Problems with blood vessels are a fairly common phenomenon, which occurs more and more often in modern society.Nowadays, varicose veins of the extremities are diagnosed not only in the elderly.The disease affects young people and even children.
What are the symptoms of varicose veins in the legs, arms and other parts of the body?It is very important to recognize the first signs of the disease.Since the effectiveness of all subsequent treatment depends on a timely diagnosis.
This article will be devoted to the symptoms of varicose veins in the legs and other parts of the body.We will also talk about the causes of diseases and the necessary preventive measures to prevent the development of the pathological process.And, of course, we will pay attention to all kinds of methods for treating varicose veins in the legs, arms or other organs.
It is believed that this disease affects only the limbs of the human body.However, this is not true.Recently, doctors are increasingly diagnosing varicose veins of the small pelvis in women.Pathology is also found in the veins of the esophagus and other internal organs.How to identify and treat such anomalies?Let's find out.
Definition of disease
Before finding out what the disease is, it is necessary to get general information about the structure of the human circulatory system.
As you know, blood in our body circulates through blood vessels.Arteries are vessels through which blood flows from the heart to various organs and tissues.Veins are also vessels, but blood flows through them in the opposite direction - from organs and tissues to the heart.
In order for this process to take place in the right direction, there are one-way valves inside each vein.They ensure the necessary blood circulation in the right direction.What else can be achieved with such valves?Blood does not accumulate in one place, but circulates and enriches the body.
Varicose veins are characterized by damage to the intravascular valves or even their complete absence.As a result, the general flow of blood is disrupted and accumulates in the place where the pathology is detected.Due to this, the veins increase in volume and expand abnormally.
There are several types of veins in our body - superficial (located immediately under the skin), deep (hidden deep in muscle tissue) and communicating (connecting the first two types).
Most often, varicose veins are diagnosed in superficial veins, for example, in the legs, knees, calves or thighs.However, the disease can also affect vessels located in the pelvic or rectal area.
Lower limbs
First, let's pay attention to varicose veins of the lower extremities.Externally, the disease manifests itself in the form of purple, blue or blue-green veins under the skin, which bend and protrude outward.Similar manifestations can be seen in the photo below.
Causes of varicose veins of the legs
The main cause of the disease, as mentioned above, is the pathological processes that occur in the blood vessels themselves.What can cause such changes?
The main causes of the disease include a hereditary predisposition to the deformation of the veins.Also, excessive loads on the legs can negatively affect the blood vessels, for example, when a person, due to his professional employment, constantly stands or walks.It is not surprising that teachers, athletes and hairdressers are predisposed to this disease.
Other negative factors that affect the elasticity of blood vessels are excess weight, hormonal changes and cardiovascular diseases (for example, thrombosis).
Do not forget about bad habits that have a negative impact not only on the veins, but on the whole body as a whole.It is clear that smoking and alcohol abuse can provoke the development of a pathological process in blood vessels.
Often the development of the disease can be caused by pregnancy, which is a great stress and burden for the whole body of the woman.Also, carrying a child affects the hormonal background of the future mother, which can also cause pathological processes that occur in the circulatory system.However, it is worth remembering that, as such, pregnancy is not the cause of varicose veins.Carrying a fetus can be the reason or one of the reasons for the appearance of the disease.
It is no secret that the disease is diagnosed more often in women and this is not always associated with pregnancy or hormonal changes.Wearing uncomfortable shoes (too narrow or too high heels) is another of the main reasons for the development of varicose veins of the lower extremities.
An important factor in the development of abnormal expansion of blood vessels can be various injuries of veins.This can include injuries or inflammatory processes that occur in blood vessels, as well as the formation of blood clots.
How to identify the disease at an early stage to start timely and high-quality treatment?Let's find out.
Details about symptoms
The first sign of a problem is pain in the leg, namely in the place where the valve disorder occurred.It is also very important to pay attention to unpleasant sensations in the lower extremities, as if the leg were heavy.This feeling is an important signal of vascular deformation.
Abnormal extension of the veins is another sign of the development of pathology.Veins of dark purple shades appear under the skin, they bend and swell.
The skin in the area of the affected vessel becomes dry, it can peel and darken, itches and itches.In the place of development of the pathological process, edema is formed, the skin swells or swells.
If you do not pay attention to these manifestations in time, the symptoms may intensify.The person begins to experience cramps and open ulcers form in the area of the varicose veins, which can bleed and cause pain.Wounds are a possibility of infection, so you should consult a doctor as soon as possible to avoid complicating an already difficult situation.
Identification of the disease
What will they say at the hospital?Most likely, a specialist will refer you for the examinations necessary to diagnose the disease and exclude other possible diseases.
The most important diagnostic step is the patient's physical examination.The patient will be asked to stand, sit and swing the legs.The diagnosis will be made on the basis of an external examination.
After that, the doctor can recommend a Doppler ultrasound, on the basis of which it will be possible to examine the blood flow and, if present, to detect a blood clot.
An angiogram may also be prescribed by a specialist.This study involves the injection of a certain color into the vein, thanks to which the structure of the vessels and their pathological changes will be clearly visible on the x-ray.
General principles of recovery
Is it possible to cure varicose veins at home?Yes, especially when it comes to the initial stages of the disease.
The first thing the doctor will advise is to adjust your weight and nutrition program.This means, if a patient is overweight, then he must follow a special diet to normalize his body weight.If the patient's weight is normal, then he will still have to monitor his diet, avoiding fatty and salty foods, which can negatively affect blood vessels and also provoke obesity.
Additionally, a therapeutic diet may include giving up strong coffee (and sometimes tea), smoked foods, and canned foods.Alcoholic beverages are also a 100% contraindication for people suffering from varicose veins.It is very important to eat more vegetables and fruits (including freshly squeezed juices), whole grains and soy.And, of course, do not forget about greens.Parsley, dill and lettuce are what will help you cope with any illness!
Your doctor may also prescribe compression garments, such as stockings or tights.
Many men may have complexes about such an unusual treatment for varicose veins in the legs.However, you should not be addicted to this problem.Compression garments are a fairly common method for treating vascular pathologies of the lower extremities.Its reasonable use will not only relieve the patient from unpleasant symptoms and pain, but will also help prevent the progression of the disease.In some cases, such a piece of clothing will be recommended to the patient for continuous use throughout his life.Very often, pregnant women are prescribed compression stockings to ease their condition during pregnancy, when the body cannot be helped in any other way.
The essence of these therapeutic underwear is that they compress the leg in the area of the ankle, gradually weakening the impact on the skin down to the leg.This stimulates proper blood flow to the heart.
Nowadays, you can find various compression stockings and tights on sale, which differ from each other not only in size, but also in the degree of compression (pressure exerted on the leg).
Another way to treat varicose veins is to prescribe special exercises for the legs.The specialist recommends certain exercises to the patient that will help normalize blood flow to the extremities.
Let's move on to drug treatment
To help fight the disease, special ointments and oral medications can be prescribed, the purpose of which is to thin the blood and improve its circulation.Also, such drugs can strengthen the walls of blood vessels, relieve inflammation and relieve pain.
Most often, doctors prescribe phlebotonics (or venotonic drugs).They improve lymphatic drainage, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, give them elasticity and reduce capillary permeability.
The patient may also be prescribed antiplatelet agents that dissolve the clot and improve blood flow by preventing platelet aggregation and suppressing their adhesion.
During an exacerbation of the disease, it is very important to take medications that would prevent blood clotting.For this purpose, the attending physician may prescribe drugs based on heparin or its derivatives.
According to experts, it is better to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
And, of course, we must not forget the oils.Local drugs are presented in large quantities in the pharmacological market.
More radical treatments
The methods described above do not always achieve the desired result.
In such cases, your doctor may recommend non-invasive treatment options.What do they include?Let's discuss each method.
Laser treatment
One of the gentlest methods for treating varicose veins is the use of a laser on the surface of the epidermis.A small flash of light that illuminates the walls of the vein promotes the development of sclerosis, as a result of which the affected vein disappears, as if it had been removed.
Intravenous laser coagulation is another procedure for treating varicose veins.However, it involves making a small incision at a location just above or just below the affected vein.A catheter is then inserted into the vessel and the ultrasound is sent.The laser action lasts approximately one minute, after which the patient feels heat in the area of the affected vein, which, after a certain time, disappears, becoming part of the connective tissue.
Since the patient is given local anesthesia before the procedure, the person feels absolutely nothing.After the manipulation, a feeling of heaviness in the lower extremities and bruising may appear.However, this does not affect the recovery period in any way.The next day the patient can go to work and do his usual activities.
Radio frequencies
Along with the laser, the ablation method can also be used, which is performed in almost the same way as the laser coagulation described above.The only difference is the equipment used.Instead of a laser, the specialist uses radiofrequency energy, which enters the affected vessel through a catheter, heats it until the walls of the vein collapse and it closes.After that, the blood is directed in another direction - to a healthy vessel.
Surgical intervention
It involves complete or partial removal of the affected vessel.Surgery for varicose veins is prescribed only as a last resort, when other treatment methods have failed.To combat varicose veins, surgeons use various surgical techniques.Some of them will be listed below:
- Crossectomy.
- Extraction of veins.
- Miniphlebectomy.
- Endoscopy.
The essence of these manipulations comes down to the following: small incisions are made on the leg in several places (most often under and above the affected area), after which a thin flexible wire is inserted into the vessel, which removes the diseased vein.These operations are performed quite often, and almost always they occur without complications, but they bring certain risks and inconveniences.
For example, such surgical interventions are performed under anesthesia (general or spinal).The use of anesthesia can lead to allergic reactions to the drugs used, bleeding and breathing problems.
Other negative factors that can occur after surgery include the possibility of infection, bruising and swelling in the affected area, nerve damage, irritation of the veins or the formation of blood clots within the vessels.We must also not forget that surgical intervention does not guarantee the absence of recurrence in the future.
The postoperative period does not last long.Within a day or two the patient can resume his daily tasks.He will be advised to wear compression garments for a week.
Sclerotherapy
This is one of the methods of treatment of varicose veins, which should also be paid attention to and can be performed directly in the doctor's office without hospitalization.During the manipulation process, a special chemical solution is injected into the diseased vein, which acts as an irritant, as a result of which the vein thickens and closes.After that, blood circulation is carried out through healthy vessels.
This procedure is applicable when a small vein located in the knee area is affected.Sclerotherapy is usually combined with other methods of treating varicose veins.
Different drugs are used as chemical solutions.After the procedure, the patient will need to wear compression bandages soaked in a sclerosing agent.The time of dressing will be determined by the attending physician individually.
Side effects of such injections include the following negative manifestations:
- The appearance of blood clots in other vessels of the lower extremities.
- Headache.
- Painful sensations in the lower back.
- Temporary visual impairment.
- Fainting.
- Irritation of the epidermis around the injection site.
However, most patients tolerate sclerotherapy well.If the contraindications are taken into account and the manipulation is performed correctly, a positive result in the treatment of varicose veins is guaranteed.
First aid kit for people
Is it possible to cure a disease using alternative medicine?In some cases - yes, especially if we are talking about the primary manifestations of the disease, and if the treatment with grandmother's methods will be carried out with the permission of the attending physician.
So, what ingredients should you collect to start effective treatment of the pathology?First of all, let's take apple cider vinegar.Mix two teaspoons of the product in a glass of water, add some honey and drink it on an empty stomach in the morning.
Apple cider vinegar can also be used for topical application in the form of a rub, after you have dissolved it in water (ratio 1 to 10).Gently rub the affected area at night - by morning the unpleasant symptoms should subside.
Very often, chestnut tincture is used against varicose veins.To do this, collect beautiful and intact fruits and grind them through a meat grinder.Then fifty grams of raw material is poured into a half-liter bottle of vodka and placed in a dark place for two weeks.After that, the tincture is filtered and taken orally, thirty to forty drops per tablespoon of water, half an hour before meals three or four times a day.The course of such treatment is one month.Then take a break of two weeks and, if necessary, repeat again.
This solution can also be used to rub the affected area at night.
An ancient method to get rid of varicose veins is the use of leeches.How much hirudotherapy is necessary in each individual case depends on the patient and his doctor to decide.
So, we have paid a lot of attention to varicose veins of the lower extremities.Now let's talk about other types of diseases.
Pelvic vessels
This pathology is very easily confused with gynecological diseases in women.
Varicose veins in the pelvic area can be considered hormonal disorders, pathologies of the genitourinary system, or even common radiculitis.However, it is very important to identify the disease as soon as possible.Varicose veins of the pelvis in women can cause interruptions in the functioning of the ovaries and the entire circulatory system.
What are the causes of this intimate disease?
Provocateurs of diseases
The main reasons for the development of the disease include difficult pregnancy, regular high-intensity physical activity, a sedentary lifestyle, some gynecological diseases, prolonged use of hormonal drugs, dissatisfaction with sex life, etc.Most often, varicose veins of the pelvic veins occur against the background of an increased amount of estrogen.And, of course, do not forget that excess weight and bad habits do not improve, but only worsen the situation.
How to identify such a disease?
This important symptom
First, pelvic varicose veins are manifested by pain of varying intensity, which worsens after or during sexual intercourse, physical activity or prolonged standing in the same position.The disease is also characterized by bleeding, frequent urination, accompanied by pain, swelling, redness of the vulva or perineum, burning or itching in this area.
A few words about treatment
How to get rid of the pathological expansion of pelvic veins?First of all, you should contact a specialist.He can recommend wearing compression clothes and special gymnastics (these are popular exercises performed in a lying position - "birch", "scissors" and "bicycle").
Among folk methods, decoctions of dandelion or chaga root, as well as chestnut tinctures, have been proven to be most effective.
What can be said about another type of varicose veins - pathology of the gastrointestinal tract?
Digestive organs
Varicose veins of the esophagus are considered a not very common disease;more often the disease is an accompanying symptom of a more serious disease.
Why does such a pathology occur and how to determine it?
Briefly about the causes and symptoms
The main causes of the expansion of the veins of the esophagus are congestion in the vessels of the liver, provoked by thrombosis or cirrhosis.This pathology is most often diagnosed in men, as well as in patients with serious chronic diseases, especially in those over fifty years old.How to identify the disease?
Varicose veins of the esophagus are most often asymptomatic, manifesting in rare attacks of heartburn, heaviness in the abdomen, difficulty swallowing and belching.Sometimes patients may show external signs of a pathological process - protrusion of blood vessels and veins in the front wall of the abdomen (abdominal cavity).
Most often, the disease is diagnosed during a crisis, that is, when the wall of the vein ruptures and bleeding occurs.In most cases, bleeding is accompanied by vomiting (blood), low blood pressure, general weakness, increased heart rate, and bloody (or dirty) stools.
If such symptoms appear, you should definitely take a blood test and take an X-ray (with the introduction of special contrast solutions).
Treatment of esophageal pathology
Most often, treatment for this disease is carried out in intensive care.In conditions of bleeding, the initial task of doctors is to eliminate it.For this purpose, astringents, colloidal solutions and hemostatic agents can be used.In some cases, doctors recommend a transfusion of blood or its main components (or blood substitutes).
If the methods listed above do not give results, specialists may consider it advisable to perform surgery or esophageal sclerosis.After recovery, the patient will have to adhere to a fairly strict diet for the rest of his life.Proper nutrition will include separate meals, avoiding fatty, smoked, salty and fried foods, excluding hot or very cold foods, etc.
Preventing
It is known that the disease is easier to prevent than to treat.What measures should be taken to prevent the occurrence of a pathological process in the veins?
First of all - a healthy lifestyle!A reasonable diet, moderate physical activity, getting rid of bad habits, wearing comfortable shoes and clothes - all this will help not only to improve your well-being, but also to avoid many serious diseases.Health for you!