Many people think that varicose veins on the legs are just an unwanted cosmetic manifestation. However, over time, it becomes clear that varicose veins are a serious disease associated with pathological distortion of the venous vessels.
As a result, the tone of the vein walls is weakened and the tissues do not receive the necessary blood supply due to the loss of good flow pressure. Knowing how dangerous varicose veins on the legs are in women, it is worth preventing the disease or starting its treatment from the beginning.
Characteristics of the development of varicose veins
The disease most often develops in the lower extremities. Also, women suffer more from varicose veins than men. Therefore, the fair sex should be alerted especially by the first signs and symptoms of the disease: the vascular "asterisks" that appear. Such signs cannot be ignored, but it is imperative to consult a doctor to prescribe conservative treatment.
Otherwise, the following may appear in the future:
- feeling of heaviness, itching and pain in the legs,
- cramps and numbness at night and in the morning
- peeling and blemishes on the skin,
- muscle pain when walking and when palpating the superficial veins,
- venous nodules on legs, feet, ankles.
Important!With advanced stages of vein disease, radical methods will be required to stop the development of varicose veins, up to surgery.
Why do varicose veins appear more frequently in women
According to statistics, varicose veins of the lower extremities are diagnosed in eighty-nine percent of people of the fair sex versus sixty-six percent in men. This is due to the natural structure of the female body and the main functions, the implementation of which is assigned to it. And this is the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the beginning of menopause, childbirth and feeding of a child, when hormonal changes occur in the body.
Other causes of female varicose veins include:
- love of high heels in shoes,
- thyroid gland pathology: women are more common than men
- type 2 diabetes mellitus, most commonly diagnosed in women,
- female professions "standing" salespeople, waitresses, teachers, educators.
It is not insured against varicose veins and those women who use hormonal drugs.
The risk of developing varicose veins is among fans of frequently sitting in a hot bath, being in a bath / sauna.
It is worth paying close attention to the state of the veins in the legs of those who are overweight, who cannot imagine their life without smoking, without alcohol, without a huge consumption of fatty, salty and spicy foods.
Important!In women, varicose veins form primarily during pregnancy and postpartum recovery and progress at an accelerated rate to stage 2-3.
What complications can there be?
Understanding the danger of varicose veins in the legs and why it is better not to run them, but to cure them immediately, women who have found symptoms of varicose veins should visit a phlebologist. The specialist will talk about the consequences of the disease if it is not treated and will prescribe therapy.
- The threat of varicose veins in female legs leads to insufficient venous circulation. This has an unsatisfactory effect on the activity of the entire circulatory system, which directly affects the favorable course of pregnancy.
- A common occurrence in pregnant women is the formation of hemorrhoids. Such varicose veins in the anus, and this is hemorrhoids, scare with bleeding and malignant modifications of varicose tissue.
- The disease develops faster in women than in men. As a result, the fair sex is previously faced with the consequences of varicose veins.
- If left untreated, varicose veins of the cervix and corpus uteri can develop during pregnancy. This manifests at the end of the second trimester with pain in the lower back and lower abdomen. And if there is already an assumption about the presence of varicose veins, then before planning pregnancy, the vessels of the pelvic organs should be examined.
Most patients present to the doctor with complaints of pain and swelling of the legs. Such symptoms are characteristic of the second stage of varicose veins.
And this is what varicose veins on the legs cause, if you ignore the prevention and treatment of the disease:
- In the 1st stage, women worry about the unsightly appearance of their legs and hide flaws under pants and long skirts.
- In the second stage, an inflammatory process develops that causes stagnation of blood in the veins. This leads to the appearance of knots and pains, quite rare and not too severe.
- In the third stage, swelling and heaviness appear in the legs, the skin on the ankles darkens. Inflammation of the skin, eczema, subcutaneous vascular filament thrombophlebitis, and deep vein thrombosis are also possible. The danger of the latter lies in the unpredictable separation of a blood clot that, once in the heart or pulmonary artery, threatens the life of the woman.
- In the fourth stage, varicose trophic ulcers form, causing, along with bleeding and wounds, intolerable pain.
Important!To avoid complications from varicose veins, you should follow the treatment tactics developed by your doctor.
Treatment methods
Treatment of a formidable disease must take place at any stage. Early screening and detection of the disease lead to quicker and easier relief. Neglecting varicose veins will require persistent and long-term therapy (conservative or surgical), as well as spending money.
The phlebologist's professional awareness of the dangers of varicose veins offers options for treating them:
- medicinal methods using venotonic drugs in the form of tablets, gels
- bandage technique using compression stockings, and these are leggings, knee-high stockings, stockings, stockings (at home they are replaced by elastic bandages,
- hardware procedures using household appliances.
In a duel with the enemy, you must include the following start options:
- contrast shower, the jet of which is directed from the bottom up (it should start with warm water and end with cold water),
- special diet that restricts products of animal origin,
- Rejection of high heels and orthopedic shoes - especially indicated in the presence of flat feet.
Conclusion
Varicose veins on female legs should be monitored. And if you cannot avoid the disease, at the first signs you should start treatment to prevent the development of serious complications (trophic ulcer, acute thrombophlebitis, bleeding from varicose veins and others).