flow is restored.

There are several operational techniques.The choice remains with the doctor.

Forecast

Varicose veins on the legs are completely cured in the first three stages, then there are risks of complications, irreversible changes in the tissues of the legs: ulcers, atrophy of muscles and others.Although survival is still almost 100%.

Against the background of necrosis, common erosion, sepsis, the probability of death increases ten times.

In general, the disease is well treated.

Prevention

Preventive measures are very simple, the main thing is to strictly adhere to them:

• Divids.Every hour or two you need to crush.Especially with a sitting/standing lifestyle.
• Wearing comfortable shoes, socks, tights.Preferably from natural materials.
• Using compression knitwear.
• Light physical activity.Swimming, running.The main thing is not to overwhelm.
• Proper nutrition.More vitaminized products.
• Optimal drinking mode.1.5-2 liters per day.

The lack of fluid affects negatively, the blood thickens, moves worse through the vessels, the pressure in the venous network increases.

Consequences

Complications can be deadly.Among the options:

• Muscle dystrophy.
• Paresis.Partial loss of sensitivity
• The formation of ulcers with the probability of secondary infection.
• Fabric necrosis.Gangrene.Especially with the defeat of deep veins.
• Bombosis of the vessels of the legs, thrombophlebitis.
• Sepsis.Blood poisoning.
• Disability.

Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a pathological change in the shape, structure, elasticity of the vessels of the legs (and not only) with the loss of muscle functions.

The disease develops slowly, but without quality treatment, the outcome will be deplorable.