Veins have valves that normally block or open blood flow in the veins. Because blood flow in the veins is directed from the tissues to the heart, the task of the valve is to prevent venous blood from returning to the veins of the lower extremities.
When the elasticity of the vessel wall decreases and the veins dilate, the valves do not regulate blood flow and varicose veins are formed, which is characterized by stagnation of venous blood in the veins. That is, blood cannot be transported normally from the feet to the heart - it is constantly delayed.
With varicose veins, the superficial veins on the legs become blue or dark purple, they look bumpy, bulging and deformed. They are not always protruding on the surface of varicose veins, because they can be located deep in the tissues of the lower extremities. This is why leg pain is often confusing for people because there is no apparent cause for the pain.
Varicose veins need to be treated, because they can lead to thrombophlebitis - inflammation of the venous wall. In thrombophlebitis, blood clots form, and if they enter the pulmonary circulation, a person can die from a pulmonary embolism, in which a blood clot clogs vital vessels.
Causes of varicose veins
Varicose veins on the legs are caused by a decrease in the elasticity of the venous wall and valvular insufficiency. The following contribute to the formation of varicose veins:
- sedentary lifestyle and many years of work. It often develops in office workers, weightlifters, dentists and surgeons;
- hereditary predisposition;
- women: women suffer from varicose veins more often than men, because the "female" hormones estrogen negatively affect the venous wall. In addition, the pressure in the veins of the pelvis and lower extremities increases during pregnancy, 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, 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 pain in the lower extremities;
- swelling in the ankles;
- a burning or throbbing sensation in the legs;
- convulsions that occur mainly in the evening or at night;
- itching at the site of varicose veins;
- rapid leg fatigue;
- changed skin color.
These symptoms become more pronounced in the evening, at the end of the working day, in the warm season and after the person stands longer. With hidden varicose veins there are no external signs of varicose veins, but there is pain in the legs.
As a rule, pain in the lower extremities is strong and deeply located in the legs. Often pain can signal phlebitis (inflammation of the veins) 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 a bruise occurs at the place where the affected vein passes. Skin ulcers can occur even after minor skin damage. Varicose vein ulcers are usually 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 blisters with thin walls on the ankles. These blisters are easily damaged and bleed. Blisters can burst during sleep, which can lead to minor bleeding.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities lead to other skin and vascular pathologies:
- lymphadenopathy. An enlarged vein can damage the blood vessels of the lymphatic system that transport and dispose of toxins and metabolic products. Also, damage to the lymph vessels can lead to lymphedema, in which swelling of the lower extremities occurs;
- dermatitis, which is accompanied by itching and rash in the area of varicose veins. The rash is most often localized on 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 prescribed by a phlebologist (treatment of venous diseases). But when varicose veins cause discomfort, such as pain, cosmetic deficiency, leg fatigue, swelling, or discoloration of the skin, therapy is needed that consists of the following methods:
- compression stockings, which moderately compress the legs and veins of the lower extremities so that blood does not stagnate in them. Compression stockings can help relieve pain and swelling. Socks must be worn for at least 6 months for symptoms to subside. Also, wearing socks should be combined with regular physical activity, in which the legs are more involved: running, exercise equipment, cycling;
- radiofrequency ablation. This is a minimally invasive method: a disposable catheter is inserted into the vein, which heats up and leads to the collapse of the vein. 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, causing the vein lumen to close and the blood to be transported to neighboring healthy vessels;
- surgical methodswhich involve ligation or complete removal of the affected vein.
How to treat varicose veins in the legs in women?
The treatment of varicose veins does not depend on gender: in women it is the same as in men. However, there are characteristics 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 frequency 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 accompanied by 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 are rarely prescribed hormonal drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during pregnancy.
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 blood vessel walls (phlebotropics). 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 joint. The first signs of ulcer development are dermatitis: the skin becomes inflamed and itchy. Then, single and multiple small painful wounds are formed, from which pus or inflammatory fluid is excreted in small quantities.
In acute thrombophlebitis, seals appear on the superficial veins, followed 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 heavy bleeding, which leads to great blood loss.
Prevention of varicose veins
To prevent varicose veins in men and women, you must follow the recommendations. The most effective tips and methods:
- always prefer physical activity to immobility, for example, instead of an elevator, climb the stairs yourself, if you need to travel 1-2 stops, do not enter the transport and walk;
- watch your weight - being overweight is a provoking factor for varicose veins;
- a sedentary lifestyle is key to preventing varicose veins. However, physical activity must be reasonable. Lifting weights is not recommended, because lifting weights creates a lot of pressure on the legs and leads to blood stagnation in them. The best sports for the lower extremities are running, cycling, swimming, aerobics. Choose an activity that involves the lower leg and ankle, such as football or skiing;
- if you have a sedentary lifestyle, get up from your chair every 40 minutes and do a little warm-up: sit 5-10 times or just take a walk;
- choose comfortable shoes without high heels, try to walk barefoot as often as possible;
- walking at least 30 minutes a day, at least 3-4 times a week;
- if you have a steady job, get compression stockings and wear them while you work. This way you tone the veins of the lower extremities and the blood in them does not stagnate.
If your legs hurt for no reason, there is fatigue and swelling, and curved blue or purple veins appear on the skin, you may have varicose veins in the lower extremities. Do not delay treatment and consult a doctor for advice and diagnosis.