Varicose veins (varicose veins) - A condition in which the veins increase in the diameter become rolled. Most of the time, this is due to the impaired work of vene valves.
Venous system. Characteristics of the vein structure.
Venous vessels are part of the cardiovascular system, they carry blood from peripheral tissues to the heart. The opinion that venous blood always flows through veins, and arterials always flow in the veins. In fact, this is not always the case. For example, pulmonary arteries carry venous blood from heart to lungs, and lung veins are returned from the lungs to the heart of the arterial.
In many arteries, blood flows under high pressure so that they have a thick dense wall. On the contrary, in the veins, the blood pressure is quite low, so their wall is thinner and less dense. In the lumen of many veins, there are valves - they pass blood in just one direction, thus contributing to their advance to the heart. The valves are absent only in the veins of the head and neck, since they are above the heart, the blood flows them freely.
What happens in the veins? The essence of varicose veins.
The veins walls of the lower extremities are forced to constantly experience increased loads, as blood exit through these vessels occurs against gravity. The main mechanisms that lead to varicose veins:
- Excessive stretching of the venous wall;
- Interruption of venous valves.
It is always far from being possible to say exactly why these pathological changes occur in the veins. There are factors that increase the risk of varicose veins.
The causes of varicose veins
Factors that increase the risk of the disease:
- Direction. This factor is present in all people. The legs are the most remote in the body's heart, which is below the rest and the walk. Venous blood is harder to return to the heart of the feet.
- Age. As the risk of varicose veins increases as the venous valves run out. They stop closing completely so that a small amount of blood can flow in the opposite direction. She stagnates her leg veins instead of returning to the heart.
- Floor. Women suffer from varicose veins more often than men. This is facilitated by hormonal changes in the female body during pregnancy, post -feedback, before menstruation. Female sex hormones contribute to the relaxation of the vein walls.
- Hormone replacement therapy and taking oral contraceptives.
- Heredity. The more members of your family suffer from varicose veins of the lower extremities, the greater their risks.
- Obesity. Extra pounds contribute to increasing the load in the cardiovascular system. The pressure on the veins increases.
- Standing or sitting for a long time. This leads to the stagnation of blood in the veins of the lower body. For example, office workers, surgeons, and other people who are "standing" and "seated" usually suffer from varicose veins.
- Pregnancy. During pregnancy, women suffer from varicose veins much more often than in other periods of life. This is due to some physiological changes in the body of a pregnant woman.
Signs of varicose veins
- Perceptible expansion of subcutaneous veins. They increase, are wrapped, well visible under the skin. Varying veins varyingly seem to be cereal, the blue or dark purple "worms". This image occurs with varicose veins located under the skin. If venous ships are more deeply located in tissues are affected, it is impossible to note this externally.
- Feeling of gravity in the legs. It usually occurs or intensifies after intense physical effort, at night and night.
- Several unpleasant sensations. It can be a burning sensation, a sensation of pulse, tingling, numbness.
- Swelling in the legs. Blood stagnation in varicose veins leads to the fact that fluid begins to remain and accumulate in tissues. Edema occurs closer to the night, as a rule, first only in the feet. As a violation of venous blood exit increases, the swelling extends to the legs, the hips.
- Muscle cramps. They arise due to a violation of blood supply to tissues when a person represents a long time.
- Leg pain. Not all patients are concerned. Intensify with prolonged position.
Varicose vein complications
In most patients, varicose veins do not lead to complications. But the following states can occur:
- Bleeding. In case of damage to the skin in the area of varicose veins, bleeding occurs, which may not stop for a long time. In such cases, you need to lie down, lift your legs and press the bleeding area. If the blood continues, you will need to consult a doctor.
- Ulcers for varicose veins. Very painful, more often located in the ankle. Ulcers occur due to edema and blood supply impaired to tissues in the area of varicose veins. Generally, an ulcer is preceded by a pale point on the skin. If this complication arises, you need to immediately consult a doctor.
- Thrombophlebitis for varicose veins. A condition in which blood clots grow on the venous wall and inflammation occurs. In the area of damage, a feeling of heat, redness and pain may occur. Generally, with this complication, the doctor prescribes compression line, painkillers.
- Chronic venous deficiency. A condition in which the exchange of oxygen, nutrients and waste between the skin and the blood is disturbed due to the impairment of the blood supply. Chronic venous deficiency increases the risk of pathologies such as eczema, hard skin, trophic ulcers.
- Venous eczema (stagnated dermatitis). Skin injury caused by venous blood stagnation and edema formation. The main symptoms: red spots, peeling, itching in the field of varicose veins.
- Restless leg syndrome. It is characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs that appear at rest. The patient should constantly make movements, which is why sleep is often disturbed.
Compression line for varicose veins
Compression socks and elastic bandages with varicose veins compact dilated veins, thus improving blood circulation. As a rule, compression underwear surround the legs around the more strong ankles and gradually becomes freer. Helps blood move through the veins toward the reverse force of gravity - to the heart.
Many patients observe that compression socks and elastic bandages help deal with discomfort, pain, edema.
Despite the fact that compression linen helps improve blood flow and deal with some symptoms, it does not heal varicose veins. During the studies, ambiguous results were obtained, so that scientists cannot tell if compression socks help eliminate or prevent varicose veins.
Compression linen varieties:
- Socks and socks. The most common type of compression laundry. Socks reach the hips, socks - to the waist. Compression pants are more convenient as they are fixed safely and do not slide.
- Golfs. They arrive at the knee. Often used by men. There are different models.
- Elastic bandages. There are different lengths, can only be destined for bandage on the leg or bottom of the leg and hips. This is the cheapest variety, but the most uncomfortable compression linen. The dressing should be applied longer than putting pants or socks, it constantly slides. The degree of compression is manually controlled, regulating the force of the dressing and is not always suitable.
Operations for varicose veins
With varicose veins pronounced in the legs, they resort to surgical treatment. Usually the operation is performed under general anesthesia. In most cases, the patient is discharged from the hospital on surgical intervention day. If the operation is performed on two legs, it may be necessary to spend a night at the hospital.
There are different types of surgical treatment of varicose veins.
Wear and remove an expanded vein
Two cuts are made: one in the groin, the other below, on the ankle, knee or elsewhere. In the upper section it is found, bandaged and crossed by a vein. Through it, a special thin thin is made to the lower section, after which is pulled along with the below. Removal of the surface vein will not affect blood supply in the leg, as its functions assume deep veins.
Possible complications of vein clothing and removal:
- the formation of great bleeding;
- bleeding;
- pain;
- A very rare complication is deep vein thrombosis.
Performance restoration after such operation in most patients occurs within 1 to 3 weeks. All this time, you will have to wear compression socks. If there is venous insufficiency, compression underwear should be worn in the long run.
Sclerotherapy
During this procedure, a special substance is introduced into the vein, which damages its wall inside and leads to the overlapping of the lumen. Varicosis occurs within a few weeks. Sometimes the drug should be administered several times.
Radio frequency ablation
The technique provides vein wall heating using radio frequency energy. The course of the procedure:
- A small cut is made above or below the knee and access to Vienna.
- Under the control of the ultrasound, a catheter (a flexible half tube) is performed in a vein.
- Then, through the catheter, the doctor conducts a probe that emits radio frequency energy.
- The energy emitted by the probe warms the vein wall inside, causes burns and close the vase lumen.
Generally, this operation is performed under local anesthesia without anesthesia. During the procedure, the patient can experience small unpleasant sensations similar to pins injections. Sometimes a small skin burning occurs. Within a few weeks after radio frequency ablation, compression clothing should be worn.
Treatment of veins with a laser
Closing the vein lumen can also be caused by the radiation of your wall inside with a laser. The course of the procedure:
- A catheter is introduced into the patient's vein.
- A laser radiation source is performed through a Vienna catheter.
- The laser causes the vein warming, burning its walls inside and the ceiling of the lumen.
- The surgeon directs laser rays under the control of the ultrasound and gradually burns the vein wall.
As a rule, the treatment of varicose veins with a laser is performed under local anesthesia. The procedure is effective in 98% of cases.
Varicose veins exercises
Therapeutic gymnastics can be beneficial for varicose veins. Below we will consider the simplest exercise set, but before implementation, you should definitely consult a doctor. Only your doctor can tell exactly which loads are not against you and are able to benefit.
How gymnastics can help with varicose veins:
- improve the output of venous and lymphatic vessels;
- Improvement of blood supply to the lower ends;
- increasing the tone of the walls of the veins;
- Improvement of blood circulation in small vessels;
- Strengthening the leg muscles, increasing their resistance.
Massage for varicose veins
Massage can be used for varicose veins, but not always depends on the degree of gravity and the presence of complications. Do not get involved in self -massage, it is better to contact a professional massage therapist.
Massage for varicose veins helps reduce symptoms such as swelling, seizures, numbness and other discomfort. Relieves tension in the muscles and helps restore the normal tone of the venous walls. With varicose veins, massage is often combined with physical therapy exercises.
How to deal with varicose veins at home?
There are some measures that can be used independently, at home to slow down varicose veins and reduce the feeling of discomfort to which it is accompanied by:
- Physical activity. Walk helps strengthen the leg muscles and improve the exit of venous blood. Consult your doctor, he will recommend the appropriate physical activity level for you.
- Maintaining a healthy weight. Adhere to a healthy diet. If you suffer from overweight or obesity, try to get rid of extra pounds. Consult a nutritionist: An expert will provide recommendations on the nature of foods that will be great in your case.
- The right choice of clothes. Do not wear high shoes, tight linen and clothes that squeeze the veins.
- Raising your legs up. It will be great if you can break periodically and raise your legs above heart level. When you sleep or just lie on the bed, put 3-4 pillows under your feet.
- Break with sitting or standing out. Try to move every 30 minutes.
- Do not put the foot in the leg when sitting down. For this reason, the veins are squeezed, the exit of blood is even more disturbed.
Prevention of varicose veins
It is impossible to completely prevent varicose veins. Existing preventive measures help delay only the disease or slow down its progression if it has come.
- If you need to sit or resist for a long time, be sure to break. Walk, leave. If possible, you can lie down and lift your legs.
- Try to keep your legs in a high position when sitting, resting, sleeping. Sometimes it is useful to go to the couch or on the floor and hold your legs raised, leaning against the wall.
- The more often your legs are higher than the heart level, the better for your veins.
- Perform exercise that help strengthen the leg muscles. Thanks to this, blood movement will improve through the veins.
- If you have overweight or obesity, try to lose weight. This will not only reduce the risk of varicose veins, but will also positively affect the condition of the entire cardiovascular system.
- Do not wear tight clothes, especially one that pulls the waist, the groin, the legs. Because of this, the output of blood through the veins may get worse.
- Try wearing high shoes with the top of it. For this reason, the tone of the leg muscles is disturbed, they stop helping to push the blood through the veins.