Problems with blood vessels are a fairly common phenomenon and occur more and more frequently in modern society.Today, varicose veins of the extremities are diagnosed not only in older people.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 know the first signs of the disease.Since the effectiveness of any subsequent treatment depends on a timely diagnosis.
This article will be dedicated 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 preventive measures necessary to prevent the development of the pathological process.And, of course, we will pay attention to all kinds of methods to treat varicose veins in the legs, arms or other organs.
It is believed that this disease affects only the extremities of the human body.However, this is not true.Recently, doctors are increasingly diagnosing varicose veins of the small pelvis in women.The 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 knowing what the disease is, it is necessary to obtain general information about the structure of the human circulatory system.
As you know, blood in our body circulates through 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.
For this process to take place in the correct direction, there are one-way valves within each vein.They provide the necessary blood circulation in the right direction.What more can you achieve with this type of valves?Blood does not accumulate in one place, but rather circulates and enriches the body.
Varicose veins are characterized by damage to intravascular valves or even their complete absence.As a result, the general blood flow is disturbed and accumulates in the place where the pathology is detected.Due to this, the veins increase in volume and dilate 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 knees, calves or thighs.However, the disease can also affect the vessels located in the pelvic or rectal area.
Lower limbs
First of all, let's pay attention to the varicose veins of the lower extremities.Externally, the disease manifests itself as purple, blue or bluish-green veins under the skin, which curve and protrude outward.Similar manifestations can be seen in the photo below.
Causes of varicose veins in the legs.
The main cause of the disease, as mentioned above, is the pathological processes that occur in the blood vessels themselves.What could trigger such changes?
The main provocateurs of the disease include a hereditary predisposition to deformation of the veins.In addition, excessive stress on the legs can have a negative effect on blood vessels, for example, when a person, due to his professional activity, is constantly standing or walking.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 entire body.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 provoked by pregnancy, which places great stress and burden on the entire woman's body.In addition, having a baby affects the hormonal background of the future mother, which can also provoke pathological processes that occur in the circulatory system.However, it is worth remembering that, as such, pregnancy is not the cause of varicose veins.Having a fetus may be the reason or one of the reasons for the manifestation of the disease.
It's no secret that the disease is more often diagnosed in women and is not always associated with pregnancy or hormonal changes.Wearing uncomfortable shoes (too narrow or with very high heels) is another of the main reasons for the development of varicose veins in the lower extremities.
An important factor in the development of abnormal expansion of blood vessels can be various damage to the veins.This may include injuries or inflammatory processes that occur in the vessels, as well as the formation of blood clots.
How to identify the disease at an early stage in order to start timely and high-quality treatment?Let's find out.
Details about symptoms
The first sign of a problem is pain in the legs, that is, 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 is heavy.This sensation is an important sign of vascular deformation.
Abnormal protrusion of veins is another sign of the development of pathology.Dark violet veins appear under the skin, which curve and swell.
The skin in the area of the affected vessel becomes dry, may peel and darken, itch and itch.At the site of development of the pathological process, edema forms, the skin swells or swells.
If attention is not paid to these manifestations in time, the symptoms can 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 for infection, so it is a good idea to see a doctor as soon as possible to avoid complicating an already difficult situation.
Identification of the disease.
What will they say at the hospital?A specialist will most likely refer you for the necessary tests to diagnose the disease and rule out other possible diseases.
The most important diagnostic step is the physical examination of the patient.The patient will be asked to stand, sit and swing their legs.It is on the basis of an external examination that a diagnosis will be made.
After this, the doctor may recommend a Doppler ultrasound, from which it will be possible to examine the blood flow and, if present, detect a blood clot.
A specialist may also prescribe angiography.This study involves the injection of a certain dye into the vein, thanks to which the structure of the vessels and their pathological changes will be clearly visible on the x-ray.
General recovery principles.
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 you is to adjust your weight and nutrition program.That is, if a patient has extra kilos, he must follow a special diet to normalize his body weight.If the patient's weight is normal, he will still need to monitor his diet, avoiding fatty and salty foods, which can negatively affect blood vessels and also lead to obesity.
In addition, a therapeutic diet may involve giving up strong coffee (and sometimes even tea), smoked foods and canned foods.Alcoholic beverages are also a 100% contraindication for people who suffer from varicose veins.It is very important to eat more vegetables and fruits (including freshly squeezed juices), cereals and soy.And, of course, don't forget the vegetables.Parsley, dill and lettuce are what will help you deal with any ailment!
Your doctor may also prescribe the use of compression garments, such as stockings or even tights.
Many men may have complexes about such an unusual treatment for varicose veins in the legs.However, you should not obsess over this problem.Compression garments are a fairly common method of treating vascular pathologies of the lower extremities.Its judicious use will not only relieve the patient of unpleasant symptoms and pain, but will also help prevent the progression of the disease.In some cases, such a garment will be recommended to the patient for constant use throughout their life.Very often, pregnant women are prescribed compression stockings to alleviate their condition during pregnancy, when the body cannot be helped in any other way.
The essence of this therapeutic underwear is that they compress the leg in the ankle area, gradually weakening the impact on the skin along the leg.This stimulates proper blood circulation to the heart.
Today you can find different 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 leg exercises.The specialist recommends the patient certain exercises that will help normalize blood flow in the extremities.
Let's move on to pharmacological treatment.
To help combat the disease, special ointments and oral medications may be prescribed, which aim to thin the blood and improve its circulation.Additionally, these medications 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 clots and improve blood fluidity by inhibiting platelet aggregation and suppressing their adhesion.
During an exacerbation of the disease, it is very important to take medications that prevent blood clotting.To do this, the treating doctor may prescribe medications based on heparin or its derivatives.
According to experts, it is best to use non-steroidal drugs against inflammation.
And, of course, we must not forget about ointments.Local medicines are presented in large quantities on 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 analyze each method.
laser treatment
One of the gentlest methods of 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 favors the development of sclerosis, so the affected vein disappears, as if it had been removed.
Intravenous laser coagulation is another procedure to treat varicose veins.However, it involves making a small incision in a place just above or just below the affected vein.A catheter is then inserted into the vessel and an ultrasound is sent.The action of the laser lasts approximately one minute, after which the patient feels heat in the area of the affected vein, which, after a while, disappears and becomes part of the connective tissue.
Since the patient is given local anesthesia before the procedure, the person feels absolutely nothing.After 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 carry out 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 - into a healthy vessel.
surgical intervention
It involves the total 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.
- Vein extraction.
- Miniphlebectomy.
- Endoscopy.
The essence of these manipulations boils down to the following: small incisions are made on the leg in several places (most often below 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 frequently and almost always pass without complications, but they carry certain risks and inconveniences.
For example, these surgical interventions are performed under anesthesia (general or spinal).The use of anesthesia can cause allergic reactions to the medications 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 formation of blood clots within the vessels.We must also not forget that surgical intervention does not guarantee the absence of relapses in the future.
The postoperative period does not last long.Within one or two days the patient can begin his daily tasks.You will be advised to wear compression garments for a week.
Sclerotherapy
This is one of the varicose vein treatment methods that should also be paid attention to and can be done directly in the doctor's office without the need for 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 this, 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 often combined with other methods to treat varicose veins.
Various medicines are used as a chemical solution.After the procedure, the patient will need to wear pressure bandages soaked in a sclerosing agent.The duration of use will be determined individually by the treating doctor.
The side effects of such injections include the following negative manifestations:
- The appearance of blood clots in other vessels of the lower extremities.
- Headaches.
- Painful sensations in the lumbar area.
- Temporary visual impairment.
- Fainting.
- Irritation of the epidermis around the injection site.
Still, most patients tolerate sclerotherapy well.If the contraindications are taken into account and the manipulation is carried out correctly, a positive result in the treatment of varicose veins is guaranteed.
First aid kit for people.
Is it possible to cure a disease through alternative medicine?In some cases, yes, especially if we talk about the primary manifestations of the disease and if treatment with grandmother's methods will be carried out with the permission of the treating doctor.
So, what components should you stock up on to begin effective treatment of pathology?First of all, let's take the apple cider vinegar.Mix two teaspoons of the product in a glass of water, add a little honey and drink on an empty stomach in the morning.
Apple cider vinegar can also be used for topical application as a rub, after dissolving in water (proportion 1 to 10).Gently rub the affected area at night;In the morning the unpleasant symptoms should decrease.
Most often, chestnut tincture is used against varicose veins.To do this, collect beautiful, intact fruits and grind them in a meat grinder.Then fifty grams of raw materials are poured into a half-liter bottle of vodka and placed in a dark place for two weeks.After this, 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 two-week break and, if necessary, repeat again.
This tincture can also be used to rub the affected area at night.
An ancient method of getting rid of varicose veins is the use of leeches.The amount of hirudotherapy necessary in each individual case depends on the patient and his doctor.
Thus, we have paid enough 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 ailments 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 early as possible.Varicose veins of the pelvis in women can cause alterations in the functioning of the ovaries and the entire circulatory system.
What are the causes of this intimate ailment?
Disease triggers
The main reasons for the development of the disease include difficult pregnancies, regular high-intensity physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, some gynecological diseases, long-term use of hormonal drugs, dissatisfaction in sexual 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, they only make the situation worse.
How to identify such a disease?
This important symptom
First of all, pelvic varicose veins are manifested by pain of varying intensity, which worsens after or during sexual relations, physical activity or prolonged stay 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 pathological dilation of the pelvic veins?First of all, you should contact a specialist.You can recommend the use of compression garments and special gymnastics (these are well-known exercises performed in the supine position: "birch", "scissors" and "bicycle").
Among popular methods, decoctions of dandelion or chaga root, as well as chestnut tinctures, have proven to be the 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 not considered a very common ailment;In most cases, the disease is a concomitant symptom of some more serious illness.
Why does such pathology occur and how to determine it?
Briefly about the causes and symptoms
The main causes of dilation of the veins of the esophagus are congestion in the vessels of the liver, caused by thrombosis or cirrhosis.This pathology is diagnosed more frequently in men, as well as in patients with serious chronic diseases, especially over fifty years of age.How to identify the disease?
Varicose veins of the esophagus are usually asymptomatic and manifest themselves in rare attacks of heartburn, heaviness in the abdomen, difficulty swallowing and belching.Sometimes patients may have external signs of a pathological process: protrusion of blood vessels and veins on the anterior wall of the abdomen (abdominal cavity).
Most often, the disease is diagnosed during a crisis, that is, when the wall of a vein ruptures and bleeding occurs.In most cases, bleeding is accompanied by vomiting (with blood), low blood pressure, general weakness, increased heart rate, and bloody discharge (or impurities) in the stool.
If such symptoms appear, you should definitely have a blood test and an x-ray (with the introduction of special contrast solutions).
Treatment of esophageal pathology.
Most often, the treatment of this disease is carried out in intensive care.In bleeding conditions, the initial task of doctors is to eliminate it.For this, 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 sclerosis of the esophagus.After recovery, the patient will have to follow a fairly strict diet for the rest of his life.Proper nutrition will include divided meals, avoiding fatty, smoked, salty and fried foods, excluding hot or too cold foods, etc.
Prevention
It is known that the disease is easier to prevent than to treat.What measures should be taken to prevent the appearance 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 clothes and shoes - all this will help not only improve your well-being, but also avoid many serious diseases.Good health to you!