Treatment methods for varicose veins, possible causes and symptoms of the disease

Varicose veins are a very common pathology that significantly affects the quality of life and causes dangerous complications that require expensive and complex treatment.

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins or varicose veins is a disease associated with a malfunction of the valve apparatus of the veins. As a result of their defeat, the normal outflow of blood from the periphery is disturbed, and the blood stagnates in different parts of the vascular bed, as a result of which they expand.

The main contingent susceptible to the occurrence of this disease are people over 40 years of age. This is due to the fact that at this time the vessels are exposed to various negative influences, which leads to a decrease in their adaptability.

Most often, varicose veins affect the lower extremities, but the pathological process can also be observed in the groin or internal organs.

It is necessary to carry out preventive measures, since this pathology tends to progress, and the treatment regimen for varicose veins is quite complicated.

reasons

The main causes of varicose veins are considered to be excessive and insufficient mobility. The mechanism of normal blood flow through the veins is closely related to muscle contractions. During muscle tension, blood is forced through the veins, and the valves in the venous cavity prevent reflux.

Lack of physical activity leads to a blockage of the periphery, which causes the blood to exert excessive pressure on the valve system.Excessive exercise also has a detrimental effect on the vascular system. Frequent muscle contractions can damage the valves in the veins.

In addition, there are a number of negative factors and diseases that increase the risk of developing varicose veins:

• Bad habits. Alcohol and nicotine have vasomotor properties. They can widen and narrow the lumen of the blood vessels, which disrupts normal blood flow.
• Coffee abuse.
• Uncomfortable shoes.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Systemic connective tissue diseases.
• atherosclerosis.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Traumatic injuries.
• overweight.

The presence of such factors significantly increases the risk of disease. Regardless of the etiological factor, the symptoms of varicose veins of the lower extremities do not differ.

Clinical manifestations

Usually, the symptoms of this disease appear when there are already irreversible structural changes in the veins of the lower extremities. This means that the patient needs surgical treatment at the time of the doctor's visit.

In the early stages, varicose veins can be asymptomatic. Some patients complain of mild pain that occurs after long walking or running. There are no specific symptoms to make a diagnosis. The initial forms of the varicose veins can only be demonstrated with the help of instrumental examinations.

The symptoms of advanced varicose veins are as follows:

1. The appearance of cyanosis, which is localized along the veins.
2. vessels bulge over the skin surface and form nodules. These formations are painful and dense, which is associated with inflammation and the process of proliferation of connective tissue in these areas (sclerosis).
3. Constant pain that does not depend on physical exertion. If at the beginning of the development of the pathology it appears exclusively after an overvoltage, then in later periods it can disturb the patient even in a dream. This is due to the fact that one of the signs of inflammation is pain syndrome. The intensity of the pain can be very pronounced, leading to the appearance of lameness.
4. Local temperature increase in the area of ​​the nodes.

The appearance of the first symptoms of the disease requires an immediate visit to a medical facility for diagnosis and treatment.

Why varicose veins are dangerous

The lack of adequate treatment is fraught with the development of a number of dangerous complications that threaten not only health, but also life. This includes:

1. Thrombophlebitis. Blood flow is significantly slowed down in inflamed areas of the veins. Such conditions are comfortable for blood clots to form. These blood clots can block the lumen of the vessel in the lower extremities, which can cause burn wounds, or they can be carried with blood to the lungs, heart, brain, and other organs, causing an acute disruption of the blood supply. These pathologies are extremely difficult to treat and often lead to disability and death.
2. Trophic ulcers. A violation of the venous blood flow is always accompanied by microcirculation disorders in the tissue of the lower extremities. A lack of oxygen and nutrients leads to ulcers. These ulcers are difficult to treat and often recur as a result of therapy aimed at targeting the root cause of their occurrence.
3. bleeding. When varicose veins are accompanied by high blood pressure, it can lead to peripheral vessel rupture and bleeding. This is due to the fact that the dilated vessels become thinner and high blood pressure levels can cause them to burst. In addition, bleeding can occur with minor mechanical damage that does not even lead to the formation of a hematoma in a healthy person.

Almost all complications can be exacerbated by the addition of an infectious factor that significantly worsens the condition and makes treatment difficult.

If complications arise, the treatment of varicose veins should be reconsidered.

Diagnosis

If you suspect varicose veins, the patient must undergo a series of examinations to confirm the diagnosis and assess the condition of the tissues surrounding the pathological foci.

The following surveys are carried out for this purpose:

1. Complete blood count.
2. blood biochemistry.
3. coagulogram. This laboratory examination makes it possible to predict the development of thrombosis and thrombophlebitis based on the properties of blood clotting. High coagulation is a threatening disease.
4. ultrasound. With the help of ultrasound, you can get a detailed picture of the vascular bed and identify foci of inflammation that do not appear externally.
5. phlebography. Obtaining a graphic image of the venous system of the lower extremities with a contrast agent will allow you to examine its structures in detail and identify even the smallest changes.

In addition to instrument and laboratory examinations, specific tests are carried out that assess the condition of soft tissues and the degree of circulatory failure.

An external exam is also important, in which the doctor can identify external specific manifestations, presumed localization, and trophic ulcers.

A phlebologist should be involved in the treatment and monitoring of patients with this disease. It is this doctor who specializes in treating varicose veins.

Treatment

Treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities is possible with medication or surgical intervention. The choice of treatment method depends on how closely the changes are observed in the affected area.

Medical treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities is carried out according to a special scheme, which takes into account the impact on the pathological process and prevents the development of complications.

Surgical treatment of varicose veins is the most effective, as it allows you to get rid of the pathology forever. However, it is not permissible for all patients and has a number of contraindications.

Conservative Therapy

Treatment of varicose veins without surgery is allowed only in the early stages of the progression of the disease.

It is worth remembering that conservative treatment will only help to get rid of the manifestations of the disease. It is impossible to have a lasting effect with just drugs. They only work for a limited time and cannot prevent the disease from progressing.

Patients with varicose veins have been shown to use the following drug groups:

• NSAIDs. It is advisable to apply nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs topically in the form of ointments. In some cases, it is possible to prescribe these drugs in tablet form, but a long period of treatment can lead to the development of gastritis or ulcer disease caused by side effects.
• antiplatelet drugs. The action of such drugs is aimed at preventing blood clots. The primitive representative is the usual aspirin, which is used in small doses. They thin the blood, which makes it easier for blood to flow through the inflamed veins. The use of such drugs is not acceptable for patients with a tendency to bleed.
• Hormones of the prednisone group. In cases when NSAIDs do not have the desired effect, the use of hormones from the adrenal cortex is indicated. These substances are also used as ointments. They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, and they also improve tissue microcirculation. It should be remembered that long-term use of hormones also adversely affects the condition of the body.
• Phlebotonics. This group of drugs is used to treat varicose veins of the lower extremities. They normalize the tone of the vascular wall, which ensures normal blood flow.

Treatment of varicose veins should be systematic. Regular cyclical use of drugs allows you to maintain a constant concentration of active ingredients, which ensures a constant effect on damaged vessels.

The use of these drugs should be strictly as directed by a doctor. Their independent use is strictly prohibited, as they can cause side effects, and also have specific contraindications. Failure to comply with such restrictions leads to an aggravation of the general condition.

Conservative therapy is best suited as a supportive method in preparation for a planned operation.

Surgical treatment

Many people wonder how varicose veins can be cured without surgery. Indeed, it is impossible. The main type of surgical treatment is saphenectomy.

A safenectomy is an operation to remove damaged large saphenous veins. This completely eliminates the foci of the disease. However, the disadvantage of such treatment is a fairly high rate of injury. More recently, such operations have been performed with a large number of skin incisions necessary to gain access to the veins.

Modern methods of treating varicose veins now allow safenectomy with a minimal number of incisions, as there are special probes for the extraction of veins. A vein up to half a meter long can be removed from an incision.

This operation has a number of contraindications that make it impossible to perform. These include:

1. Diabetes mellitus. This pathology is associated with the fact that wound healing is significantly reduced. In such a situation, surgery can provoke purulent-septic processes, which may require amputation of the limbs.
2. Intolerance to antibacterial agents. In the postoperative period, antibiotics are prescribed that destroy the pathogenic flora that got into the wound during surgical treatment. Some patients have an intolerance to these drugs. Surgical treatment without antibiotic therapy is strictly prohibited.
3. Serious diseases of the cardiovascular system. Those pathologies associated with heart failure can become a contraindication, as they are prohibited from using certain anesthetics.

Safenectomy is performed for uncomplicated forms of varicose veins. The cases where trophic ulcers or necrotic changes caused by an acute disturbance of the blood supply are observed, require an expansion of the scope of the operation.

Possibly removal of ulcers during surgery. Thus, the prevention of tissue death is carried out. Amputation is required in cases where venous thrombosis has resulted in burn wounds. Such an operation is performed only in extreme cases.

There are also modern minimally invasive treatments, including:

• Sclerotherapy.
• high frequency ablation.
• laser ablation.

These treatment methods are based on the clogging of the lumen of blood vessels and their further destruction with the help of chemicals or physical factors.

It is advisable to use them in the early stages of the disease. In such a situation, the risk of relapse becomes minimal. It is not worth doing such treatment with advanced varicose veins, as it may require a relatively large number of sessions.

Folk Remedies

Some sources suggest using various traditional medicines to treat varicose veins of the legs. It is strongly discouraged as the effect of plants on this pathology has not been scientifically proven.

The treatment of varicose veins on the lower extremities should only be planned by a licensed specialist. Methods of treating varicose veins without surgery only help to delay their implementation. You should not turn to various folk healers, as the lost time before starting proper treatment can lead to amputation.

Complementary therapy

In order to achieve the maximum effect of the treatment, in addition to the use of medication, additional measures should be taken. These include:

• diet. Patients with varicose veins should avoid fatty foods. It helps increase cholesterol levels and blood viscosity. Such processes lead to an increase in the slowdown of peripheral blood flow in the area of ​​dilated veins and provoke thrombus formation. You also need to drink plenty of fluids to thin your blood. It is recommended to drink plain water, not carbonated beverages or tea.
• Keep your legs up regularly. Such procedures stimulate the outflow of blood under its own weight, thereby preventing clogging.
• Wear tight stockings. In an upright posture, such stockings prevent the accumulation of blood in the dilated veins. However, it is necessary to put on such stockings correctly, because prolonged wear can negatively affect the condition of the foot, as well as the skin in the lower leg area.
• Go. Patients need to maintain an active lifestyle. In the later stages of varicose veins, walks should be short-lived and not cause fatigue or leg pain.

In addition, comorbid diseases such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes or obesity should be treated. The presence of such therapy allows in some cases to be limited to only drug treatment, which ensures a favorable outcome of the disease.

Prevention

To prevent varicose veins from developing, you need to follow a number of simple rules that will reduce the risk of their occurrence. All of them are aimed at maintaining normal blood characteristics and creating a normal lifestyle. Among them are:

1. Drinking liquid at least one and a half liters per day.
2. Proper nutrition. This term includes not only the provision of all necessary substances in the diet and the exclusion of harmful foods, but also regular meals. If you eat at the same time, you can get the maximum of nutrients from food, as a reflex will develop and a sufficient amount of gastric juice will be released.
3. Giving up bad habits.
4. Limit the amount of coffee and other energy drinks.
5. Maintain mobility even while sitting. There are special exercises for this that are used to contract the muscles of the legs.
6. Timely treatment of diseases. Any pathology in the human body can have long-term consequences. To avoid this, you should always contact a doctor when symptoms occur and undergo preventive exams.

Today there are different ways to treat varicose veins. With timely diagnosis, you can get rid of the problem once and for all. Treating varicose veins without surgery is advisable only at the onset of the disease.