Today, a disease such as varicose veins is the most common.As a rule, a sedentary lifestyle leads to the development of the disease, and a late response to the body's signals leads to rather serious consequences, which, in turn, are harmful to health.In this article we will consider such a topic as varicose veins on the legs, photos, the initial stage and how to treat them.I would like to point out that varicose veins are a disease characterized by stagnation of blood in the blood vessels of the lower extremities, which causes swelling of the peripheral veins.The swollen vessels have a dark blue color;in the absence of adequate treatment, they acquire a purple tint, the formation of blood clots and ulcers begins, and severe pain appears.
Symptoms of the disease in the initial stage of development
Varicose veins of the legs are a rather insidious disease - this is explained by the fact that this disease is very difficult to diagnose at the initial stage of development.The symptoms of the disease are similar to many other diseases, such as osteochondrosis or flat foot.Often patients with varicose veins seek professional medical help when sufficient swelling and pain appear in the limbs.
However, there are several common symptoms, if you notice them, you should immediately contact a specialist to find out the cause of the ailment and find out what varicose veins on the legs are, photos, the initial stage and how to treat them.The initial symptoms of the disease include an increase in the venous pattern, however, as a rule, swelling, pain and swelling of the blood vessels are not observed in this case.
Let's look at the most obvious symptoms that indicate the presence of a disease such as varicose veins:
- the appearance of pain in the legs, which can appear at any time;these symptoms are often also accompanied by itching and cramps in the limbs during sleep;
- the appearance of a feeling of fatigue and swelling in the legs;
- the skin changes color, the skin in problem areas acquires a bluish tint and becomes drier;
- veins protruding above the surface of the skin and the appearance of characteristic varicose veins.
Why are varicose veins dangerous?
Note that, as mentioned above, such a topic as varicose veins on the legs, photo, initial stage, how to treat them, is very relevant for many.This is explained by the fact that varicose veins are a rather dangerous disease, and a cosmetic defect in the form of swollen veins is only the tip of the iceberg.The disease can lead to quite serious complications, so treatment of dilated veins is mandatory!
As you can see in the photo of the initial phase of the disease, its characteristic symptomatology is the swelling of the veins, which is anything but harmless;We list the disorders that can be caused by varicose veins.
- Phlebitis– this disease involves the onset of an inflammatory process at the level of the venous walls.As a rule, patients suffering from phlebitis constantly feel quite strong aching pain.Additionally, painful lumps appear in the affected area.
- Thrombophlebitis– the disease is characterized by the formation of blood clots in inflamed and dilated veins.Note that thrombophlebitis occurs due to the lack of adequate treatment for phlebitis.In addition to pain in the limbs, the patient feels general weakness and loses appetite.
- Trophic ulcers- this is another complication of varicose veins, which occurs due to a lack of nutrition of the epidermis, which leads to the appearance of dermatitis, the consequence of which is trophic ulcers that are difficult to heal.
Medicines for varicose veins
Ointments
Today the pharmaceutical market offers a wide choice of drugs for the treatment of diseases involving varicose veins, and ointments for varicose veins deserve special attention.
Anticoagulants.These drugs are the most popular for treating varicose veins.The main task of the ointment is a complex effect, which helps to reduce blood viscosity, resolve existing blood clots, reduce the inflammatory process and reduce pain symptoms.Drugs provide the greatest positive effect when used at the initial stage of the disease, improving blood circulation and strengthening the walls of blood vessels.
Sodium heparin ointments prevent the formation of blood clots and reduce blood clotting.
Venotonics helps to effectively cope with the symptoms of varicose veins, strengthening blood vessels and inhibiting inflammatory processes.
Creams
Creams for varicose veins are as effective as ointments due to the active ingredients they contain, which can effectively combat the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.
Ketoprofen-based creams actively suppress inflammatory processes in the vessels of the lower extremities.These drugs belong to the group of non-steroids, which indicates their effectiveness in relieving swelling and eliminating pain.
Creams based on natural ingredients that effectively help get rid of varicose veins.The advantage of the cream is that it does not have any negative effect on the patient with varicose veins.
Rutin creams act effectively at the cellular level, quickly suppressing the inflammatory process.The drug has an anti-edematous effect, improves vascular tone, regulates intravenous pressure and quickly eliminates pain.
Pills
The main effect of bioflavonoid tablets is to increase vascular properties such as elasticity and tone, which in turn improve blood circulation and prevent the formation of blood clots.By taking these drugs, the phenomenon of venous congestion and permeability of the venous vessels is eliminated.
Effective folk remedies for varicose veins
Cabbage.Our ancestors also used a variety of folk remedies to treat ailments such as varicose veins.One of them is treatment with cabbage leaves.The effectiveness of this vegetable lies in the fact that cabbage can quickly relieve inflammatory processes thanks to the vitamins and microelements it contains.As a rule, white cabbage leaves are used in the form of compresses to treat varicose veins.To make a medicinal compress, you will need a cabbage leaf, which must first be carefully beaten.After that, one side of the sheet is lubricated with vegetable oil and applied to the inflamed area for a day (fixed with a bandage).The course of treatment is 1 month.
Ginger.This plant, used in cooking, can be used to treat varicose veins as an external or internal medicine.Ginger tea will help you cope with almost any disease at any stage of its development, including varicose veins.You can also make ginger compresses.To do this, grate a piece of ginger root, mix it with natural honey and apply it to the painful area for 3-4 hours.
Kalina.Like ginger, viburnum can be used to treat varicose veins, both as a fortified drink and as an effective compress.To prepare a compress, the berries must be ground to a pasty state, placed on a prepared bandage or gauze and applied to the problem area.It is better to do this compress at night.
The initial stage of varicose veins: the first symptoms
Today, varicose veins are one of the most common dangerous diseases among both women and men.According to WHO statistics, varicose veins of the lower extremities can lead to death from thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers and cancerous tumors associated with them.
Each patient needs to know the causes, symptoms and stages of development of the disease in order to prevent the serious consequences of this pathology.
Causes and stages of development
Varicose veins occur due to pathologies of the venous walls and a malfunction of the venous valves, whose task is to transport blood enriched with carbon dioxide from the lower extremities to the lungs for gas exchange.
Due to inadequate blood flow and valve dysfunction, blood accumulates in the vessels, increasing pressure in the leg veins, resulting in bulging of the weak vein wall.This is how varicose veins develop.
There are a number of factors that can cause the disease.These include:
- Inheritance.
- Obesity.
- Having bad habits.
- Pregnancy.
- Taking hormonal drugs for a long time.
- Cardiovascular diseases that lead to thickening of the blood.
- A sedentary lifestyle, which causes blood stagnation.
- Professions that require long periods of standing.
- Walking in high heels.
Under the influence of these factors, leg disease develops, which occurs in several stages.Each of them is characterized by special clinical manifestations.In total, in medical practice there are 4 stages of varicose veins:
- varicose veins in the initial stage, shown in the photo above, passespractically no symptoms.A person predominantly feels a feeling of heaviness in the legs, slight swelling and pain.Small varicose veins begin to appear on the skin of the thighs and legs;
- 1st degree varicose veins, also shown in the photo, is characterized by frequent cramps in the calf muscles, a burning sensation that extends from the lower leg to the sole of the foot, as well as swelling in the ankles;
- for the second degreecharacterized by an abundance of varicose veins, severe swelling, constant pain in the legs, increases the area of protruding veins;
- third degreeindicates the involvement of the skin in the pathological process: it becomes scaly, thin, often pigmented around the ankle.The risk of thrombosis is very high, because the veins are very enlarged and dilated.The patient, in addition to pain, is haunted by a constant burning sensation, eczema and dermatitis on the skin of the lower limbs;when the skin is injured, deep ulcers form.
IMPORTANT!If treatment is not started in the early stages, the disease is very difficult to treat conservatively in the future and poses a mortal danger to the patient!
The first symptoms of varicose veins
The first symptoms of varicose veins on the legs are difficult to diagnose.For some time the patient confuses them with fatigue and muscle tension.If you experience such sensations, especially if there was no serious stress on the legs before, you should contact a specialist, because the disease can be cured at an early stage,without resorting to surgeries and exhausting procedures.Phlebologists and surgeons treat varicose veins.
The first signs of varicose veins are indicated by the following symptoms:
- Constant heaviness in the legs.This is due to poor circulation in the legs due to dysfunction of the venous valves.Because of this, the pressure in the vein increases sharply, it stretches even more and causes pain.
- Swelling of the lower limbs.The symptom occurs due to a heavy load on the venous system.If the swelling is accompanied by pain in the area of the veins and redness of the skin above it, we may be talking about the development of thrombophlebitis - an extremely dangerous complication of varicose veins.
- Increased calf circumferenceup to 1 cm in the evening is associated with edema.
- Painful sensationsget worse with exercise and disappear by the next morning.
- The appearance of spider veinson the legs and thighs.Some patients consider them a cosmetic defect.Their appearance indicates the pathology of a large varicose vein that feeds them.Only ultrasound diagnostics can confirm or deny it.
- Presence of prominent veins.
Initially, the first signs of varicose veins on the legs quickly disappear if you let your legs rest in a comfortable position.Howeverthis should alert the patient, because it is a sure symptom of an incipient disease.
Then the patient may feel a burning sensation in the veins.If proper attention is not paid to these symptoms, the patient may experience cramps in the calf muscles at night and fatigue in the legs below the knees.
ATTENTION!Symptoms of early varicose veins are similar to other diseases: flat feet and lumbar osteochondrosis.That is why it is so important to consult a phlebologist to exclude other diagnoses and start treatment promptly!
Diagnosis and treatment
As a rule, varicose veins in the initial stage, illustrated in the photo,it is painless.A patient, and according to statistics women suffer from varicose veins twice as often as men, seeks help from a doctor regarding the vascular network.The doctor carries out an examination and prescribes the necessary studies to evaluate the degree of impairment of the venous circulation.
For this purpose, a general blood test may be prescribed., which will show the presence or absence of thrombocytopenia, a biochemical blood test to detect liver problems, and a vascular ultrasound.
Shows pathologies of the vascular wall.If the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is sent for X-ray venography, with the help of which the location of the venous lesion is determined.
After research, the doctor prescribes a treatment that can prevent the transition from the initial stage of varicose veins to subsequent ones.
For this purpose, the underlying disease is treated– endocrine, cardiovascular, etc.Then the risk factors are eliminated, only then the patient is offered to change his lifestyle, diet and abandon bad habits.
Pharmacological treatment in the initial phase of varicose veinsnot provided.Experts believe that it is enough to usecompression garments: special stockings and tights or elastic bandages, to be applied to the legs upon waking and to be worn during the day.This therapy can evenly distribute the load on the legs and improve blood circulation.
Forms of the disease
The type of vascular insufficiency depends on the veins affected by the disease, the extent of the process and its localization.There are varicose veins:
- reticular (finely vascular);
- segmental (focal);
- perforating (damage to connecting veins);
- main (pathology of a small or large vein under the skin).
Each type of varicose veins has characteristic features in terms of external manifestations.The presence of complications depends on the stage of the disease.
Reticular shape
Of all the known types of varicose veins, this is the simplest.The disease mainly affects the legs of women;men are rarely affected by this pathology.
In the photo of varicose veins in the initial stage, the reticular shape can be determined only by strengthening the vascular pattern.This is a bluish network of small venous fragments with a diameter of no more than 3 mm.Most often it is localized on the thighs in the area of the lateral surfaces.First several asterisk-like fragments appear, then larger areas are affected.
This form of varicose veins is often called cosmetic;it is not dangerous for blood circulation, but causes aesthetic discomfort for women.Reticular varicose veins in the legs can cause:
This form is the most treatable.One of the most effective methods of treating such varicose veins is microscopic sclerotherapy.It is not dangerous and painless.But often patients do not consider the manifestations of varicose veins a serious reason to visit a phlebologist.In this case, the disease becomes a chronic pathology.It can cause bleeding from superficial vessels.
The reticular form of varicose veins requires a mandatory medical examination.This will prevent complications from occurring.
Segmental shape
This type of varicose veins can appear in the early stages of the disease.In the segmental form, larger vessels with a diameter equal to or greater than 3 mm are affected.But the disease is focal in nature, only one or more tributary veins lose their tone.This type of pathology is characterized by the absence of reverse blood flow, which facilitates therapy.
If you look at a photo of varicose veins on the legs in segmented form, you can see the swollen branches of the main vein on the lower leg.These are the tributary ships.
Treatment of the disease is conservative.In case of late presentation and formation of tributary lymph nodes, miniphlebectomy can be used.Segmental varicose veins are located in the anteromedial and posterior surface of the leg and in the popliteal fossa.
Masterful
This pathology affects the large and small main veins.The large one suffers many times more often than the small one.In the photo of varicose veins on the legs, the protrusion of the main vessels in the lower leg, lateral thighs and feet is clearly visible.The vascular wall of the legs is tense and nodular formations are noted.
The disease manifests itself with characteristic symptoms of chronic circulatory failure.Due to damage to the vascular valves, reflux occurs.Normally, blood moves in one direction.If the valves are insufficient, they do not close completely and the vessels are overloaded.For this reason the veins stretch and lose elasticity.
Major varicose veins require serious treatment.Minor surgeries and conservative methods are more often used.
In the absence of adequate therapy, the main varicose veins of the legs become complicated with thrombophlebitis and thrombosis.
Perforated shape
In the legs there are deep and saphenous veins.They are connected to each other by vessels called perforators.
These are no less important veins than the main ones.Their defeat leads to circulatory collapse in the legs.The blood is not directed completely into the bloodstream.This contributes to stagnation and the formation of thrombus.
- a picture of varicose veins on the legs with damage to the perforating veins clearly shows the presence of swollen vessels;
- bumps and bruises are evident in some places;the skin becomes darker;
- Rashes and scratches may occur.
The localization of this form is varied and depends on the position of the affected vein.These are the legs, thighs and ankles.Sometimes the vessels also swell in the area of the Achilles tendon and below the knee.Treatment is often surgical, but minimally invasive methods are possible for individual lesions.
Stages of varicose veins of the legs
Phlebologists from all over the world hold forums and seminars dedicated to varicose veins every year.The types and forms of the disease are constantly changing.Experts describe the stages of varicose veins in the legs differently.Their number is constantly changing.The latest approved classification contains seven grades:
- First or zero.It has no external signs.Patients only complain of heaviness, fatigue and swelling.Sometimes the occasional occurrence of seizures can be bothersome.
- Second.In the photo of the second phase, the vascular network in the area of the popliteal cups and thighs is clearly visible.The symptoms do not change.
- Third.Blood vessel bumps are clearly visible, especially during exercise or in a sitting position.In addition to the veins, you can see blue nodules on the legs.Patients feel pain and tension.
- Fourth.The appearance of edema is added to the swollen veins.By the evening your feet fill up and in the morning everything returns to normal.The swelling may cause a numbness or tingling sensation in the legs.
- Fifth.Metabolic processes are interrupted.There is not enough nutrition for the tissues and trophic changes are formed on the skin.They can appear in the form of dry plaques, redness and scratches.The skin around the veins becomes darker.Thrombophlebitis may develop.
- Sixth.The photo of this stage is different from the others.Shows pronounced trophic ulcers in the area of the veins of the lower extremities.As a result of massive treatment, wounds heal by primary intention.
- Seventh.Last phase.In other classifications it is called decompensatory.The most negative outcome of the disease.Unhealed ulcers form on the legs.They can get wet and rot.This degree requires urgent hospital treatment.It may be complicated by sepsis and thromboembolism.
Types of varicose veins on the legs, complicated by a violation of the integrity of the skin and the addition of a secondary infection, can threaten the patient's life.
There is another classification, which provides three stages of varicose veins:
- Compensatory.It manifests itself only with local symptoms (pain, cramps, heaviness).No external changes are observed in the blood vessels.
- Subcompensatory.External signs of moderate varicose veins develop.Varicose veins and signs of segmental lesions appear.
- Compensation.Serious consequences of chronic venous insufficiency.Trophic lesions, ulcers and thrombosis.
General characteristics and causes of varicose veins
In a healthy person, venous blood rises from the legs to the heart under the influence of pressure, which in a normal state is quite sufficient to overcome gravity.When this mechanism is interrupted, the body is forced to increase pressure to push the blood upwards.
As a result of this process, valvular insufficiency occurs, characterized by the flow of blood into the superficial veins from the deep ones.When the pressure inside the vessels increases, their walls lose elasticity, stretch and deplete, which leads to the formation of visible bluish subcutaneous nodules.
Causes of the development of varicose veins of the lower extremities:
- Increased levels of progesterone in a woman's body.This hormone has a negative effect on the state of the walls and valves of the veins, making them weak and unprotected.
- Congenital pathologies of the valves or venous walls, lack of connective tissue, poor patency of the deep veins, genetic predisposition.
- Tumors localized on the legs, in the abdominal area.
- Lower limb injuries.
- Diseases of the endocrine system.
- Thrombophlebitis.
- Joint diseases: osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
- Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives.
- A sedentary lifestyle, which often leads to congestion in the legs.
- Increased intra-abdominal pressure.It usually occurs with lung disease or frequent constipation.
- Overweight.
- Wear tight clothes and shoes.
- The presence in the diet of a large amount of high-calorie and fatty foods, lack of fiber of plant origin.
- Smoking, frequent alcohol consumption.
During pregnancy, ARVNK occurs especially often, since during this period they appearglobal changes in hormone levels, as well as increased body weight.
Men suffer from this disease if theylifestyle associated with heavy physical workor long periods of standing work by machine operators, loaders, etc.Varicose veins in the legs can also occur following certain sporting activities.
Varicose veins require immediate treatment, the absence of which can lead to serious consequences: the development of thrombophlebitis, bleeding from venous nodes and a trophic ulcer that can result in amputation of the leg.