Veins have valves that normally block or open up the flow of blood in the vessel. Since blood flow in the veins flows from the tissues to the heart, the valve's job is to prevent the backflow of venous blood to the veins of the lower extremities.
When the elasticity of the blood vessel wall decreases and the vein expands, the valve does not regulate blood flow, resulting in varicose veins, which is characterized by stagnation of venous blood in the veins. That is, blood doesn't get from the legs to the heart normally -- it's constantly delayed.
With varicose veins, the superficial veins in the legs turn blue or dark purple and look lumpy, raised, and misshapen. Varicose veins don't always bulge to the surface because they can be deep in the tissues of the lower extremities. Because of this, leg pain is often confusing because the pain has no apparent cause.
Varicose veins need treatment because it can lead to thrombophlebitis - inflammation of the walls of the veins. With thrombophlebitis, blood clots form, and if they enter the pulmonary circulation, a person can die from pulmonary embolism, in which a blood clot blocks a vital blood vessel.
causes of varicose veins
Varicose veins in the legs occur due to decreased elasticity of the vein walls and valve insufficiency. The following contribute to the development of varicose veins:
- A sedentary lifestyle and long hours of work. It usually occurs with office workers, weightlifters, dentists and surgeons;
- genetic predisposition;
- Women: Women are more prone to varicose veins than men because the "female" hormone estrogen can negatively affect the walls of the veins. Also, during pregnancy, pressure in the veins of the pelvis and lower extremities increases, so the risk of developing varicose veins becomes higher.
- Congenital weakness of the vascular system;
- Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, in which a pathological message forms between arteries and veins, resulting in a reverse outflow of venous blood.
Symptoms of varicose veins
Varicose veins can be symptomatic and almost invisible. In the first case, the symptoms of varicose veins are as follows:
- lower extremity discomfort and pain;
- swollen ankle;
- A burning or throbbing sensation in the legs;
- Convulsions occur mostly at night or at night;
- itching at the site of dilated veins;
- Rapid fatigue in the legs;
- Changed skin tone.
These symptoms become more pronounced at night, at the end of the workday, in warm seasons, and after a person has been standing for long periods of time. Hidden varicose veins with no external signs of varicose veins but pain in the legs.
Usually, lower extremity pain is severe and deep in the leg. Often, pain can signal phlebitis (inflammation of a vein) and thrombosis. The development of thrombophlebitis is accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
The enlarged vein may rupture, followed by bruising where the affected blood vessel passes. Skin ulcers can occur even after minor damage to the skin. Usually, varicose ulcers are small, superficial, and painful.
The danger of phlebitis, thrombosis, and ulcers in leg varicose veins is that they cause small, thin-walled blisters on the ankle. These blisters are easily damaged and bleed. During sleep, the blisters may burst, causing minor bleeding.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities can cause other skin and vascular lesions:
- lymphadenopathy. Enlarged veins can damage the blood vessels of the lymphatic system, which is responsible for transporting and processing toxins and metabolites. In addition, damage to the lymphatic vessels can lead to lymphedema, swelling of the lower extremities;
- dermatitis, accompanied by itching and rash in the area of varicose veins. Most of the time, the rash is on the lower legs and ankles. Dermatitis can cause minor bleeding, skin irritation, and infection.
How to treat varicose veins?
If the symptoms of varicose veins are mild, the preventive measures prescribed by a phlebologist (treatment of venous disease) are sufficient. However, when varicose veins cause discomfort, such as pain, cosmetic defects, leg fatigue, swelling, or a change in skin color, treatment is needed, including the following:
- compression stockings, 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. Stockings must be worn for at least 6 months to relieve symptoms. In addition, wearing stockings should be combined with regular physical activity, in which the legs are more involved: running, fitness equipment, cycling;
- Radiofrequency ablationThis is a minimally invasive method: a single-use catheter is inserted into a vein, which is heated and collapsed. As a result, the veins close and venous blood flows to the heart through healthy veins;
- Sclerotherapy. The doctor injects a drug that turns part of the vein into connective tissue. As a result, the lumen of the vein closes and blood is transported by adjacent healthy vessels;
- Surgical methodsInvolves ligation or complete removal of the affected vein.
How to treat varicose veins in women's legs?
Treatment of varicose veins does not depend on gender: women are the same as men. However, the treatment of pregnant women has its peculiarities. Maternal varicose veins increase the risk of obstetric and vascular complications, can lead to an unstable pregnancy, and increase the incidence of maternal poisoning. Therefore, special attention should be 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 lesions. Minimally invasive methods such as sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation are contraindicated during pregnancy. In addition, women during pregnancy rarely take hormonal medications and NSAIDs.
The main treatment for varicose veins in women is conservative treatment in the form of compressions (compression stockings) combined with drugs that improve the nutrition of the vessel walls (intravenous injections). If compression therapy doesn't work, doctors prescribe drugs that don't penetrate the placenta and don't affect the fetus.
Complications of varicose veins
Untreated varicose veins can be complicated by nutritional ulcers, acute thrombophlebitis, and bleeding from involved veins.
Nutritional ulcers most commonly form on the inner surface of the lower leg and above the ankle. The first sign of ulceration is dermatitis: the skin becomes inflamed and itchy. Single and multiple small painful sores then form from which small amounts of pus or inflammatory fluid are secreted.
In acute thrombophlebitis, the superficial veins appear sealed with pain and redness along the veins. Patients with acute thrombophlebitis have difficulty walking due to leg discomfort and pain. A thrombosed vein may rupture. Then there's profuse bleeding, which results in massive blood loss.
prevent varicose veins
To prevent varicose veins in both men and women, you need to follow the recommendations. The most effective tips and methods:
- Always prefer physical activity over standing still, e. g. instead of elevators, take the stairs yourself, if you need to travel 1-2 stops, don't take transport and walk;
- Pay attention to your weight - being overweight is a factor in varicose veins;
- A mobile lifestyle is the key to preventing varicose veins. However, physical activity must be reasonable. Lifting weights is not recommended because it can put a lot of stress on the legs and cause blood to stagnate. The best exercises for the lower body are running, cycling, swimming, aerobics. choose an activity that involves the calves and ankles, 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 walk;
- Choose comfortable shoes, do not wear high heels, and walk barefoot as much as possible;
- Walk at least 30 minutes a day, at least 3-4 times a week;
- If you have a fixed job, wear compression stockings and wear them while you work. So you can tone the veins in your lower extremities and blood won't get stuck in them.
If your leg hurts for no reason, has fatigue and swelling, and has curved blue or purple veins on your skin, you may have varicose veins in your lower extremities. Do not delay treatment and consult a doctor for advice and diagnosis.