What is varicose veins: symptoms and its treatment

Vascular diseases pose a serious threat to human health and even life. Among them are varicose veins. This pathology in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) is defined by code number 183. Fighting such a disease is a very laborious process and requires a lot of effort from the patient himself. What is varicose veins? Disease of the lower extremities is a pathological process, during the development of which occurs damage to the blood vessels of the legs, which manifests itself in the form of their expansion, tortuosity, as well as the appearance of irreversible changes in the valvular apparatus (anatomical structures thatimpede abnormal blood flow). As a result, a person may develop valvular venous insufficiency.

In the initial stages of varicose veins, the symptoms are characterized by the formation of nodules in the venous network or spider veins, an increase in the size of the saphenous veins, their pain and a feeling of heaviness in the legs. In case of disease progression, symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency of a chronic nature are added (for example, swelling of the lower leg, trophic ulcers, cramps in the calf muscles, thrombophlebitis and damage to altered blood vessels). for the general clinical picture.

Sometimes, if a person has some congenital diseases, swelling can occur not only in the veins of the legs, but also in the vessels of certain internal organs. For example, the development of portal hypertension often provokes vasodilation of the esophagus and when a varicocele appears, capillary varices of the spermatic cord are observed.

Regardless of the location of the pathological process, there is an inherited predisposition to the appearance of an increase in capillaries, the appearance of which is associated with the presence of congenital weakness of vascular walls in humans and insufficiency of venous valves. At the same time, varicose veins in men, based on medical statistics, are formed somewhat less frequently compared to female representatives. At each stage of varicose veins, the treatment has many nuances and requires a lot of time.

Causes that contribute to the development of the disease

A vascular disease like varicose veins of the lower extremities can have many predisposing factors. The most common of these are:

1. hereditary predisposition. As a result of the lack of connective tissue in the human body, a weakening of the tone of the walls of blood vessels can occur, which in turn will contribute to the expansion of the venous system of the legs.

2. Presence of excess body weight.
3. pregnant. In this case, the pathology may appear due to the increase in the volume of blood circulating throughout the body and squeezed from the uterus of the vessels located behind the abdominal cavity.
4. Malnutrition. The possibility of developing the disease increases in those people whose diet does not contain raw vegetables and fruits or with a small amount of their consumption.
5. Hormonal imbalance. Scientists have proven that with long-term use of drugs that have hormonal substances in their composition, they can negatively affect not only the human hormonal background, but also the condition of blood vessels.
6. Sedentary lifestyle. For example, a long posture of the body in the same sitting or standing position contributes to the development of congestive disorders in the blood circulation of the lower extremities. Also, long-term use of corsets, which provoke increased intra-abdominal pressure, adversely affects the vascular system of the legs. The same detrimental effect is caused by the narrow upper and lower lining, squeezing the arteries located in the region of the inguinal folds.
7. Psychosomatic factors. Continuous impact on a person of strong stressful situations.

Clinical manifestations of pathology

The symptoms and treatment of varicose veins depend entirely on the stage of development of the disease. Sometimes some patients, even before the onset of visual symptoms of varicose veins, may complain of a feeling of heaviness in the leg, increased fatigue, pain in the ankle area. In addition, there is the possibility of developing telangiectasias.

The initial stage is characterized by the absence of venous flow disturbances. Very often, the disease can continue in the compensatory phase, which is expressed in the form of an asymptomatic development of the pathological process. In this case, most patients are not even aware of the presence of varicose veins, so they simply do not go to the doctor.

As the disease progresses further, a person has the first well-defined signs of varicose veins, which have the following manifestations:

1. Transient pain syndrome, swelling, which is formed mainly during prolonged stay of the body in a vertical position. Such symptoms disappear immediately after the person assumes a supine position.
2. Feeling of constant heaviness in the lower extremities, pain of a dull nature, fatigue of the legs and convulsions, which appear mainly at night.
3. Itching of the skin. This manifestation of vascular disease becomes more pronounced in the evening and indicates the development of trophic disorders (deterioration of nutrition of epidermal tissue, manifested in the form of ulcerative neoplasms that form on its surface). Pathological changes in the dermis are often localized to the front and inside of the ankle.
4. When performing an external examination of the patient's feet, the doctor detects a fairly large swelling of the capillaries and a widespread violation of venous circulation. In some cases, varicose veins are accompanied by severe dizziness and loss of consciousness, which occurs as a result of a sharp drop in blood pressure.
5. The skin in the area of deterioration of circulatory processes becomes tight, rough and dry.

Method of treatment of the disease

How to deal with varicose veins? In the fight against this disease three main treatment regimens are used:

1. Conservative therapy. How to remove varicose veins in conservative ways? This method of eliminating the disease involves following general recommendations, namely maintaining an active lifestyle, regular physical education, the use of elastic bandages and compression stockings. In addition, the patient is prescribed certain phlebotonic drugs. It is impossible to treat varicose veins only with conservative therapy, as this method of eliminating the disease can not completely restore the enlarged vessels;

2. Compression sclerotherapy. This method of eliminating the pathology involves the introduction of a special drug into the varicose vein. As a result, a spasm occurs in the affected vessel, after which a compression sock is placed on the patient's foot, which holds it in the resulting position. After 3 days, the vein walls begin to stick together. The patient should wear such socks for 1 month - until dense adhesions form. Treatment of varicose veins without surgery is prescribed only for patients who do not have an advanced state of the pathological process.
3. Surgery. How to treat varicose veins with surgery? To surgically eliminate vascular pathology, a large number of surgical techniques are used, including microsurgery, laser, and venous radiofrequency coagulation. How to get rid of varicose veins through the use of surgery? Surgical treatment of the disease involves complete removal of the affected vessels.

Can varicose veins be cured without surgery? Experts say it is possible to do without removal of varicose veins, but only on condition that the disease is not in an advanced state, when it is not possible to restore normal blood circulation to the lower extremities.

Its effectiveness will also depend on the therapy it will use, so the patient should not neglect the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor, but fully adhere to all the recommendations of the doctor.