Veins have valves that normally block or open the flow of blood in the vessel. Since blood flow in the veins is directed from the tissues to the heart, the job of the valves is to prevent venous blood from returning to the veins of the lower extremities.
When the elasticity of the vessel wall is reduced and the veins are dilated, the valves cannot regulate blood flow and varicose veins form, a manifestation of venous blood stagnation in the vessel lumen. That is, blood cannot flow normally from the legs to the heart - it is constantly delayed.
With varicose veins, the superficial veins in the legs turn blue or dark purple, looking rough, bulging, and out of shape. Veins do not always bulge to the surface, as they can be located deep in the tissues of the lower extremities. So, foot pain often confuses people because there is no clear cause for the pain.
Varicose veins need to be treated, as it can lead to thrombophlebitis - inflammation of the vein walls. With thrombophlebitis, a blood clot forms, if it enters the pulmonary circulation, the patient can die from a pulmonary embolism, in which the blood clot blocks important blood vessels.
Causes of varicose veins
Varicose veins of the legs occur due to a decrease in the elasticity of the vein walls and heart valve failure. The following contribute to the development of varicose veins:
- sedentary lifestyle and long working hours. It often develops in office workers, weightlifters, dentists, and surgeons;
- genetic predisposition;
- Women: Women get varicose veins more often than men, because the "female" hormone estrogen negatively affects the vein walls. In addition, during pregnancy, the pressure in the veins of the pelvis and lower extremities increases, so the risk of developing varicose veins of the lower extremities is higher.
- congenital weakness of the vascular system;
- Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, in which pathological messages are formed between arteries and veins, contributes to the reverse flow of venous blood.
Symptoms of varicose veins
Varicose veins can be symptomatic and mostly hidden. In the first case, the symptoms of varicose veins are as follows:
- discomfort and pain in the lower extremities;
- swelling in the ankle;
- burning or stinging sensation in the leg;
- seizures occur mainly in the evening or at night;
- itching on the site of the varicose veins;
- foot fatigue fast;
- skin color change.
These symptoms become more pronounced in the evening, at the end of the working day, during the hot season, and after the sick person stands for a long time. With hidden varicose veins, there is no outward manifestation of venous insufficiency but there is pain in the legs.
As a rule, the pain in the lower extremities is intense and deep in the legs. Often, pain can signal inflammation of the veins (phlebitis) and the formation of blood clots. The development of thrombophlebitis is accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
An enlarged vein can rupture and then develop a bruise where the affected vessel passes. Sores on the skin can occur, even if the skin is slightly damaged. Usually, varicose ulcers are small, superficial, and painful.
The danger of phlebitis, thrombosis, and ulcers in varicose veins of the legs is that they lead to the development of small thin-walled blisters on the ankle. These blisters are very susceptible to injury and bleeding. During sleep, blisters can burst, leading to light bleeding.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities lead to other skin and blood vessel diseases:
- lymphadenopathy. An enlarged vein can damage the vessels of the lymphatic system, which transport and dispose of toxins and metabolic products. In addition, damage to the lymphatic vessels can lead to lymphedema, in which swelling of the lower extremities occurs;
- dermatitis, accompanied by itching and rash in the area of varicose veins. Usually, the rash is localized to the lower legs and ankle joints. Dermatitis can lead to mild bleeding, skin irritation, and infection.
How to treat varicose veins?
If the symptoms of varicose veins are mild, it is enough to simply take the precautions that the vascular doctor prescribes (treatment of diseases of the veins). But when varicose veins cause discomfort, such as pain, cosmetic defects, tired legs, swelling or changes in skin color, it should be treated with the following methods:
- compression socks, has the effect of moderately compressing the legs and veins of the lower extremities so that blood does not stagnate in them. Compression stockings can help reduce pain and swelling. Stockings must be worn for at least 6 months for symptoms to resolve. In addition, wearing socks should be combined with regular physical activities in which the legs are more involved: running, exercise equipment, cycling;
- TV signal loss. This is minimally invasive: a disposable catheter is inserted into a vein, which heats up and causes the vein to collapse. As a result, the vein closes, and venous blood flows back to the heart through healthy veins;
- sclerotherapy. The doctor injects a drug to turn part of the vein into connective tissue, resulting in the lumen closing and blood being carried by nearby healthy vessels;
- surgical methodinvolves ligation or complete resection of the affected vein.
How to treat varicose veins in the legs in women?
Treatment of varicose veins does not depend on gender: in women it is the same as in men. However, there are features of therapy in pregnant women. Varicose veins in pregnant women increase the risk of obstetric and vascular complications, which can lead to an unstable pregnancy and an increased risk of maternal toxicity. Therefore, the treatment of varicose veins in pregnant women is especially focused.
Surgical treatment is applied in severe cases, when varicose veins are accompanied by venous insufficiency and complications, such as the formation of trophic ulcers or thrombotic pathology. Micro-invasive methods such as sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation are contraindicated during pregnancy. In addition, women during pregnancy are rarely prescribed hormonal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The main treatment for varicose veins in women is conservative treatment in the form of compressions (compression stockings) in combination with drugs that improve the nutrition of the vascular walls (phlebotropic agents). If compression therapy doesn't work, doctors will prescribe medications that don't cross the placenta and won't affect the fetus.
Complications of varicose veins
Untreated varicose veins can develop into trophic ulcers, acute thrombophlebitis, and bleeding from the affected veins.
Nutritional ulcers usually form on the inner surface of the lower leg and above the ankle. The first signs of developing an ulcer are dermatitis: the skin becomes inflamed and itchy. Then, single small and painful ulcers are formed, from which pus or inflammatory fluid is secreted in small quantities.
In acute thrombophlebitis, impressions appear on superficial veins, accompanied by pain and redness along the veins. The patient with acute thrombophlebitis has difficulty walking due to discomfort and pain in the legs. A thrombosed vein may rupture. Then there is heavy bleeding, which leads to a lot of blood loss.
Prevention of varicose veins
To prevent varicose veins in men and women, you need to follow the recommendations. The most effective tricks and methods:
- always prefer physical activity to immobility, for example, instead of taking the elevator, climb the stairs yourself, if you need to go 1-2 stops, do not join traffic and walk;
- monitor your weight - excess body weight is a trigger for varicose veins;
- A mobile lifestyle is key to preventing varicose veins. However, physical activity must be reasonable. Weight training should not be done because lifting weights will put a lot of pressure on the legs and lead to blood stagnation. The best sports for the lower extremities are running, cycling, swimming, aerobics. Choose an activity that involves your legs and ankles, such as soccer or skiing;
- If you have a sedentary lifestyle, get up from your chair every 40 minutes and warm up a bit: sit down 5-10 times or just walk;
- choose comfortable shoes without heels, try to go barefoot as often as possible;
- walk for at least 30 minutes a day, at least 3-4 times a week;
- If you have a standing job, wear compression stockings and wear them while you work. So you tone the veins of the lower extremities, and blood does not stagnate in them.
If your legs have unexplained pain, fatigue and swelling, and curved blue or purple veins on your skin, you may have varicose veins in your lower extremities. Do not delay treatment and consult your doctor for advice and diagnosis.