My legs often swell.At the end of the day it feels like there are weights hanging on it.I have cramps at night.
These symptoms usually begin with varicose veins - a condition in which the diameter of blood vessels increases and blood circulation worsens.Why does it happen?People rarely think about how blood moves through the vessels.It appears to flow freely from the heart to the organs and back.Unhindered.Because of the high pressure, blood actually flows quickly through the arteries.Things are different with veins.
Through these vessels, blood rises from the extremities to the heart, resembling swimming against the current.Gravity disrupts blood circulation.Therefore, the vessels have special valves that hold back the blood and prevent it from flowing downwards.
Sometimes the valve system fails and becomes damaged or weakened.The valves allow too much blood to flow downward, which pools and puts pressure on the vein walls and gradually dilates the vessels.Veins also swell for other reasons.For example, if the vein wall is damaged, it cannot withstand blood pressure and expands.
Doctors distinguish between different types of varicose veins on the legs:
- Not safe varicose veins- Enlargement of superficial vessels that do not belong to the large or small saphenous vein system;
- Reticular varicose veins- Swelling of the small saphenous veins;
- Spider veins or telangiectasia- Expansion of intradermal veins.
At first, any type of varicose veins may seem like a minor problem because it causes minor physical and cosmetic discomfort.Feeling of heaviness in the legs, pain, swelling.Blue or red vein patterns on the surface of the skin.Sounds harmless.However, without treatment, the disease inevitably progresses - sometimes over months, sometimes over decades.Complications arise:
- Venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism
The blood flow to dilated vessels is impaired.Blood clots often form - blood clots that block the veins, occasionally breaking off and traveling to the heart and lungs.If they block blood flow to vital organs, it can even lead to death.
- Trophic ulcers
Non-healing wounds near dilated vessels.Varicose veins disrupt the metabolism in the surrounding tissue, causing part of the skin to die.It is very difficult to cure such ulcers because they often recur after treatment.They heal and become infected again.
- Bleeding
Individual superficial varicose veins rupture and light bleeding occurs.
You can easily prevent complications from varicose veins - just go to a phlebologist at the first signs of the disease.Be especially careful if you are at risk.
Risk factors
Not all people are equally susceptible to varicose veins.Some people get sick often, others never.The main role in the development of the disease is played by the hereditary weakness of the venous valves, which are often damaged by external factors.
People with this defect do not become ill immediately.Some lucky people live for decades and have no vein problems.Other people with a weakened valve system have to struggle with varicose veins throughout their lives.
Risk factors hinder them:
- Old
Research shows that the likelihood of varicose veins increases with age.As we age, venous valves become damaged and loosen.New ones don't grow.The fewer valves there are, the more blood is retained in the vessels.
- Gender
Women suffer from varicose veins more often than men.A hormonal imbalance is to blame.Hormones relax the vein walls and increase the risk of vasodilatation.All hormonal medications, such as contraceptives, make the veins more vulnerable.
- pregnancy
Another bad news for women.Pregnancy is not only an opportunity to become a mother, but also a great strain on the body.The amount of blood increases.The pressure on the vein walls increases and they often expand.
- obesity
Overweight people have similar problems to pregnant women.There is a lot of blood in the body.The larger the blood volume, the more pressure it exerts on the walls of the blood vessels.Many obese patients move little.This factor also increases the likelihood of varicose veins and circulatory problems.
- Long immobility
The blood in the veins flows to the heart not only through the valves, but also through the movement of the muscles.They contract and push the blood upwards.When people stand or sit motionless for long periods of time, their muscles do not work.This often leads to stagnation in the vessels.
Some risk factors such as age and gender always threaten people like the blade of a guillotine.The influence of other factors can be reduced.
To reduce the risk of varicose veins, doctors recommend:
- Do exercises daily;
- Monitor your weight and fight obesity;
- Do not wear tight clothing or shoes that restrict blood circulation.
- Change your position regularly when sitting or standing for long periods of time.
These tips will at least help delay the joyless moment of acquaintance with swollen veins.Think about the symptoms of the disease.Knowing them will help you see a doctor in time.
Portrait of varicose veins.Signs of illness
Varicose veins affect hundreds of millions of people around the world, and every year this club is replenished with new members.Why?
Because the symptoms of the disease do not appear to be dangerous.For many patients, varicose veins do not cause any symptoms, as only external signs appear:
- Purple or blue veins on the surface of the skin;
- Twisted and swollen vessels, like cords.
It sounds unpleasant, but as long as the symptoms remain hidden under clothing, they tend to be ignored.At least for a while.It is much more difficult to close your eyes to signs of illness when:
- pain and heaviness in the legs;
- itching around diseased vessels;
- burning, swelling and cramps in the lower leg;
- Severe pain when moving after prolonged immobility;
- Change in skin color near the varicose vein.
The symptoms are not constant.Sometimes they get worse, sometimes they subside.In summer, the signs of varicose veins usually manifest themselves in full force, and in winter the disease does not bother patients so much.However, this is no reason to avoid visiting the doctor.All types of varicose veins on the legs are just the tip of the iceberg.Real problems begin with complications that not only cause discomfort but also directly endanger the patient's life.We recommend seeing a phlebologist at the first signs of varicose veins.In its early stages, the disease is easy to treat.Even without surgery.Prompt treatment has other benefits.You don't have to worry about the cosmetic discomfort of visible bulging veins.And you don't have to worry about complications that often lead to hospitalization.They attack in the later stages of the disease.
Deadly progress.Stages of varicose veins
There are many classifications of varicose veins worldwide.We will talk about two classifications.
Let's start with the elders.
- First stage or compensation
Small spider veins form on the legs and thighs, which are accompanied by swelling and a feeling of heaviness.Blood circulation is not affected.
- Second stage or undercompensation
Vessels in different parts of the legs expand - not only the superficial, but also the connecting veins are affected.Constant swelling, dilated blood vessels protruding above the surface of the skin.Diagnostics shows a weakening of the venous valves.
- Third stage or decompensation
All signs of blood congestion in the veins appear: heaviness in the legs, swelling, fatigue, pain, cramps, itchy skin.Comprehensive spectrum of trophic skin diseases.Even trophic ulcers form.
The second classification is more extensive and consists of seven levels.It's called CEAP.Each letter in this acronym represents a characteristic of the disease:
- C – clinical stage;
- E – cause of varicose veins;
- A – Anatomy of the lesion;
- P – Pathophysiology.
Accordingly, each stage of the disease has its own characteristics.
Level 0
The most unusual stage in the development of the disease.In fact, doctors cannot prove that the patient is really sick.There are no external signs of varicose veins and they cannot be detected even with the help of ultrasound diagnostics.However, symptoms still occur.In the initial stages of varicose veins, the patient is bothered by swelling, heaviness in the legs and night cramps, which do not always indicate problems with blood vessels.Therefore, it is impossible to diagnose the disease at this stage.
Stage 1
Spider veins with a diameter of less than 1 mm are clearly visible on the skin, reticulated veins sometimes expand to a diameter of 3 mm.In rare cases, external symptoms include swelling, night cramps and pain.Not all doctors recognize the first stage of varicose veins as true varicose veins, since spider veins do not always form due to problems with the venous valves.
Stage 2
From the second stage of varicose veins, varicose veins with a diameter of 3 mm appear.Sometimes more.Blue nodules of dilated vessels are clearly visible on the skin.They can increase and disappear.Veins become particularly noticeable when you work at a computer for a long time and wear uncomfortable, tight shoes with high heels.Patients often experience blood clots.
Stage 3
All symptoms characteristic of earlier stages of the disease appear.Varicose veins develop.Now the swelling in the legs doesn't go away.The skin of diseased vessels swells particularly strongly in the evening, but wearing shoes and tight clothing during the day is also not very comfortable.The third stage of varicose veins seems to indicate that the skin problems will only get worse in the future.
Stage 4
The nutrition of the tissues near varicose veins is disrupted.They do not receive the necessary substances, which leads to trophic changes:
- lipodermatosclerosis;
- Eczema;
- Darkening or discoloration of the skin.
The fourth stage of varicose veins is characterized by radical changes in skin color.Large amounts of pigment accumulate in the skin, which can result in a dark brown or black discoloration or vice versa.The pigment does not reach the skin and atrophies - it turns a painful white color.Certain areas of the legs don't just change color.They also become inflamed.Small red spots or large weeping lesions form on the skin.Without treatment, these symptoms constantly worsen and cause trophic ulcers.
Level 5
Signs of earlier stages of the disease remain, and trophic ulcers also form that heal quickly.However, it is still too early to be happy.Until the disease is cured, new ulcers will appear.The fifth stage of varicose veins is one of the most serious.Pain in the legs, twisted, swollen veins and other symptoms bother the patient around the clock.
Level 6
The trophic ulcer no longer heals.Now an ugly wound constantly protrudes on the body of a patient with varicose veins.This is no longer just a cosmetic defect, but rather complete tissue death, which is accompanied by fever, pain and purulent discharge.It is extremely difficult to get rid of it.To restore health from the sixth stage of varicose veins, long-term treatment is required.Without eliminating the disease, the ulcer will not disappear forever.There are many cases where doctors used the right therapy, but the ulcer kept coming back.
The phlebologist's trump cards are up his sleeve.Treatment methods for varicose veins
After the diagnosis, the phlebologist not only determines the stage of the disease, but also selects a treatment method.Patients with early stage varicose veins do not require surgery.Conservative treatment is used.The doctor prescribes compression stockings, medication and recommends special exercises.This eliminates the symptoms of varicose veins.The development of the disease is stopped and complications are prevented.In severe cases, such methods no longer help and the phlebologist uses trump cards - modern, less traumatic methods of treating varicose veins.
Microsclerotherapy
- Notes
The procedure is prescribed against spider veins.The term refers to thin vessels on the surface of the skin that are usually red or blue.Microsclerotherapy does not eliminate large varicose veins, only cosmetic defects.
- Progress of the procedure
The doctor injects sclerosant into the dilated vessels using a needle with a diameter of up to 0.3 mm.This substance destroys the inner walls of the veins, causing the vessels to stick together and disappear.Skin symptoms also disappear.
- Advantages
The procedure shows excellent results – it removes up to 98% of manifestations.Yes, not immediately.All spots on this area of skin will disappear within 4 weeks.No scars.The operation is safe and painless.
Endovascular laser coagulation
- Notes
The procedure is effective for varicose veins no larger than 10 mm, and also removes vascular tumors – angiomatosis, hemangiomas, etc. Some doctors treat trophic ulcers with laser coagulation.
- Progress of the procedure
A phlebologist uses a catheter with a laser.He inserts this device into the diseased vessel and seals its walls, after which the vein closes and stops pumping blood.The blood flow is redirected.The procedure lasts up to 40 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia.
- Advantages
Painless and safe surgery.No scars, hematomas or other marks are left at the catheter insertion site.Patients do not require long rehabilitation - they go home after 3 hours and go to work after a day.
Foam sclerosis
- Notes
Treatment of various types of varicose veins occurs when the veins are dilated by more than 10 mm.Helps remove varicose veins.
- Progress of the procedure
The doctor injects sclerosant in foam form into the vessel.The substance coats the vein walls and destroys them, whereupon the inflamed vein closes and blood circulation stops.The foam covers a large area and is quickly absorbed.Low risk of complications.
- Advantages
The foam easily fills and covers even large veins.In just 20 minutes or less.A safe and painless procedure that leaves no scars or other marks.
Miniphlebectomy
- Notes
This is one of the main methods for treating large veins up to 18 mm in diameter.Helps eliminate swelling.Restores normal blood flow.Doctors prescribe a miniphlebectomy after eliminating thrombophlebitis of the subcutaneous trunks.
- Progress of the procedure
The phlebologist pierces the skin opposite the diseased vessels.The diameter of the holes must not exceed 1-2 mm.Using special hooks, the doctor grabs the vein, pulls out the affected area and removes it.He cuts off one segment of the vessel at a time.Local anesthesia is used.The wounds are covered with medical plaster and the patient wears compression stockings over them.
- Advantages
Complete removal of diseased veins in 1 hour or less.After the procedure, small bruises remain on the skin, but they disappear within 2 weeks.The patient recovers completely within 10 days.
Phlebologists can cure varicose veins at any stage
Varicose veins occur in people of all ages, but adult men and women are most commonly affected.And most often women.We have already mentioned this.Not all people want to undergo treatment.Why?It's very simple: in the early stages, varicose veins do not cause any severe discomfort.In addition, the symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, making diagnosis difficult.But even with more serious symptoms, people do not always rush to see a phlebologist.Because they are afraid of surgery.Or they think the treatment will be expensive.However, the disease does not stand still and continues to actively develop, especially if the patient is exposed to risk factors.The further the disease progresses, the more difficult it becomes to get rid of it.In the early stages, varicose veins can be cured without surgery.The latter requires surgical intervention and long-term treatment of trophic ulcers.The conclusion is simple: you need to get rid of varicose veins as early as possible.Who should you contact?Varicose veins and other vascular diseases are treated by a phlebologist.Residents of large cities can easily find several clinics where they can get rid of bloating in the veins.You just have to choose the best.Ask relatives and friends for advice - there are probably people with diseased blood vessels among them.