How to get rid of varicose veins on the legs: an effective way

leg pain with varicose veins

How to get rid of varicose veins on the legs? Varicose veins of the lower extremities are the scourge of modern people.

There are a huge number of people in the world who have been suffering from this malignant disease for quite a long time. What kind of disease is this, and what does it "eat" with.

Varicose veins

examination of legs with varicose veins

This vascular pathology, varicose veins, has taken one of the first "prizing places", among all other types of vascular diseases, since it is most often diagnosed in dilated veins in the legs.

With this disease, the walls of the saccular veins expand. From this, the length of the veins increases, and we can see with the naked eye their serpentine tortuosity, as well as spherical extensions (knots) throughout.

From 17-25% of all mankind suffer from this disease. And if in youth the frequency of detection of this disease is more or less the same between both sexes. Then in adulthood, women become leaders in comparison with men, practically outstripping them twice.

There is such a version that hormonal changes during menstruation and during pregnancy leads to a weakening of the tone of the veins, which gives them a significant expansion and disrupts venous circulation in women.

Causes of varicose veins

hard work as a cause of varicose veins

There are many reasons for the appearance of symptoms of the disease. Below I will list the main ones, read carefully, maybe you have one of these diseases, then varicose veins can become concomitant.

The disease is genetically determined by the immaturity of the valvular function of the veins, which is aggravated by the underdevelopment of the connective tissue components inside the vascular wall.

And now there is increased pressure in the vessels themselves and from early childhood, as soon as the first physical activity appears, varicose veins appear.

This group includes people with congenital factors of hypercoagulability. Which leads to the formation of blood clots, which do not allow free circulation of blood and lead to the expansion of the lumen of the vessels.

About the menstrual cycle and pregnancy in women, I have already outlined above. Menopause is added with age, estrogen decreases, progesterone rises at the same time, and this is an additional reason, because, in general, blood clotting factors increase.

And also add to this a decrease in the synthesis of collagen, elastic fibers, which lose their functions inside the wall and reduce the tone of the walls of venous vessels. The picture is such that blood flow decreases, valvular insufficiency appears and blood clots form.

As one of the risks cannot be ignored. Especially with the abdominal type, when it turns out that obesity has a mechanical effect on the venous walls due to an increase in pressure below the compression zones.

In connection with the deficiency of insulin, the metabolism as a whole in the body is distorted.
Hyperglycemia leads to a decrease in the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels and there is an expansion of the lumen.

Alcohol has the ability to remove fluid from the body. Dehydration, in turn, leads to increased blood clotting and disrupts blood flow.

If you are constantly exposed to increased physical activity, or you constantly have to stand on your feet. In such people, the risk of developing the disease from stagnation of blood in the lower extremities, and very high intra-abdominal pressure, which does not allow blood to flow to the heart at a sufficient level, increases.

With constipation, intra-abdominal pressure rises at the moment when a person pushes. So you can trace the logical development of varicose veins - the expansion of the lumen of the veins.

And in general, because of many factors: wearing high-heeled shoes, previous abdominal operations, severe cardiovascular diseases with circulatory failure, chronic inflammatory processes of the pelvic cavity (prostatitis in men, inflammation of the appendages in women) and, of course, smoking.

  • Because of heredity. The disease is genetically determined by the immaturity of the valvular function of the veins, which is aggravated by the underdevelopment of the connective tissue components inside the vascular wall.
  • Due to the pathology of blood clotting. This group includes people with congenital factors of hypercoagulability.
  • Due to hormonal changes. This group includes menstrual cycles and pregnancy, as well as menopause.
  • due to increased body weight. Especially with the abdominal type, when it turns out that obesity mechanically affects the venous walls.
  • Due to diabetes. In connection with insulin deficiency, the metabolism in the body is distorted. Hyperglycemia leads to a decrease in the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels and vasodilation occurs.
  • Because of alcoholism. Alcohol has the ability to remove fluid from the body. Dehydration leads to increased blood clotting and impairs blood flow.

Symptoms of varicose veins

varicose veins in the legs

There are the first harbingers of symptoms of varicose veins of the lower extremities. It is worth paying close attention to them. The main thing is not to miss them in order to start treatment on time.

  • The appearance of spider veins and meshes, because small blood vessels have already expanded and even become visible through the skin
  • The second stage, we observe the formation of protruding nodes, which wriggle and are arranged in clusters
  • Obvious swelling and fatigue of the legs begin, people begin to suffer from frequent leg cramps (more at night), feel itching, fever, crawling "goosebumps"

All these symptoms appear depending on the classification of varicose veins.

About the classification of varicose veins

The international scientific community has introduced a systematization of pathological varicose veins using a special classifier CEAP (Clinical Etiology Anatomy Pathology). This typology implies 6 clinical stages in varicose veins:

  1. Zero. The patient has subjective complaints of no obvious etiology, suspicion of varicose veins, but according to the results of a visual examination and research, no obvious signs have yet been identified
  2. I degree. A small vascular network is visible through the skin, minor, infrequent swelling, the appearance of: heaviness, burning, feeling of "hum" in the legs
  3. II degree. This is already the starting point showing the true varicose veins. It has symptoms of an external distinct manifestation of enlarged vessels, the formation of venous nodes, which increase after a long stay on the legs, or a long static sitting. It is from this stage that one can already observe the possibility of thrombosis
  4. III degree. Here, the symptoms of the second group are aggravated by regular swelling, most noticeable by the end of the day and pulling, aching pain in the calves.
  5. IV degree. Visible trophic changes in the skin. From a large accumulation of pigment in the epidermis, the skin changes from dark brown to black. Small local inflammations appear and develop in the form of erythema or weeping wounds, which will cause atrophy of the dermis and ulcers over time
  6. V degree. A similar course of symptoms, as in the fifth stage, but with a healed trophic ulceration
  7. VI degree. Caused by already severe progression and the formation of non-healing wounds and ulcers

Compulsory treatment of varicose veins is required, otherwise you can get a complication in the form of acute thrombophlebitis and perforation of the nodes (when even the slightest mechanical effect can lead to a stretched and thinned vein wall to a breakthrough); bleeding in this case occurs very strong and will lead to a large loss of blood.

Diagnostics

doctor examines leg with varicose veins

You should go to an appointment with a phlebologist. Who will be able to identify varicose veins at a glance, but nevertheless collect an anamnesis, listen to your complaints.

There are special functional tests that the doctor must prescribe.

In addition, there will be instrumental diagnostic methods, including X-ray contrast angiography and ultrasound in duplex Doppler scanning mode.

compression stockings for varicose veins

All about the treatment of varicose veins

A few decades ago, there was still such a thing that he turned to a phlebologist, there would be a 100% vascular surgical operation, otherwise veins were not treated then.

But, for the last 10-15 years, high-tech little and micro-invasive techniques have been used, such as:

  1. Sclerotherapy (artificial obliteration, the venous walls are "glued" with a special solution, it is injected with microneedles)
  2. Application of laser therapy
  3. Treatment with radiofrequency ablation (the thinnest probe is inserted into the vein, and gradually removing it, the walls are "soldered")

In these cases, you no longer have to endure a large, traumatic operation.

Plus, a powerful therapy with a complex character is also added, it involves the appointment of venotonic drugs, anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Good efficiency gives the use of:

  1. Elastic bandage and compression stockings
  2. Hirudotherapy
  3. diets
  4. Therapeutic exercise
  5. Water procedures

Attention: the use of an elastic bandage or compression hosiery is possible only after consulting a doctor (in particular, he will explain in detail the bandaging technique - you need to start from the fingers, with the obligatory grip of the heel and gradually loosen the compression closer to the knee)

But, we should not completely forget that varicose veins still belong to the category of surgical diseases. And if, according to the advanced stage, according to the indications, a radical effect is needed, then it can only be achieved by surgery.

One of the basic operations is phlebectomy. The vein is removed, and the dry residue of the functional viability of the vein is only 10% of the norm.

Still, it is better to do without bringing it to the extreme stage, varicose veins of the lower extremities can be cured completely if, without delay, (however, this applies to any disease), you consult a phlebologist.

It is absolutely not necessary to bring the matter to a "big" surgery: varicose veins of the lower extremities are completely cured today, but this disease does not go away "on its own".

Conclusion

No wonder they say: "the salvation of man, in the hands of man himself. "And although varicose veins are not an easy disease, and tend to progress rapidly, only 10 years will be enough, from the zero degree of varicose veins to the development of pathology in the 6th degree.

In total - that's what you need, carefully consider the first manifestations of symptoms and consult a doctor - a phlebologist.

Take care of yourself, pay attention to the first news that the body will show you about the onset of pathological changes in the veins. It is always easier to prevent than to cure an advanced stage of any disease. All health.