Light gait, long walks without fatigue even with heels, beautiful ankles and hips that you do not want to hide from others: these are the advantages of healthy legs without signs of venous disease. Gradually, the way and rhythm of life change if a person neglects the prevention of varicose veins.
This applies to both women and men. The disease develops in different ways, and the stage of varicose veins in medicine on the topic of identification in the patient is always the subject of debate. But it is necessary to understand the classification so as not to miss the moment when varicose veins are treated without surgery.
The essence of the problem
Varicose veins are blood flow disorders in the saphenous veins. Due to problems with the venous valves, which have to hold back portions of blood to move further to the heart, the plasma flows in the opposite direction and stagnates.
The pressure cannot push blood into the veins of the lower limbs, causing the walls to stretch. A striped and zigzag pattern of a blue hue gradually appears on the legs, supplemented by swelling and bulging at an advanced stage.
But varicose veins are not immediately noticeable. The problem can progress without visual symptoms, and so people who experience discomfort in their legs but don't find bulging veins attribute the discomfort to fatigue.
Varicose veins do not present themselves as a separate disease. This is just a symptom of dysfunction of the circulatory system as a whole, which appears even at a young age. It is wrong to consider varicose veins of the lower limbs as a sign of old age. Many girls in their twenties hide their legs under their pants and long skirts due to varicose veins.
There are various reasons for the malfunction of the circulatory system:
- Genetic inheritance from parents. If mom (most often) or dad has problems with the outflow of blood from the legs to the heart, children should conduct an examination and prevention of the vascular and venous system. But genetics does not work in all cases if there is no motivating factor: a sedentary or standing lifestyle due to the peculiarities of the profession, unbalanced diet, diseases with complications;
- Neglect of the rules of a technical break when employed in certain areas of work, where there is a heavy load on the legs, but there is no movement (hairdresser, sales specialist, accountant, programmer, driver). Warming up the legs every 30 minutes prevents blood stagnation;
- Some health problems affect blood vessels and veins: diabetes mellitus, heart disease, leg injuries, spine, obesity;
- Pregnancy for many women is the trigger for the first symptoms of varicose veins. The embryo not only increases the weight of the expectant mother, which puts stress on the legs, but also exerts pressure on the internal organs and vital systems of the pregnant woman.
Varicose veins are a serious sign of internal problems that have not reported themselves, but require at least a standard examination by a therapist.
Different stages in the development of venous insufficiency
Despite the fact that the veins in humans are located not only in the legs, but throughout the body, varicose veins of the lower extremities are more common. Both women and men suffer from the disease, but a larger percentage than the handsome half of the population.
There are different stages of varicose veins, which are classified according to their severity.The division is conditional, so that the attending physician makes a diagnosis and knows which treatment regimen to prescribe to the patient for specific ailments.
Among medical experts, there are a number of classifications of the stages of varicose veins. The international community distinguishes seven stages of varicose veins, drawing a line in the picture of narrowed symptoms. But in practice, varicose veins are diagnosed in 3 stages of disease gradation:
- First degree (compensation phase): the deterioration of blood flow from the legs to the heart is predetermined by lifestyle or genetically, but the patient has time to return the venous valves to normal function. The symptoms of varicose veins in the initial stage are mild and are not taken seriously;
- Second degree (undercompensation) - there are visual signs of venous insufficiency, which are difficult to confuse with other changes. Discomfort in the legs disappears after a long rest or constantly accompanies a person. At this stage, patients often seek help from a doctor. Vascular and venous changes are significant, but it is possible to relieve tension and pain from the lower limbs;
- Third degree (decompensation) is the last stage of varicose veins, when the thinned walls of the circulatory system begin to burst from excess blood. The skin tissues do not receive nourishment and die. Difficult-to-treat skin ulcers develop. In some cases, at grade 3 of varicose veins, bacteria join the ulcerative foci. Stabilizing the patient's condition requires time, effort and complex therapy.
The listed stages of varicose veins are a conditional division. Within each group of venous insufficiency, there is a mild, moderate and severe degree of the disease, which is determined by the symptoms described by the patients at the reception. Based on the fact that the pathology of the veins is individual in each case, the line of transition from one stage to another is insignificant, especially in the cases of 1 and 2 degrees.
Characteristics of the initial phase of the disease
1 degree of varicose veins is diagnosed by a doctor in rare cases, because people do not go to the clinic when short-term edema or heaviness in the legs appears. Folk remedies help them relieve fatigue, swelling disappears by itself after sleeping or changing high heels into slippers. Varicose veins of 1 degree in many people do not pass to another stage until old age, if there are no provoking factors.
Changes in the vascular system occur not only in adults, but also in modern adolescents who are deprived of mobility and active leisure prefer a computer, telephone and other gadgets.
Only the arms and the brain are trained and the rest of the body does not change position for a long time. Blood circulation slows down, especially in the lower part of the skeleton. Bent knees, squeezed muscles, veins and blood vessels in the thighs, buttocks lead to stagnation.
Teenagers often complain of leg pain and cramps. In some cases, edema is visible, especially in overweight. The symptoms of 1st degree varicose veins are not evident, but the initial phase begins and its progressivity depends only on the attention of children or their parents towards themselves.
Teenage girls choose uncomfortable shoes with high heels to attract attention. The pressure in the veins of the lower extremities increases and leads to the initial degree of pathology. The inability to stand and move in high heels deforms the feet, increases the load on the spine and leg bones, hip joints. Curves negatively affect the vessels because they are compressed.
The initial degree of varicose veins in young people is not alarming, because the symptoms disappear after rest or some warm-up. The signs of grade 1 varicose veins are as follows:
- Heavy legs even without physical activity;
- Slight swelling in the afternoon when the foot is too small to enter the shoe or when the edges are noticeably sinking into the skin. The symptom disappears in the morning if the legs were rested or a procedure was performed to relieve swelling and tension in the muscles: the vertical position of the lower limbs, foot baths, massage, the change of uncomfortable shoes;
- Short-term seizures in rare cases.
In rare cases, with varicose veins of grade 1, external signs of venous pathology appear - thin strips of veins or a vascular network, which are stressed due to a reduced speed of blood flow.
It is difficult to diagnose the initial stage of the pathology on your own, because the listed symptoms are observed in other diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus, kidney problems. For diagnosis and treatment, you should see your doctor at the first sign of discomfort.
Varicose veins are localized not only in the legs, and the initial stage can be skipped if there are no changes in the lower limbs.
Grade 2 Functionality
The initial phase of venous pathology in the absence of prophylaxis or therapy passes after some time to the undercompensation phase. Symptoms of grade 1 varicose veins appear more often and last longer.
External changes appear on the skin: swollen veins or a large number of spider veins. Cramps occur at night and also during the day, the patient feels pain and cannot move his leg. During the hardware examination of the veins of the lower extremities, changes in the functioning of the valves are observed.
The pressure in the vessels increases, but it is difficult to push the blood without closing the valves. Forms of blood congestion, which appear on the skin in the form of blue nodules.
- A sign of stage 2 venous insufficiency is swelling that does not go away after rest and preventive procedures. Edema occurs due to the inability of blood to rise through the veins, hemodynamics is impaired. The liquid part of the blood (plasma) begins to seep under the skin through the thinned walls of veins and small vessels, because the function of its transport is impaired;
- Skin color changes due to poor circulation and nutrient intake. The cells of the epidermis acquire a brown tint, gradually turning black. Inflammation develops and, as a consequence, the initial stage of ulcer formations;
- Patients who come to the doctor at stage 2 of the disease complain of severe pain, muscle numbness and itchy skin. Symptoms are caused by the lack of adequate nutrition for the cells of the epidermis.
The undercompensation phase for varicose veins is not considered hopeless if therapy is diagnosed and prescribed in a timely manner. If one or more signs of 2nd degree varicose veins are found, you cannot self-medicate and listen to supporters. Only a doctor will help to cope with the problem.
Grade 3 functionality
People reach the 3rd degree of venous insufficiency if they are treated carelessly and without due respect. The first stage of the pathology in rare cases causes discomfort and changes the quality of life, but the 2nd degree of venous insufficiency must not go unnoticed to neglect the visit to a doctor and undergo a rehabilitation process.
3 degree of pathology is the most serious and dangerous, because trophic ulcers are formed, which do not heal even with drug treatment. In the decompensation phase, the body has exhausted its ability to keep the veins in order.
The walls are stretched and thinned to the limit, there is a risk of breaking in case of injury. Another problem with grade 3 varicose veins is thrombophlebitis - blockage of the vessel, the formation of blood clots, which can break off and lead to death.
Venous insufficiency reaches its final stage in extreme cases. The reasons for this attitude of people towards themselves are not clear. Enduring pain, experiencing cosmetic discomfort, and not being able to walk easily seems odd. Timely diagnosis of the problem and compliance with the doctor's recommendations will not allow varicose veins to go through even 1 stage of the pathology.
Having considered in detail the classification of varicose veins of the lower extremities, it is worth noting that venous insufficiency occurs in other parts of the body and in internal organs. Such a problem is more difficult to notice, but when discomfort in the legs appears, disturbances in the venous blood flow elsewhere can also be thought of.
How to diagnose the disease
At the first signs of discomfort in the legs, it is necessary to contact a medical institution. Diagnosis and treatment of venous insufficiency is done by a phlebologist, but initial consultation can be obtained from a therapist.
- A visual examination of the condition of the integuments on the legs, the presence of orthopedic changes and other signs is performed;
- Palpation of problem areas not only in the legs, but also in the groin and abdomen;
- Patient complaints are heard;
- A detailed medical history is compiled in the form of a survey. The questions focus on identifying the cause that has become the starting point in the formation of varicose veins;
- A referral for general blood and urine tests is required to determine the patient's general health;
- Functional test to determine the degree of venous dilation (Schwarz, Perthes, sole test);
- In case of varicose veins, a hardware examination of the patency of the veins and the condition of the venous valves is performed: duplex ultrasound (DUS), plethysmography, venography, reovasography.
After all measures to diagnose venous insufficiency and determine the degree of varicose veins, prophylaxis, conservative therapy, treatment with alternative methods and, in extreme cases, surgical intervention, eliminationpathology using a laser.
How to deal with various degrees of venous dysfunction
The sooner the signs of varicose veins are noticed, the easier and faster it is to deal with the problem. The initial stage of the pathology can be completely undone without the use of drugs if timely prevention is initiated:
- Change your pace and your lifestyle. Often the reason for the disturbance of blood flow in the veins is a sedentary or standing lifestyle due to professional activities. Movement is required to improve hemodynamics and prevent high pressure in some areas. With overweight, you should deal with its normalization, but gradually;
- Choose comfortable and correct footwear. In the presence of orthopedic deformities, shoes are selected taking into account this problem. High heels only on special occasions;
- Give up bad habits that cause problems in the vascular system;
- Reduce weight if you are overweight and give your legs an additional load;
- Choose the right exercise to help the blood flow from the legs to the heart.
At the initial stage, the doctor prescribes venotonics, cream, pills to reduce the load on the venous walls and restore their elasticity. The medical shirt must be individually tailored to relieve tension in the legs.
When external signs appear that create aesthetic discomfort, a special composition (sclerotherapy) is introduced into a vein, but this is rare at an early stage.
The second stage of venous insufficiency requires more attention so that the problem does not develop in stage 3. The specificity of eliminating the pathology of the 2nd degree is similar to the treatment of varicose veins in the initial stage. The drug is prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots, reduce tissue swelling and restore blood flow.
Surgical therapy is used for 2nd degree varicose veins in the presence of evident changes on the skin: convex veins, venous network, vascular pattern. In the treatment room, radiofrequency or laser therapy is performed. Sclerotherapy is also shown, when an external defect disappears in the eye after being introduced to a problematic injection site.
Compression garments are a must for improving blood flow and reducing stress on the legs.
How to treat grade 3 varicose veins, when the condition of the veins and tissues is in a terrible state and the body is unable to correct the situation? Treatment is surgical only to prevent thrombosis, rupture of veins, and restore hemodynamics throughout the body.
Usually a phlebectomy procedure is performed - removal of the affected vessels. The operation is performed using surgical instruments (classical method) or a laser without a single incision (modern method of treating varicose veins of the 3rd degree).
The course of the disease is complicated by the formation of ulcers that do not heal even with drug therapy. Therefore, a surgeon is imperative at this stage. After a successful operation, an individual course of medicines, dressings and medical linen is selected.
In conclusion
Varicose veins are not a harmless cosmetic defect of the legs and other parts of the body, but a serious pathology that, with connivance, will transform a person's life into torment and constant path to the offices of the clinic.
The initial stage of venous insufficiency is inherent in most of the population, but diagnosis is rarely made due to people's ignorance of the possible consequences.
If professional activity involves a sedentary image or a constant standing position, there are examples of pathology in relatives, it is necessary to take preventive measures and exclude the progression of the disease at the initial stage. By leaving the problem unattended, you may not notice how the veins will cause other pathologies.