Veins have valves that normally block or open blood flow to blood vessels. Since blood flow in the veins is directed by the tissues to the heart, the task of the valves is to prevent venous blood from returning to the veins of the lower extremities.
When the elasticity of the vessel wall decreases and the vein expands, the valves do not regulate blood circulation and varicose veins develop, which is characterized by venous blood stagnation in the veins. This means that blood cannot be transported normally from the legs to the heart - it is constantly delayed.
With varicose veins, the superficial veins in the leg turn blue or dark purple, appear bumpy, swollen, and unformed. Varicose veins are not always swollen on the surface, as they can be located deep in the tissues of the lower extremities. Because of this, leg pain is often confusing for people because there is no obvious cause for the pain.
Varicose veins should be treated, as they can lead to thrombophlebitis - inflammation of the venous wall. With thrombophlebitis, blood clots form; if they enter the pulmonary circulation, a person may die from pulmonary embolism, in which a blood clot blocks vital vessels.
Causes of varicose veins
Varicose veins in the legs occur due to decreased venous wall elasticity and valvular insufficiency. The following contribute to the development of varicose veins:
- sedentary lifestyle and long work. It often develops in office workers, weightlifters, dentists and surgeons;
- hereditary predisposition;
- women: women suffer from varicose veins more often than men, as the "female" hormones estrogen negatively affect the venous wall. In addition, during pregnancy, the pressure in the pelvic and lower extremity veins increases, so the risk of developing varicose veins of the lower extremities increases.
- congenital weakness of the vascular system;
- Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, in which pathological messages are formed between arteries and veins, contributing to the reverse outflow of venous blood.
Symptoms of varicose veins
Varicose veins can be symptomatic and almost hidden. In the first case, the symptoms of varicose veins are as follows:
- discomfort and painful pain in the lower extremities;
- swelling in the ankles;
- burning sensation or pulsation in the legs;
- convulsions that occur mainly in the evening or at night;
- itching over the site of the varicose vein;
- rapid leg fatigue;
- changed skin color.
These symptoms become more pronounced in the evening, at the end of the working day, during the warm season and after the person has been standing for a long time. With varicose veins hidden, there are no external signs of varicose veins, but there is pain in the legs.
As a rule, the pain in the lower extremities is strong and located deep in the leg. Often, pain can signal phlebitis (inflammation of the veins) and the formation of blood clots. The development of thrombophlebitis is associated with an increase in body temperature.
An enlarged vein may rupture and then a bruise appears at the site where the affected vessel passes. Skin ulcers can appear, even after minor skin damage. Typically, varicose vein ulcers are small, superficial, and painful.
The risk of phlebitis, thrombosis and ulcer in leg varicose veins is that they lead to the development of small, thin-walled blisters on the ankle. These blisters are easily damaged and bleed. During sleep, blisters may burst, which may lead to minor bleeding.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities lead to other pathologies of the skin and blood vessels:
- lymphadenopathy. An enlarged vein can damage the vessels of the lymphatic system, which transport and remove toxins and metabolic products. Also, damage to the lymphatic vessels can lead to lymphedema, in which swelling of the lower extremities occurs;
- dermatitis, which is accompanied by itching and redness in the area of varicose veins. Most often, the rash is localized to the lower leg and ankle. Dermatitis can lead to minor bleeding, skin irritation and infection.
How to treat varicose veins?
If the symptoms of varicose veins are mild, it is enough to take preventive measures that will be prescribed by a phlebologist (treats venous diseases). But when varicose veins cause discomfort, such as pain, a cosmetic defect, fatigue in the legs, swelling or changes in skin color, therapy is needed, which consists of the following methods:
- compression stockings, which moderately press on the legs and veins of the lower extremities so that blood does not get stuck in them. Compression stockings can help relieve pain and swelling. Socks should be worn for at least 6 months for the symptoms to disappear. Also, wearing socks should be combined with regular physical activity, which includes more legs: running, exercise equipment, cycling;
- radiofrequency ablation. This is a minimally invasive method: 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 to the heart through healthy veins;
- sclerosing therapy. The doctor injects a drug that turns part of the vein into connective tissue, as a result of which the lumen of the vein is closed and blood is transported from neighboring healthy vessels;
- surgical methodsinvolving ligation or complete removal of the affected vein.
How to treat varicose veins in women?
Treatment of varicose veins does not depend on gender: in women it is the same as in men. However, there are peculiarities of therapy in pregnant women. Varicose veins in pregnant women increase the risk of obstetric and vascular complications, can lead to unstable pregnancies, and increase the incidence of toxicosis in pregnant women. Therefore special attention is paid to the treatment of varicose veins in pregnant women.
Surgical treatment is used in extreme cases, when varicose veins are associated with venous insufficiency and complications, such as the formation of trophic ulcers or thrombotic pathologies. Microinvasive methods such as sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation are contraindicated during pregnancy. Also, women during pregnancy are rarely prescribed hormonal agents and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The main method of treating varicose veins in women is conservative therapy in the form of compression (compression stockings) in combination with drugs that improve the nutrition of the walls of blood vessels (phlebotropic agents). If compression therapy is ineffective, doctors prescribe drugs that do not penetrate the placenta and do not affect the fetus.
Complications of varicose veins
Untreated varicose veins can be complicated by trophic ulcers, acute thrombophlebitis, and bleeding from the affected veins.
Trophic ulcers most often form on the inner surface of the lower leg and above the ankle. The first signs of ulcer development are dermatitis: the skin becomes inflamed and itchy. Small, single, multiple painful sores then form, from which small amounts of pus or inflammatory fluid are secreted.
In acute thrombophlebitis, seals appear in superficial veins, accompanied by pain and redness along the vein. A patient with acute thrombophlebitis has difficulty walking due to discomfort and pain in the legs. A thrombosed vein may rupture. Then there is profuse bleeding, which leads to massive blood loss.
Prevention of varicose veins
To prevent varicose veins in men and women, you should follow the recommendations. The most effective tips and methods:
- always prefer physical activity to immobility, for example, instead of the elevator, climb the stairs yourself, if you need to travel 1-2 stops, do not get into transport and walk;
- look at your weight - excess body weight is a provocative factor for varicose veins;
- A mobile lifestyle is the key to preventing varicose veins. However, physical activity should be reasonable. It is not recommended to do weightlifting, because lifting weights puts a lot of pressure on the legs and leads to blood stasis in them. The best sports for the lower extremities are running, cycling, swimming, gymnastics. Choose an activity that involves the lower leg and ankle, such as soccer or skiing;
- if you have a sedentary lifestyle, get up from the chair every 40 minutes and do some warm-ups: sit 5-10 times or just walk;
- choose comfortable shoes without high heels, try to walk barefoot as often as possible;
- walking for at least 30 minutes a day, at least 3-4 times a week;
- if you have a foot job, get compression socks and wear them while working. So you tone the veins of the lower extremities and the blood does not get stuck in them.
If your feet hurt for no apparent reason, there is fatigue and swelling, and blue or purple curved veins appear on the skin, you may have varicose veins in the lower extremities. Do not delay treatment and consult your doctor for advice and diagnosis.