Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a chronic systemic pathology that develops against the background of dysfunction of the valves that control blood flow.
This leads to the accumulation of an excessive amount of fluid in the vessels, which gradually expand and lose elasticity and strength.Varicose veins are characterized by the formation of voluminous nodes under the skin of the legs, but this is not the only symptom of the disease.Patients complain of pain and heaviness in the legs, burning and itching, dryness and irritation of the skin.In advanced cases, non-healing purulent ulcers form on the skin, which are very difficult to heal due to the irreversible necrotic processes progressing in them.In order for the treatment of varicose veins on the legs to be effective and prevent relapse, it is necessary to first find out the causes.
Causes of varicose veins on the legs
The tendency to develop such a serious vascular disease is often inherited, and in most cases this pathology is inherited by women.Therefore, if there are cases of varicose veins in your family, girls and women are at risk.
Other common causes of illness:
- Poor diet.If the diet is dominated by fatty, heavy foods dominated by animal fats, the risk of developing varicose veins of the lower extremities increases significantly.
- Vigorous physical activity.Certain types of work, for example as a cook, waiter, surgeon, office worker or hairdresser, create conditions for a gradual increase in pressure in the veins.With regular stress, blood vessels and valves become deformed;Due to the constantly high pressure, the vein walls become thinner and brittle and varicose veins develop.
- Wear uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.Such shoes reduce the amplitude of muscle contraction and compress blood vessels, which in turn leads to impaired blood outflow and the development of varicose veins.
- Sedentary lifestyle.Without at least minimal strain on the muscles, the blood begins to stagnate in the vein bed because the vein walls do not contract on their own.Gradually, the vessels expand, the function of the valves is disrupted and spasmodic thickenings and nodules form.
- Overweight.The more overweight a person is, the greater the strain on the lower limbs and therefore on the blood vessels.In addition, overweight people exercise very little and tend to eat poorly, which doubles the risk of developing varicose veins in their legs.
- Pregnancy.As the fetus grows, the volume of blood in the body of the expectant mother increases, which creates additional stress on the veins.In addition, the growing uterus and fetus compress the pelvic vessels, preventing normal venous drainage.During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone is produced in excess, which relaxes the walls of blood vessels and promotes the development of varicose veins.In most cases, varicose veins during pregnancy are reversible, so a woman can completely get rid of the problem after childbirth.
- Age.As the body ages, the walls of the veins and the valves can no longer fully fulfill their functions and become weaker.Elasticity and strength are lost, causing the vessels to stretch.
The mechanism of development of varicose veins of the lower extremities
Varicose veins of the lower extremities arise according to a complex mechanism:
- In the initial stages, in the presence of a hereditary predisposition and provoking exogenous and endogenous factors, there is a slowdown in venous blood flow.A long-term stagnation process leads to the development of inflammatory processes in the walls and valves of the vein.
- When the valves stop working and the walls of the venous vessels are weak, blood begins to flow through the veins in both directions.This leads to an increase in intravenous pressure, which in turn leads to overstretching and deformation of the vessel walls.
- Further stagnation of blood and the progression of the inflammatory process contribute to the spread of pathology, the development of ischemia and the formation of trophic ulcers.
The function of the affected veins gradually becomes impaired.Varicose veins cause blood stagnation in the vessels, which leads to local toxic lesions and an increase in pressure.In the advanced stage, the vessels can no longer withstand excess pressure and ruptures occur, which leads to severe bleeding.
Symptoms
The disease is insidious in that it is virtually asymptomatic in the earliest stages.The first sign of the development of varicose veins is fatigue in the legs, which is often ignored by patients and is not a reason to seek advice from a specialist.However, as the pathology progresses, leg fatigue becomes noticeable more often, especially in the evening after a day at work.Other symptoms of vascular disease:
- Pain, feeling of squeezing.Such signs appear from the second stage as the pathological process progresses.The pain mainly occurs in the evening after a day's work and disappears in the morning.If a person ignores the discomfort and there is no treatment, the pain syndrome becomes chronic and causes constant worry.
- Swollen veins and vascular network.At first, the affected veins are stronger than usual, but later they begin to bulge, bulge, and form knots.The vascular network is most often localized on the thighs and legs.
- cramps.A characteristic sign of varicose veins, the cause of which is stagnation of blood in the veins.Stagnant processes lead to increased pressure in the vessels, as a result of which the muscles begin to spontaneously contract.
In addition, vascular diseases are accompanied by pronounced external changes.With the development of ischemia, patients complain of constant itching.Excessive stretching and thinning of the veins leads to the formation of hematomas and bruises.In the advanced stage, when atrophic processes develop, the following external symptoms appear:
- red spots on the skin;
- Peeling;
- Formation of dark pigment spots;
- Disappearance of hair.
If a patient develops trophic ulcers accompanied by blackening of the extremities, this indicates the progression of irreversible necrotic processes.
Complications of varicose veins of the legs
If varicose veins in the lower extremities are not treated, serious complications such as:
- Venous thrombosis.With this complication, pathological processes affect the deep veins.The pathology is accompanied by blockage of a vessel by a blood clot - a thrombus.The main cause of venous thrombosis is a slowing of blood flow in the lower extremities.
- Pulmonary embolism.A condition in which a blood clot that breaks away from the wall of a vessel enters the pulmonary artery along with the bloodstream and blocks its lumen.If the blood clot is large, death is immediate.Smaller blood clots do not lead to death, but rather cause complex breathing and circulatory disorders.
- Thrombophlebitis.It is characterized by inflammation of the walls of the superficial vessel, which is accompanied by the formation of a blood clot.The disease is manifested by hyperemia, swelling along the inflamed and blocked vein and pain of varying intensity.Acute thrombophlebitis is accompanied by fever and chills, which complement the above symptoms.
- Trophic ulcers.An inevitable complication of untreated varicose veins of the lower extremities, which develops without timely treatment.Violation of tissue nutrition and the progression of the inflammatory process contribute to compaction of subcutaneous tissue, thinning and darkening of the skin, followed by the formation of a non-healing trophic ulcer.
- Varicose eczema.It is manifested by local redness of the skin, peeling and unbearable itching.If no treatment is given, the complication spreads quickly and leads to a deterioration in the patient's condition.
- Bleeding from varicose veins.A dangerous complication that develops against the background of rupture of varicose veins.
Mechanical injuries can cause bleeding because the walls of the affected veins are very fragile and thinner.Therefore, even slight friction can cause severe venous bleeding.
Diagnosis of varicose veins of the lower extremities
If you have symptoms that indicate the development of varicose veins of the lower extremities, you need to make an appointment with a phlebologist who will diagnose, treat and prevent such vascular pathologies.
The doctor can make a preliminary diagnosis during the initial examination, during which a dense vascular network, swollen veins protruding above the surface of the skin and venous nodules are discovered on the limbs.To confirm the diagnosis, a referral is made for further investigation, including the following procedures:
- Doppler ultrasound;
- Ultrasound duplex angioscanning;
- radionuclide and radiopaque phleboscintigraphy;
- phlebomanometry;
- plethysmography;
- Photoplethysmography.
Treatment of varicose veins of the legs
If the disease is diagnosed in the earliest stages, in the absence of serious complications, conservative therapy is prescribed, the main goals of which are:
- eliminate stagnant processes;
- normalize pressure in the veins;
- restore blood circulation;
- eliminate pathological symptoms.
For this purpose, drugs of the following groups are used:
- Venotonics and phlebotonics.Helps improve blood vessel health, normalize blood circulation and improve lymphatic drainage.
- Anticoagulants.Used to reduce blood viscosity and prevent blood clots.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect and relieve pain.
- Antiplatelet agents.Reduce the risk of thrombosis and improve tissue trophism.
If drug treatment is ineffective and the disease progresses, the doctor will discuss surgical treatment options with the patient.Surgical methods used to treat varicose veins include:
- Sclerotherapy.Introduction of a sclerosing drug into the lumen of the affected vein, which glues the vessel, causing it to dissolve on its own and be replaced by connective tissue.
- Laser coagulation.Indicated in cases where the diameter of the affected veins does not exceed 10 mm.Laser beams create a sclerotherapy effect in the vessel, causing it to dissolve on its own.
- Phlebectomy.A surgical procedure in which the surgeon excises deformed areas of blood vessels and performs all the necessary manipulations through microscopic punctures in the skin.
Contraindications
With varicose veins in the legs, any measures that contribute to the development of stagnation in the vessels of the lower extremities are contraindicated:
- long stay in static positions;
- heavy physical activity, lifting heavy weights;
- Sitting with legs drawn or crossed;
- wear tight, uncomfortable shoes.
It is also necessary to get rid of bad habits such as smoking and alcohol abuse.Tobacco smoke and alcohol have a negative impact on the health of the entire body and make the veins brittle, thinner and less elastic, which soon leads to the development of varicose veins and other cardiovascular diseases.
Cost of treating varicose veins of the lower extremities
The cost of treating varicose veins on the legs is influenced by the following factors:
- the stage at which the disease was diagnosed;
- associated complications;
- individually selected therapy method - conservative or surgical;
- the need for additional therapeutic techniques, such as:B. Physiotherapy.