Surely everyone has seen people with prominent arm veins. Some consider this to be a person's own standard or characteristic. In fact, the veins should be hidden under the skin and any changes should be a reason to think about your health. In addition to swollen veins, discomfort or changes in skin color can be an alarming signal.
Is there varicose veins of the upper extremities?
Varicose veins are a disease of the blood vessels. It can affect any vessel and occur anywhere in the body. Considering that excessive load is a trigger, varicose veins often affect the limbs of the body. The disease occurs mainly in the legs, but varicose veins in the hands also occur. According to the international classification (MKB-10), it corresponds to the code I86.
Varicose veins of the upper extremities are easy to spot - the veins on the hands and forearms are swollen and look like a green snake. The disease usually affects women after the age of 50, as well as male athletes and bodybuilders.
Phlegmon and swelling of the veins: the risk of varicose veins is great?
Under the action of an excessive load, the venous walls stretch, and the venous valves are unable to fulfill their functions. If your veins previously looked normal but are now swollen, you should see your doctor for a detailed examination. The earlier the problem is discovered, the easier it is to treat.
If changes happen in a vein, the risk of varicose veins is really great.
In addition to the outward aesthetic manifestations, varicose veins affect the life of the patient, causing pain and irritation a number of complications.
Features of varicose veins of the upper extremities
The first changes in varicose veins on the hand are blue nodules. After a while, they may disappear and then reappear.
This suggests that the veins are unable to cope with the increased load, but recover quickly when the irritating factor is removed.
In the absence of timely treatment, nodules in the veins of the arm will continuously be observed and then dilatation will affect the longer part of the vessel. In this case, the pulse is markedly swollen, which often attracts the patient's attention and forces him to see a doctor.
Other reasons
Not only overloads negatively affect ships. Other reasons for the extension could be:
- Stress.
- Oral contraceptives or hormonal disorders in women.
- Smoking and abuse of alcohol.
- Intensive exercise.
- Unbalanced diet. Read about the exact diet for varicose veins here.
- Heredity.
Violation symptoms - pay attention!
Even if a person is unaware of the existence of a problem such as varicose veins, he should be warned by the following changes:
- Puffiness.
- Burning and discomfort.
- Quickly fatigue and weakness.
- Numbness or soreness.
- Can clearly see the contrast between the veins and the skin color.
- Raising your arms reduces the size of the veins.
In thin people, thin skin, veins can swell. However, this is not a pathology, but a feature of the body.
If this symptom has been observed since birth and is not accompanied by other symptoms, don't worry.
Looking at a photo of varicose veins of a healthy arm and limb, you will immediately see the difference and know what to look for.
Methods of treatment
Treatment strategies for varicose veins in the hands depend on the stage of the disease. In the early stage, conservative therapy is used, at a later stage, surgical methods are used.
People at risk are advised to take precautions for varicose veins to avoid dangerous complications.
Conservative treatment includes the use of a special compressed knitted fabric, the appointment of special medications, diet and physical therapy. All of this is aimed at strengthening the tone of the veins, strengthening the blood vessels and reducing their permeability.
Medical tops are shown with special gloves or sleeves made of special material. Underwear must be worn at all times to provide mechanical support to the blood vessels and prevent their expansion. The degree of compression is selected by the doctor, taking into account the omission of pathology.
Treatment of the terminal stage of varicose veins in the hand
When deep veins are affected, limb function may be impaired. The patient feels heavy, painful, and uncomfortable, unable to perform normal work.
Surgical interventions are used in the later stage. Some of the most effective and safest methods are laser correction and fibrosis therapy. Their advantages are as follows:
- No pain.
- No scars or scars.
- Rapid tissue repair.
- Good aesthetic result.
With fibrosis therapy, a positive effect may appear several weeks after the procedure. It only takes a few minutes. The patient is injected into a swollen vein where the hardening agent is administered.
This process is completely painless. The veins are glued together under the effect of medication and no tissue removal is required by the surgeon. To prevent relapses, the patient must wear compressed clothing.
The advantage of modern methods is that it does not adversely affect surrounding tissues, removes incisions on the skin and is virtually uncomplicated.
Aspiration therapy
For many vascular diseases, focus therapy is common. Despite the fact that this is a unique treatment, it does require adherence to a number of rules. Should not arbitrarily put leeches. For this procedure, only healthy worms are suitable and are used only once.
Honeydew secreted by leeches works to strengthen blood vessels and thin the blood. It helps to reduce edema, get rid of blood stasis, normalize microcirculation and restore the structure of the veins.
Home treatment
Many patients try to cure varicose veins with traditional folk remedies. As monotherapy, they are only suitable in the early stages of the disease.
If varicose veins are severe, folk formulas can only be used outside of the basic regimen prescribed by a doctor.
Chestnut remedies help fight varicose veins. The medicinal properties of this plant are also officially recognized in medicine, as the chestnuts are part of many venotonic ointments.
You can make your own ice cream at home. For this, chestnuts are ground and mixed with molten lard. The agent is used externally, with the help of slight rubbing on the affected area.
Medicines made from cabbage leaves or wormwood leaves have a very positive effect in the treatment of varicose veins. They are crushed in a blender with a small amount of oil or kefir added so that the beneficial substances penetrate deeper into the skin. This mixture is soaked with gauze and applied to dilated areas of the veins.
One of the popular methods to get rid of any illness is a bath.
Prevention of varicose veins in the hands
To prevent varicose veins in the arm, doctors recommend:
- Limit physical activity in the upper extremities. Girls should not lift weights and male athletes should use compression clothing during exercise.
- Change the activity type. Sedentary office workers working with keyboards need to rest during that time to raise their arms and stretch their joints.
- Eat right. Antioxidants and vitamins are very helpful for strengthening blood vessels, especially C and PP. In your daily diet, you need to include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as add at least 1. 5 liters of clean water.
- Taking a contrast bath, don't forget to use your hands. Cool water helps to train blood vessels, prevents the formation of nodules and allows you to achieve the desired tone of the veins.
- Control your weight. Excess body weight creates a constant load on the vessels, and over time their strength decreases.
- Minimize negative factors. Alcohol, smoking, stress - all of these have negative effects on the elasticity of blood vessels and their tone.
Potential Complications
Hand veins are not only a cosmetic defect, but also a dangerous condition.
Blood stagnation forms in enlarged areas, resulting in insufficient nutrients for nearby tissues.
An area of poor microcirculation eventually becomes the focus of inflammation and even infection.
In the future, this may lead to thrombophlebitis or blockage of the lumen due to thrombosis.
The formation of blood clots is facilitated by slow blood circulation in the dilated area, increasing the likelihood of blood clotting and disturbed vascular structure. Often more thrombosis occurs in the lower extremities, however, prolonged or uncomfortable squeezing of the arm can cause the formation of the arm veins and the formation of a blood clot.
Thrombophlebitis may be suspected if the patient complains of pain and swelling of the hands, cyanosis when holding the hand. Severe disruption of blood flow in a given area causes necrosis of nearby tissues and leads to amputation.
Varicose veins in men are less common because men are more emotionally stable. However, in addition to stress, other triggers can cause varicose veins even in young men.
A feeling of heaviness in the hands, fatigue at night and the appearance of nodules are some of the first symptoms of varicose veins. Routine wellness and wellness exams help maintain your health and look beautiful.