Varicose veins of the legs are the most common among all types of this pathology. This is due to the upright posture of a person, which creates heavy load to the lower limbs.

Varicose veins are dilation of superficial veins, in which there is a disturbance in blood flow. The development of the disease is associated with weakness of the venous wall and increased blood pressure in the vessels. When the walls of the vein expand, the normal function valve apparatus.

Blood cannot adequately move up to the heart, and stagnates in the lower extremities. This is how varicose veins develop in the legs. Symptoms of the disease manifest themselves in the appearance of vascular mesh and venous nodes in the area of ​​weakened veins.

Quite varied. These include heredity, excess weight, poor lifestyle, prolonged physical activity on the legs, and pregnancy. It is very important, this will help avoid the development of the disease and strengthen blood vessels.

Symptoms and signs of varicose veins in the legs

Symptoms of varicose veins lower limbs varied, it all depends on the stage of the disease. At first, the patient does not see any external manifestations; the only concern may be fatigue after a working day, heaviness in the legs. The disease can manifest itself in the development of the vascular network, later venous nodes appear and dilated vessels become visible.

In later stages of the disease, the symptoms of varicose veins on the legs multiply, pain in the muscles and legs, swelling, and skin pigmentation appear. IN advanced cases are developing trophic ulcers And venous bleeding.

Manifestations of the disease at different stages

At the first stage of the disease, the symptoms of varicose veins of the legs are mild. Heaviness and fatigue may bother you, in some places the skin becomes translucent spider veins or "string" of vein.

At the second stage of the disease, leg cramps may occur, external manifestations dilated veins, the patient feels pain and heaviness after prolonged physical activity.

The third stage of varicose veins is characterized by the appearance of pronounced venous nodes, pigmentation on the skin, and swelling of the lower extremities.

The fourth stage manifests itself in the form of trophic ulcers on the skin, which can bleed and heal poorly. The patient feels severe pain and discomfort in the lower extremities.

What if you don't treat it?

If you notice symptoms of varicose veins in your legs, treatment should be started as early as possible. Absence right actions may lead to severe complications, such as thrombophlebitis, bleeding from varicose veins, thromboembolism.

Blood clots that form during thrombophlebitis interfere with normal blood flow, which disrupts the blood supply to the tissues. If you do nothing, trophic ulcers may appear - wounds on the skin that become wet and do not heal well.

When should you consult a doctor immediately?

If you notice any manifestations of varicose veins, consult a doctor. Severe pain in the legs, frequent cramps, the appearance of pigmentation and deterioration in general condition should also alert you.

Do not delay your visit to a phlebologist; timely consultation with a doctor will help you avoid all complications and cope with the disease.

Diagnosis of varicose veins of the legs

The most common and effective method diagnosis of dilated veins in the legs is considered ultrasound examination. It will help determine the exact location of the varicose vein, its type and degree of disease.

In addition, the doctor will prescribe general analysis blood, which will show the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin, leukocytes and platelets. This will help determine a predisposition to thrombophlebitis or indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the vein.

The stage of the disease can be determined using a method such as rheovasography - determining the lack of blood supply to tissues. In complex and difficult to diagnose cases, they resort to surgical exploration(for example, phlebography).

Basic treatment methods

There are several ways to treat varicose veins, the decision is made by the doctor and it depends on the stage of the disease and its course.

• The use of venotonics and angioprotectors are drugs that normalize the structure of the walls blood vessels, improve blood microcirculation.
• Compression jersey - helps reduce painful sensations, increases vascular tone.
• – hirudotherapy, hirudin, contained in the saliva of leeches, reduces blood viscosity and saturates it useful substances.
• Surgical methods of treatment – ​​phlebectomy, laser coagulation, radiofrequency coagulation, sclerotherapy, help cope with the problem of varicose veins and remove dilated veins.

Disease prevention

Preventing varicose veins will help reduce the risk of the disease. The right image life and sufficient, varied physical activity during the day - an opportunity to keep your veins healthy for a long time.

Don't forget about proper nutrition, because excess weight contributes to the development varicose veins veins After a hard day at work, give your feet a good rest. Avoid hot procedures and bad habits (nicotine contained in cigarettes reduces vascular tone).

• At the first signs of varicose veins, consult a doctor immediately.
• Be especially attentive to the blood vessels in your legs during pregnancy.
• If you are at risk of developing varicose veins, to prevent the disease during long trips, travel and physical activity, wear compression garments.
• Organize correct mode work and rest.
• Avoid smoking, fatty and junk food, and sitting for long periods of time in one position to reduce the risk of varicose veins.

If a patient has been diagnosed with varicose veins, the symptoms of the disease can be very different. In the initial stages there are practically no visible manifestations, and in advanced cases, except for swelling and painful sensations, varicose nodes and vein deformation are clearly visible.

How to identify varicose veins in the early stages?

The first symptoms of varicose veins can be so hidden that a person does not even think about problems with the veins. Slight swelling and puffiness, fatigue after a working day, tingling and night cramps - all this can be attributed to banal overwork of the lower extremities and not paid attention to alarm bells.

If the patient has internal varicose veins, symptoms may appear as spider veins. Over time, if you do not consult a doctor, venous nodes will appear.

The initial ones can manifest themselves as swelling along the venous bed after a heavy load on the lower extremities.

Why is this happening?

Quite varied. Signs of varicose veins may occur due to hereditary predisposition, excess weight, prolonged load on the lower limbs, wearing uncomfortable shoes, poor nutrition and lifestyle.

Deep varicose veins, the symptoms of which manifest themselves in deformation of the veins and pain in the area of ​​the venous nodes, develop for reasons such as genetic weakness of blood vessels, immune and neuroendocrine disorders, bad job valvular apparatus of blood vessels.

Risk factors for developing varicose veins

If you have been diagnosed with varicose veins, symptoms and treatment largely depend on the cause of the disease. One of the risk factors is heredity, but this does not mean that mandatory a person whose relatives have varicose veins will also have this disease.

Symptoms of varicose veins in men are much less common than in women. This is due to changes hormonal levels the fair half of humanity has a love for high heels and beautiful, but uncomfortable shoes. Women often experience varicose veins during pregnancy, as the growing fetus creates additional stress and the hormonal state changes.

Varicose veins at different stages: signs of the disease

There are four main stages of the disease.

• Stage 1 – the patient notices the appearance spider veins and a fine network of blood vessels, no particular pain or discomfort is felt, fatigue and heaviness in the legs after a working day may bother you.
• Stage 2 – night cramps, heaviness and a feeling of fullness appear in the lower extremities.
• Stage 3 – pigmentation occurs on the skin in the affected area, venous nodes and compactions are visible, swelling, itching, and dry skin appear.
• Stage 4 – blood supply to tissues is disrupted, trophic ulcers appear, bleeding from varicose nodes.

What other organs are susceptible to varicose veins?

Women often experience varicose veins of the uterus or pelvis. The patient may feel pain in the lower abdomen, which becomes more pronounced with movement, after intimate relationships, during hypothermia or after physical exertion. And although with others gynecological diseases There are such symptoms, varicose veins of the uterus can also be a diagnosis.

If the patient is concerned spasmodic pain lower abdomen, there are problems with bowel movements, bleeding from anal passage, others occur similar symptoms, varicose veins of the intestine can manifest themselves this way. In some cases, varicose veins of the esophagus and varicose veins of the genital organs are diagnosed in both men and women. But most often, of course, it is varicose veins of the lower extremities that occur.

What if you don't treat it?

One of the dangerous complications of varicose veins is the development of thrombophlebitis - dense blood clots or blood clots form on the vein, which interfere with normal blood flow. If a blood clot breaks away from the wall of the vessel and enters the lungs with the bloodstream, thromboembolism will occur - a condition that leads to fatal outcome.

Complications of varicose veins include trophic ulcers that do not heal for a long time. They may bleed, are very painful and interfere with the patient's ability to normal life.

IN in rare cases rupture may occur varicose vein and the development of bleeding.

Prevention of varicose veins

A good prevention of varicose veins is proper physical activity. Hiking on fresh air, swimming, cycling or skiing will help maintain the tone of the vascular walls and reduce the risk of developing the disease.

If there is a heavy load on your legs, take breaks from work and rest fully after working day. Can be done contrast shower for the legs or lie down with the lower limbs raised high to reduce the strain on the veins.

Watch your weight and lifestyle, improve your health every day, so as not to know what varicose veins are. Do not ignore the symptoms of an incipient illness and immediately consult a doctor.

• Wear comfortable shoes without high heels.
• Do adequate exercise physical activity(swimming, fitness, cycling).
• Give up bad habits - nicotine destroys the venous wall.
• Watch your weight, eat right.
• Do not get carried away with thermal procedures, such as a bath or sauna - this reduces vascular tone.
• Don't sit with your legs crossed.
• Get proper rest after a working day.

The feeling of heaviness and pain in the legs, especially in the evening, is a familiar situation to many, especially women over 30 years old. However, not all patients hear the diagnosis “initial stage of varicose veins” from doctors. Swelling, pain, feeling of fullness in calf muscles oh, leg cramps occur due to various reasons. It is important to recognize the illness by the first symptoms in order to begin treatment correctly and in a timely manner.

People who lead a predominantly “sedentary” or “standing” lifestyle already in their young years notice swelling and pain in their legs. What is this, the consequences of ordinary fatigue or bad veins? Most are inclined to the first explanation. A visit to the doctor is seen as a last resort when the discomfort becomes completely unbearable. The first signs of the initial stage of varicose veins of the lower extremities:

• A regularly occurring feeling of fatigue and heaviness in the legs, especially at the end of the day;
• Feeling of tension, swelling in the calves of the legs after a long period of standing and sitting;
• Swelling in the area of ​​the foot and lower leg, which appears in the evening;
• Venous stars, spiders on the skin (optional);
• Feeling of heat and pain in the calves;
• Leg cramps at night;

Disturbances in the walls of blood vessels occur already by the age of 20–25, and the first visit to doctors regarding venous insufficiency occurs after the age of 35. When treated late, varicose veins are more difficult to cure than at the initial stage. The functioning of the venous valves is disrupted, they themselves are modified, as a result, the reverse flow of blood in the veins begins, the walls of the vessels stretch and weaken.

How to treat varicose veins at the initial stage?

You can reduce the risk of dilated veins if you take timely measures. If left untreated, the initial stage of varicose veins progresses. Dark blue superficial vessels become more noticeable, red-violet spiders and stars appear, bulging, convoluted varicose veins.

As complex therapy For varicose veins, medications are used to tone and strengthen the walls of venous vessels, reducing pain and other symptoms. Selection of drugs and combination various means each other must be agreed upon with your doctor. Drug therapy no longer eliminates swollen veins, but helps to stop the changes that lead to severe stages of varicose veins. Phlebotonics, angioprotectors, microcirculation correctors for oral and external use:

1. Capsules and gel Troxerutin, Troxevasin with active substance troxerutin.
2. Aescusan solution with extract horse chestnut and vitamin B 1 (thiamine).
3. Capsules, gel and cream Angistax with red grape leaf extract.
4. Venitan gel and cream with horse chestnut fruit extract.
5. Tablets Detralex, Phlebodia with flavonoid diosmin.
6. Venarus tablets with diosmin and hesperidin.
7. Ascorutin tablets with vitamin C and rutin.
8. Venoruton capsules with rutosides.

The active components of medications from the list can help stop the distensibility of vascular walls and normalize the tone of the veins. The drugs reduce the permeability and fragility of venules, improve blood microcirculation, and relieve swelling. Thanks to treatment with phlebotonics, the arching pain in the legs goes away, and cramps practically do not bother me.

What is “varicose veins without varicose veins”?

Symptoms of the onset of varicose veins or stage 0 can be exactly the same as with “heavy” legs syndrome, phlebopathy, syndrome restless legs. During this period, there are still no visible changes in the veins, but heaviness and pain are already felt at the end of the day. Only a specialist will distinguish between pathologies that have a similar beginning. Each disease requires adequate treatment corresponding to the causes and mechanism of its development.

Attention! Phlebopathy or “varicose veins without varicose veins” is a condition in which symptoms of venous insufficiency appear, but objective research does not reveal pathology in the structure of veins.

Unpleasant sensations in the legs occur with restless legs syndrome. The cause of its development can be approximately 15–20 diseases and conditions. First of all, it is chronic venous insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, deficiency of vitamins and microelements.

Stitching and bursting pains, cramps of the calf muscles with restless legs syndrome appear in the evening or at night. To relieve discomfort, the patient bends and stretches his legs and performs many other actions, which is why normal sleep is violated. Thanks to movements and rubbing, the discomfort goes away, but not for long.

How to deal with leg pain?

If you are concerned about the first symptoms of the initial stage of varicose veins, then in addition to phlebotonics, blood thinners are prescribed. They facilitate blood flow and reduce the risk of blood clots. Venolife gels, Lyoton 1000, Heparin ointment, and Cardiomagnyl tablets have these properties. To increase the effectiveness of drug therapy, it is recommended to use simultaneously compression stockings.

Complex therapy for leg diseases includes the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs. For example, medicines Indomethacin and Diclofenac relieve pain, swelling and inflammation characteristic of the initial stage of varicose veins, thrombophlebitis and a number of other diseases. The drugs are available in the form of injection solutions, tablets, rectal suppositories and gels.

This is important! NSAIDs have negative impact on the stomach, so the use of external forms and suppositories is preferable.

You should give your legs rest more often during the day, at least briefly. In your free minutes, you can lie down, raising your legs 10–20 cm above the level chest. It is advisable to do the same during sleep. Thanks to the elevated position, venous outflow improves, pain and swelling disappear. It is useful to do contrasting foot baths before bed, and take relaxing baths with herbs and essential oils.

The initial stage of varicose veins has mild symptoms. The pathology is an expansion of the veins with thinning of their walls, due to which the vessels begin to bulge under the skin, accompanied by itching and burning, which cause discomfort.

How to recognize varicose veins in the early stages

Varicose veins in the legs develop gradually, the initial form of the disease is manifested by the appearance of spider veins, which are clearly visible through the skin. The limbs swell, and at the end of the day there is a feeling of heaviness in the legs. Paresthesia (numbness and tingling sensations) is rare, but can occur with intense physical activity.

Symptoms of the initial stage

The initial degree of varicose veins has the following manifestations:

• Leg pain. This symptom most often worries women who wear heels. Painful sensations become especially intense when standing in an upright position for a long time, when blood stagnates in the veins.
• Cramps of the calf muscles. The initial stage often gives similar symptoms in combination with a burning sensation in the muscles.
• Formation of small compactions in the veins of the lower extremities. The initial stage of varicose veins leads to gradual changes in the walls of blood vessels. They become thinner, blood circulation slows down, blood clots appear, which provoke the formation of nodules. The resulting lumps are initially soft to the touch.

As the disease progresses, trophic changes occur, which provoke the formation of ulcers in areas of vascular damage.

Diagnostics

Initial varicose veins can be diagnosed by visual examination. The following methods are used to examine veins:

• Duplex scanning. In the early stages, this method allows you to determine the speed of blood flow through the vessels. Indicators decrease with the first pathological changes. The procedure is painless and precise.
• Ultrasound Dopplerography of veins. Initial varicose veins can be determined using this method a study that evaluates the condition of the vascular walls. This method allows you to detect areas of density that indicate a pathological process.
• Rheovasography. Allows you to determine the degree of filling of the veins with blood, as well as the nature of the flow, flow delay and other features.

What does initial varicose veins look like?

Initial varicose veins can be suspected when external changes in blood vessels appear. A pronounced venous pattern appears on the skin. This problem occurs much less frequently in men than in women. Skin in the area pathological changes becomes sensitive, as the disease progresses its color changes, and sometimes characteristic rashes appear.

How to treat incipient varicose veins

The onset of varicose veins can be corrected. The earlier the disease is detected, the more effective the treatment will be. Therapy is prescribed by a phlebologist after preliminary diagnosis. It is important to eliminate the provoking factor. This may include staying in one position for a long time or sedentary lifestyle life.

Additional therapeutic effect gives exercise therapy. Gymnastics accelerates blood circulation in the veins, preventing stagnation and relieving tension in the legs.

Drug therapy

You can cure varicose veins at the initial stage using drug therapy, it is better to combine local remedies: ointments, creams and preparations for oral administration. At integrated approach can be achieved positive results and prevent further progress of the pathological process. The most common drugs used to treat the initial stages of varicose veins:

• Venotonics. This group medications are aimed at improving the condition of the vascular wall. They promote the regeneration of damaged tissues and accelerate blood flow. Venotonic drugs include Venoruton, Detralex, Phlebodia, etc.
• Anticoagulants. These medications are aimed at reducing platelet aggregation, as a result of which the rate of blood clotting slows down. Drugs in this group include Hirudin, Heparin and Aspirin.
• Antiplatelet agents. In the initial stages of varicose veins, such drugs help resolve small blood clots, which can further aggravate pathological process in vessels. Such drugs include Curantil, Trombonil, etc.

A combination of all three groups of medications gives a good effect. Medicines should be prescribed only by the attending physician.

Compression therapy

Initial varicose veins, the cause of which is a decrease in vascular tone, can be treated by wearing a special compression garments. The principle of its action is based on squeezing the veins. Stockings and other products are made of special dense fabric that fixes blood vessels, preventing their expansion. This improves blood flow in the vessels and prevents the development of the disease.

Early varicose veins require wearing such underwear for at least 3 months.

Traditional medicine

Initial varicose veins can be treated with remedies traditional medicine, however, such therapy should be considered as an auxiliary method. The use of green tomatoes has a good effect. Scroll the tomatoes through a meat grinder. Apply the resulting slurry to the areas where the vascular pattern is most pronounced, and secure with plastic wrap. Secure with a bandage. The duration of the procedure is at least an hour. Repeat daily for 14 days.

Excellent auxiliary method treatment at the initial stage of varicose veins is the use of horse chestnut tincture. To prepare, you will need 50 g of flowers, which need to be poured with 500 ml of alcohol and put in a dark place. The container with the tincture must be shaken daily. After 2 weeks, this tincture can be used to rub your feet. This is especially useful to do at the end of the working day or when standing or sitting for a long time.

At initial varicose veins good effect gives an infusion based on garlic (only 2 heads are needed). Additionally, you will need 2 lemons with peel. Both ingredients must be minced and placed in a jar. Then pour 1.5 liters of warm water and put it in a dark place. Leave for 3 days, stirring constantly. Then strain and consume with meals for 2 weeks.

Prevention

Prevention of varicose veins at the initial stage is to keep the veins in good shape. For these purposes, the following rules must be observed:

• Do not stay in one position for a long time. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, it is recommended to do warm-up or light exercises several times a day.
• At the end of the day, raise your legs slightly higher than your body to eliminate congestion in the veins. This rule is especially important to follow for women with the initial stage of varicose veins during pregnancy. It is necessary to take a horizontal position at least 2 times a day, placing a high pillow under your feet.
• Apply contrast dousing. It is necessary to alternate between cool and warm water(but not hot), pouring it over the calves and shins for 3-5 minutes. It is advisable to repeat the procedure daily before going to bed.

To stop varicose veins at the initial stage, it is recommended to avoid procedures that involve high temperatures: baths, saunas, solarium, etc.

Every fourth person in the world, regardless of age, suffers from varicose veins in the legs. At the same time, women make up the vast majority of sick people. Many young girls who have encountered this pathology perceive it as nothing other than cosmetic defect. However varicose veins lower extremities (VLNK) not only spoils appearance once attractive legs, but also threatens human health and even life.

How do varicose veins begin on the legs, and what symptoms of varicose veins indicate the need to see a doctor?

Features of the disease and reasons for its development

The heart is a pump that pumps blood through the vessels day after day and year after year. Blood returns to the heart with the help of the muscular elements with which the veins are equipped. A peculiarity of the veins of the lower extremities is that their walls are practically devoid of muscle elements. This deficiency is compensated by special valves with which the veins are equipped. By closing, the valves prevent blood from flowing down.

Varicose veins in the legs are a pathology that is expressed in the expansion and lengthening of the vessels through which blood flows to the heart, as well as in dysfunction of the valve mechanism.

Why does this disease occur? The development of this pathology occurs for a number of reasons. Studies have shown that among all living organisms, symptoms of varicose veins on the legs are present only in humans. And the reason for this is upright walking, in which the lower limbs experience a colossal load. At the same time, the risk group includes people who, due to their occupation, have to spend most of their time on their feet.

It should be noted that varicose veins on the legs are genetic disease, characterized by weak vascular wall and dysfunction of the valves. However, this does not mean at all that a person who has genetic predisposition, you will have to face this disease. As a rule, varicose veins of the lower extremities develop under the influence of provoking factors.

What factors provoke the development of the disease?

Statistics show that in children whose parents suffer from VBNC, the likelihood of inheriting this disease increases to 70%. However, every person can reduce this percentage by eliminating provoking factors. These include:

• sedentary work and sedentary lifestyle;
• imbalance of hormones;
• frequent stress;
• overweight.

Along with development information technology, people began to experience symptoms of varicose veins much more often. If earlier kids entertained themselves with the help of outdoor games, now they rarely look up from their computers. Long stay V sitting position leads to compression of the venous ducts and poor circulation.

Symptoms of varicose veins in the legs appear much more often in women than in men. This is due to hormonal instability. The likelihood of developing the disease increases significantly during the following periods of a woman’s life:

• puberty;
• pregnancy;
• childbirth and the postpartum period;
• menopause.

It was during these periods in female body there is a deficiency of estrogen and an excess of progesterone, called the pregnancy hormone. Progesterone helps relax smooth muscles, dilating blood vessels.

Varicose veins of the deep veins of the lower extremities can occur due to mechanical factors, for example, due to blood clots or neoplasms that obstruct the outflow of blood.

Problems with veins can occur due to frequent stress. Elasticity venous walls provide nerve fibers. Stress and various disorders nervous system lead to increased pressure and dilation of blood vessels.

In people with increased body weight, varicose veins of the lower extremities develop much more often. This is due to the significant load placed on the legs and, accordingly, on the vessels.

How to recognize the disease

Varicose veins of the lower extremities, the symptoms of which are difficult to confuse with another disease, are important to recognize early stage. Only in this case will it be possible to cure the disease without resorting to surgical intervention. How do you know when it's time to see a doctor? First you need to understand how varicose veins begin. At the initial stage there are no obvious signs diseases expressed in the appearance of spider veins and spider veins, spoiling the appearance of the limbs.

Signs of varicose veins in women include the following:

• when standing or walking for a long time, pain appears in the legs, warmth is felt, and in some cases a burning sensation;
• after exercise, you feel heaviness in your legs;
• swelling of the legs appears mainly in the evening and goes away in the morning;
• sleep is disturbed due to cramps in the limbs.

As a rule, people ignore the first signs of varicose veins, citing fatigue. However, if the disease is not treated at an early stage, it progresses and more severe symptoms varicose veins:

• veins dilate and are easily palpable;
• the skin on the affected areas of the extremities darkens and thickens;
• The slightest microtraumas lead to the appearance of trophic ulcers.

Feature of this disease is that if a person lies down and raises his legs up, the vascular network disappears, and the signs of varicose veins on the legs become less pronounced. When a person takes a vertical position, the mesh and venous nodes again appear on the legs.

Stages of the disease

There are three stages of disease development:

• Stage 1 or stage of compensation, in which a person has no pain, and beginning signs of the disease are visible on one or both legs;
• Stage 2 or the stage of subcompensation is characterized by pronounced signs of varicose veins in the legs, a feeling of fullness and burning in the veins, as well as night cramps;
• Stage 3 or stage of decompensation, to which, in addition to the signs of the previous stage, skin problems are added, when dermatitis and eczema begin to appear.

What are the consequences of lack of treatment?

Varicose veins of the lower extremities can be acute and chronic. Moreover, it takes a chronic form if a person did not consider it necessary to see a doctor at an early stage of the disease and did not undergo treatment.

Features of the acute form of the disease

The acute form of the disease is characterized by the following manifestations:

• redness of the skin of the affected areas of the legs;
• painful sensations along the veins;
• noticeable expansion of areas of internal vessels.

Signs of varicose veins in acute form may disappear completely after a course of treatment. Blood clots formed during stagnation in the veins are capable of germinating connective tissue and completely dissolve. In this case, the patency of the vessels is completely restored.

If left untreated, complications may occur. These include the following pathological conditions:

• varicothrombophlebitis is a disease in which thrombosis of the superficial veins develops;
• Lebothrombosis is a condition in which .

Features of the chronic form

Emergence process chronic form happens in stages. At the initial stage, internal varicose veins on the legs occur in an unexpressed form, characterized by the absence of clear clinical signs. The patient is only bothered by slightly visible dilated veins and swelling of the extremities.

In the future, the affected veins are visible more clearly, and over time, nodes appear on the surface of the skin. Swelling becomes more pronounced, the skin darkens and becomes covered with weeping ulcers. For more late stage symptoms intensify, and treatment with conservative methods does not bring positive results.

The chronic form is characterized by the presence of certain symptoms of varicose veins:

• the patient is bothered by itching and pain along the affected vessels;
• night sleep is periodically interrupted due to seizures;
• swelling of the lower extremities practically does not subside;
• destruction occurs skin, which leads to the formation of poorly healing trophic ulcers.

Diagnostic methods

Varicose veins are diagnosed quite simply. For these purposes, two methods are used:

• ultrasound examination of veins;
• contrast venography.

Both of these methods make it possible to determine the degree of damage and patency of the veins. However, an ultrasound can also detect blood clots and understand in which direction the blood is moving. For this reason, ultrasound is considered more informative method diagnostics, and therefore is used much more often.

Treatment options

The choice of treatment regimen is selected by the doctor based on the symptoms of varicose veins, the stage of the disease and the results diagnostic examination. In general, there are several ways to treat the disease:

• the conservative method involves internal administration and external use medicines, having a venotonic effect;
• hirudotherapy is one of the unconventional methods treatment consisting of the use of leeches;
• surgical method is often the only possible way eliminate varicose veins of deep veins.

As an additional therapy, both at the initial stage of the disease and during its progression, it is indicated for patients.

Features of the conservative treatment method

Having figured out what causes varicose veins and having discovered the first signs of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor. If the process has just begun, it can be stopped with the help of medications, which include creams, ointments, and drops.

Local agents

Among creams and ointments, the following drugs are most effective:

The use of these products can reduce pain and swelling, as well as increase vascular tone and improve blood flow. However, they can only be used in combination with the internal administration of venotonic agents.

General means

Medicines intended for internal use, allow you to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, improve their tone, eliminate inflammatory processes and improve blood flow. Among the most popular drugs The following can be noted:

Varicose veins of the lower extremities require complex treatment. In this case, any drugs, both general and local, must be used exclusively as prescribed by a doctor.

Features of the surgical treatment method

TO surgical methods treatments include the following procedures:

• laser coagulation;
• radiofrequency coagulation;
• sclerotherapy;
• phlebectomy.

Phlebectomy is an operation during which the affected veins are removed. All other procedures are aimed at achieving similar effect without resorting to surgical intervention. Their main advantage is safety for the patient’s health, and the disadvantage is a temporary effect.

Features of other treatment methods

Hirudotherapy enjoys well-deserved popularity as it can improve the condition of sick people. It contains hirudin, a special substance that improves blood quality and reduces blood clotting.

All patients, regardless of the stage of the disease, are recommended to wear compression hosiery. By compressing the limbs, it prevents stretching of the veins and also improves general condition the patient by eliminating painful sensations and increasing vascular tone.

How to avoid developing the disease

To avoid the development of the disease and its disastrous consequences, women need to stop wearing high-heeled shoes. The maximum length of the heel should not exceed 4 cm. Fashionable stiletto heels can only be worn on holidays and for a short time. If a significant load on the legs is expected, for example, a long walk, you should bandage the legs using elastic bandage, or wear compression stockings. The human body should not be in the same position for a long time. If your occupation requires you to sit or stand for a long time, you should try to periodically change your body position.

Hot baths have a relaxing effect, including on blood vessels. To avoid a decrease in vascular tone, hot baths should be replaced with warm showers. The final douche will help strengthen the walls of blood vessels. cold water. Smoking has a negative effect on blood vessels. Therefore, people predisposed to VBNK should avoid this bad habit. Moderate use alcoholic drinks applies less harm vessels than nicotine.

You should avoid wearing things that put pressure on the lower limbs, waist and groin area, for example, stockings or socks with tight elastic bands, as well as tight trousers. What should people do with varicose veins to increase activity? Cycling and swimming can improve the functions of the heart and blood vessels. You should avoid engaging in sports that place significant stress on your limbs, such as bodybuilding or tennis.

When at rest, it is recommended to place your legs above the heart area. That is, when going to bed, you need to place a pillow or a rolled blanket under your feet, which will improve the flow of blood from the extremities and relieve the manifestations of the disease.