According to statistics, one in four inhabitants of the planet, regardless of age and physiological data, suffers from varicose veins. Varicose veins are a predominantly hereditary disease, which can be caused by genetic factors. Any aspect of a disease, such as varicose veins, can be a trigger to trigger the mechanism, including an unhealthy diet, intense physical activity or its total absence. The clinical picture of the disease and the choice of treatment method depend on the stage and shape of the varicose veins, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient.
Pathogenesis and etiology
Currently, it is proven and confirmed by scientific data that the main reason that predisposes to the appearance of the main symptoms of the disease is heredity. Genetic deficiencies, expressed in the transfer of genetic material responsible for the elasticity and tone of the venous walls, are transmitted from generation to generation, causing the development of varicose veins.
In the presence of a hereditary predisposition, it is incredibly difficult to avoid the appearance of the main symptoms of the disease, because any factors that almost every average person encounters on a daily basis can serve as reasons, as a kind of catalyst for the release. of pathological processes. Among the most common reasons, the negative impact of which can cause pathology, are called:
- Lack of physical activity.
- The period of pregnancy and subsequent delivery.
- Excess weight, especially with the location of fat masses in the lower part of the body.
- Long-term use of hormonal and potent drugs.
- Irrational approach to diet.
- Postural pathologies and sedentary lifestyle.
- Go for regular tanning beds.
- Bad habits.
- Wear tight fitting clothing.
Therefore, varicose veins are primarily a genetic defect. The above causes of varicose veins, the systematic effect of which are various pathologies of the circulatory system, including varicose veins, are among the most common. However, in each individual situation, other reasons, among other things, can play a negative role. It is almost impossible to completely eliminate all predisposing factors.
Excess weight can cause the appearance of varicose veins.
Clinical picture
Symptoms of varicose veins, regardless of the reasons, can vary significantly depending on the stage and form of the disease, as well as other factors, such as lifestyle and anatomical features of the structure of the venous system. At the moment, there are six main stages of varicose veins, each of which is characterized by a certain set of characteristic symptoms and causes of appearance.
First stage. In the initial stage of formation, varicose veins are characterized by the appearance of the following symptoms:
- Tingle.
- Heaviness and pain in the legs.
- Burning, itching.
- Night cramps
You may also notice the visual symptoms of star-shaped varicose veins and bluish veins. At this stage, the patient notices the appearance of edema after physical exertion and at night.
Second stage. According to scientific data, true varicose veins of the lower extremities, regardless of the reasons, begin precisely from the second stage of the formation of the disease. This is due to the fact that the symptoms that appear in the first two stages of varicose veins can be attributed to other diseases of the vascular system. During this period, the patient feels discomfort, tingling and pain in the legs, even after reasons such as taking short walks. Also, the visual symptoms of the disease are clearly visible: the vascular network, swollen veins, the formation of dense bluish nodes on the skin. According to a similar picture, the third stage proceeds with varicose veins.
In the fourth and fifth stages, with varicose veins, due to the lack of oxygen in the tissues, trophic changes occur, which are expressed in the appearance of ulcerative areas. The skin of varicose veins acquires a dark tone, the veins become pronounced, dense to the touch.
The seventh stage is characterized by being the most complex and advanced form of the disease. During this period, varicose veins of the lower extremities provoke the development of irreversible changes in the tissues, the appearance of non-healing trophic ulcers, which often become the causes of death of skin areas.
In the advanced stages of varicose veins, trophic ulcers appear.
Effective therapies
Modern medicine offers patients several basic treatments for varicose veins. Among them, there are two main areas: invasive and conservative treatment of varicose veins. Each of these directions, in turn, is divided into corresponding subgroups. For example, a conservative treatment option includes the use of internal and external medications.
Invasive treatment of varicose veins is based on the use of radical methods of therapy for inflamed areas of the vascular system. Depending on the stage and symptoms of the disease, several treatment options can be used: from restoring the damaged vein walls to their total or partial removal. But the cardinal treatment of varicose veins provides for a number of contraindications, the presence of which excludes the use of any appropriate procedures.
Effective treatment of varicose veins, aimed at obtaining positive dynamics in the disease, is based on a complex combination of several types of therapy. Taking medications, for example, can be combined with some types of physiotherapeutic treatment, wearing compression underwear and folk methods.
In addition, when prescribing certain treatment options to the patient, the patient also needs to make changes in diet, practice moderate physical activity, and also minimize the factors that contribute to the progression of the disease as much as possible.
Medicines
Medical treatment of varicose veins is used mainly in the early stages of the formation of the disease, regardless of its cause. In addition, it is possible to take and apply medications to varicose veins as an additional measure in the process of conducting invasive therapy. To treat the symptoms of varicose veins, drugs that have anti-inflammatory, regenerative, healing and normalizing properties of venous flow are used. If there is a risk of infection of the affected tissues, treatment with antibacterial drugs is required.
In most cases, drug treatment is used in the early stages of the disease.
With severe painful sensations, it is permissible to take painkillers, the action of which is aimed at eliminating the symptoms, but not treating the causes of the disease. The use of drugs that improve the composition of the blood is also practiced, thinning the hemalimph, increasing the resistance of the organism.
The use of drugs helps to reduce both the visual manifestations that characterize varicose veins of the lower extremities, as well as physiological ones: edema, pain, severity. However, the medical treatment of varicose veins is aimed at eliminating the symptoms and not the causes of the disease. It is almost impossible to completely get rid of varicose veins and regenerate damaged varicose veins in this way.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is an excellent addition to a single treatment complex for varicose veins. The only significant disadvantage of this type of therapy is the need to perform any procedure exclusively in medical institutions due to its specificity. The positive effect is achieved only if the treatment is taken regularly.
The following types of procedures have maximum efficiency and convenience in treating the disease:
- Electrophoresis.
- Laser radiation.
- Infrared radiation.
- Magnetotherapy.
But, despite all the benefits of physiotherapy prescribed to eliminate varicose veins on the legs, there are a number of contraindications, therefore their treatment is completely excluded. As a general rule, these include symptoms with varicose veins such as trophic ulcers, changes in necrotic tissue, open wound surfaces.
Physiotherapy can only be performed in a medical institution.
Surgical intervention
Surgical removal of affected veins using an appropriate procedure is ranked as one of the most effective ways to treat varicose veins. But it is used only in the most serious and neglected cases, as long as there is no positive dynamics in the process of using invasive and conservative methods to treat the disease.
Surgical intervention is based on the complete removal of the affected vein. The procedure requires the introduction of anesthetics to a patient who is concerned about varicose veins, hospitalization, and a long period of rehabilitation. Depending on the causes of the disease and the indications, the varicose vein operation can be carried out both in a planned and urgent way.
Invasive methods
A relatively new trend in the field of phlebology is invasive treatment methods, the effectiveness of which is not inferior to surgical manipulations. At the same time, when performing such procedures, the patient does not need a long period of rehabilitation. In addition, there are no contraindications or side effects. However, invasive methods may not be effective enough for advanced varicose vein symptoms.
These methods include the following: sclerotherapy and laser exposure. The first technique is used for the symptoms of varicose veins, both separately and as a component of a medical complex. During the sclerotherapy procedure, a substance is injected into the damaged vein that promotes rapid regeneration of cells and tissues. To completely get rid of varicose veins, it is enough to perform five to six such procedures.
Laser therapy is somewhat similar to the surgical principle of therapeutic action, which allows you to permanently get rid of the symptoms of varicose veins. During the procedure, there is direct exposure to laser radiation through the skin. The laser partially destroys the tissue of the damaged vein, causing its immediate contraction. The presence of scars or scars due to such a procedure is completely excluded.
Traditional methods
Of course, it will not work to get rid of varicose veins forever by using folk methods, but it is quite possible to slightly reduce the visual and physiological manifestations of the disease. The main aspect of home therapy is regularity. It is possible to achieve good results and eliminate unpleasant symptoms with varicose veins only if the procedures are performed daily and according to accepted norms.
As the most effective procedures for the causes and symptoms of varicose veins, which can be performed at home, are called compresses based on various drugs and herbs. The following recipes are especially popular:
- The pulp of ripe tomatoes, crushed into pulp. An excellent remedy for varicose veins in the early stages of the disease. Apply to inflamed veins for two to three hours a day.
- Varicose veins of the lower extremities can be eliminated and bothersome symptoms can be reduced by using fresh aloe or Kalanchoe leaves. To do this, the plant must be ground into a gruel and applied to the affected area overnight.
- Homemade yogurt. To prepare the compress, liberally moisten a cotton swab or bandage in a container with yogurt, and then apply it to the leg.
- Infusion of hop cones. Soak a gauze swab with a saturated infusion and fix it on the leg with a tight bandage. The procedure should be done daily.
- White cabbage leaves. It is quite simple to use them: blanch the leaves with boiling water, cool and apply to the affected areas, and then fix them with an elastic bandage. This method is great for severe pain and swelling.
- Slices of green tomatoes. Apply several slices of green tomatoes on the sore spot and fix them with a bandage. The duration of the procedure should not exceed five hours.
- Propolis. Propolis-based preparations can be used only after receiving a prescription, since the agent is classified as potent. Tinctures and aqueous solutions of this beekeeping product can be used as therapeutic compresses and rubs.
The most effective way to treat the disease at home is compresses.
Before using any home remedy for varicose veins, you must make sure that there is no risk of developing an allergy to any component of the recipe. It is almost impossible to remove varicose veins in the legs by procedures performed at home. But the beneficial effect of the compresses described above helps to eliminate their causes and symptoms, thin the blood and strengthen the venous walls, which is an important component of the therapeutic complex.
Proper nutrition
Varicose veins often appear not only due to damage to the venous walls, but also due to thickening of the blood. In order to liquefy the hemalymph, improve metabolic processes and restore blood microcirculation, the patient needs to make certain adjustments to his usual diet.
To begin with, you need to exclude from the menu all sweet, fatty and fried foods, as well as flour products. Low-fat meat, vegetables, fruits, fermented dairy products, cereals should be present as predominant products on the table of a patient with varicose veins of the legs. On the basis of these products, it is quite possible to build not only a healthy, but also a varied dietary menu; in addition, such dishes help to thin the blood and eliminate the symptoms of the disease.
tips and tricks
As an additional measure for varicose veins, patients should also wear compression underwear, which evenly distributes the load on the legs, preventing the appearance of unpleasant symptoms and the progression of the disease. You can also replace special underwear with ordinary elastic bandages, the effect of their use is not less clearly noticeable. The only drawback of elastic bandages is the relative drawback in the fixation process of this device.
For the prevention and treatment of varicose veins, it is recommended to wear compression underwear.
Walking at a leisurely pace for short walks also helps normalize blood circulation and improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissues. But this method can be used as an additional component of the medical complex only if there are no contraindications. As an additional method of treating vein and blood vessel pathologies, it can be called a contrast shower. Regular use of this procedure improves blood circulation, promotes the restoration of skin cells, and also reduces swelling and pain. It should not be forgotten that for any damage to the vascular system, you can only take a warm, but not hot shower.
It is almost impossible to completely cure varicose veins by treating it with just one technique. Only a complex combination of various ways to combat the causes of varicose veins will allow you to forever forget about the unpleasant symptoms of this disease.
To avoid complications, you should not self-medicate. Before using any agent, even the most innocuous, you should consult your doctor.