Varicose veins in the legs, initial stage, how to treat.

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 quite serious consequences, which in turn are detrimental to health.In this article we will consider such a topic as varicose veins in the legs, photos, the initial stage and how to treat them.I would like to note that varicose veins is a disease characterized by stagnation of blood in the blood vessels of the lower extremities, which causes inflammation 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 in 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 those of many other diseases, such as osteochondrosis or flat feet.Often, patients with varicose veins seek professional medical help when enough swelling and pain appears in the extremities.

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 know what varicose veins in 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 also often accompanied by itching and cramps in the extremities 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;
• bulging veins on the surface of the skin and the appearance of characteristic spider veins.

Why are varicose veins dangerous?

Please note that, as mentioned above, such a topic as varicose veins on the legs, photo, initial stage and 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 just the tip of the iceberg.The disease can lead to quite serious complications, so treatment of dilated veins is mandatory.

As can be seen in the photo of the initial stage of the disease, its characteristic symptomatology is swelling of the veins, which is far from harmless;We list the ailments that varicose veins can cause.

• Phlebitis– this disease involves the appearance of an inflammatory process in the venous walls.As a rule, patients with phlebitis constantly feel quite intense pain.In addition, painful lumps appear in the affected area.
• Thrombophlebitis– the disease is characterized by the formation of blood clots in swollen and dilated veins.Please note that thrombophlebitis occurs due to lack of proper treatment for phlebitis.In addition to pain in the extremities, the patient feels general weakness and loss of appetite.
• Trophic ulcers- this is another complication of varicose veins, which is manifested by 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.

Medications for varicose veins.

Ointments

Today, the pharmaceutical market offers a wide selection of drugs for the treatment of diseases affecting varicose veins, and varicose vein ointments deserve special attention.

Anticoagulants.These medications are the most popular for the treatment of varicose veins.The main task of the ointment is a complex effect that helps reduce blood viscosity, resolve existing blood clots, reduce the inflammatory process and reduce pain symptoms.The drugs provide the maximum positive effect when used at the initial stage of the disease, improving blood circulation and strengthening the walls of blood vessels.

Ointments based on sodium heparin prevent the formation of blood clots and reduce blood clotting.

Venotonics help 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.

Creams based on ketoprofen actively suppress inflammatory processes in the vessels of the lower extremities.These drugs belong to the group of non-steroidal drugs, which indicates their effectiveness in relieving swelling and eliminating pain.

Creams based on natural ingredients that effectively help eliminate varicose veins.The advantage of the cream is that it does not have any negative effect on the patient with varicose veins.

Rutin-based creams act effectively at the cellular level, thus quickly suppressing the inflammatory process.The drug has an antiedematous effect, improves vascular tone, regulates intravenous pressure, and also quickly eliminates pain.

Tablets

The main effect of bioflavonoid-based tablets is to increase vascular properties such as elasticity and tone, which in turn improves blood circulation and prevents the formation of blood clots.By taking these drugs, the phenomenon of venous congestion and permeability of venous vessels is eliminated.

Effective home remedies for varicose veins.

Cabbage.Our ancestors also used a variety of home 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 beaten well.After that, one side of the sheet is smeared with vegetable oil and applied to the inflamed area for a day (it is secured with a bandage).The course of treatment is 1 month.

Ginger.This plant, used in cooking, can be used to treat varicose veins as 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 to the sore area for 3-4 hours.

Kalina.Like ginger, viburnum can be used to treat varicose veins, both as an enriched drink and as an effective compress.To prepare a compress, the berries should be crushed to a soft state, placed on a prepared bandage or gauze and applied to the problem area.It is best 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 arise as a result of pathologies of the venous walls and malfunction of venous valves, the task of which is to transport blood enriched with carbon dioxide from the lower extremities to the lungs for gas exchange.

As a result of inadequate blood flow and valve dysfunction, blood pools in the vessels, increasing pressure in the leg veins, causing a bulging of the weak venous wall.This is how varicose veins develop.

There are a number of factors that can cause the disease.These include:

1. Inheritance.
2. Obesity.
3. Have bad habits.
4. Pregnancy.
5. Taking hormonal medications for a long time.
6. Cardiovascular diseases that cause blood thickening.
7. A sedentary lifestyle, which causes blood stagnation.
8. Professions that require long periods of stay.
9. Walking in high heels.

Under the influence of these factors, a leg disease develops, which occurs in several stages.Each of them is characterized by special clinical manifestations.In total, 4 stages of varicose veins are distinguished in medical practice:

• varicose veins in the initial stage, shown in the photo above, passespractically no symptoms.A person only has a predominant feeling of heaviness in the legs, slight swelling and pain.Small spider veins begin to appear on the skin of the thighs and legs;
• varicose veins 1st degree, which is 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 of the ankles;
• for second gradecharacterized by an abundance of spider veins, severe swelling, constant pain in the legs, the area of bulging veins increases;
• third degreeindicates skin involvement in the disease process: it becomes scaly, thin, and 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 extremities;When the skin is injured, deep ulcers form.

IMPORTANT!If treatment is not started in the early stages, the disease will be very difficult to treat conservatively in the future and represents a mortal danger to the patient.

The first symptoms of varicose veins

The first symptoms of varicose veins in the legs are difficult to diagnose.For some time the patient has confused them with fatigue and muscle strain.If you experience such sensations, especially if there was no serious tension in your legs before, you should contact a specialist, since the disease can be cured at an early stage.without resorting to surgery and exhausting procedures.Phlebologists and surgeons treat varicose veins.

The first signs of varicose veins are indicated by the following symptoms:

1. 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, stretches even more and causes pain.
2. Swelling of the lower extremities..The symptom manifests itself as a result of a large load on the venous system.If the swelling is accompanied by pain in the vein area and redness of the skin above it, we may be talking about thrombophlebitis - an extremely dangerous complication of varicose veins.
3. Increase calf circumferenceup to 1 cm at night is associated with edema.
4. Painful sensationsIt worsens with exercise and disappears the next morning.
5. The appearance of spider veins.on the legs and thighs.Some patients consider them a cosmetic defect.Its appearance indicates the pathology of a large varicose vein that feeds them.Only ultrasound diagnosis can confirm or refute this.
6. Presence of prominent veins..

At first, the first signs of varicose veins in the legs disappear quickly 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 experience 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!The symptoms of early varicose veins are similar to those of other diseases: flat feet and lumbar osteochondrosis.This is why it is so important to consult a phlebologist to rule out other diagnoses and start treatment on time!

Diagnosis and treatment.

As a rule, varicose veins in the initial stage, as illustrated in the photo,it's painless.A patient, and according to statistics women suffer from varicose veins twice as often as men, seeks help from a doctor in relation to his vascular network.The doctor performs an examination and prescribes the necessary studies to evaluate the degree of impairment of venous circulation.

For this, a general blood test may be prescribed., which will show the presence or absence of thrombocytopenia, a biochemical blood test for liver problems, as well as 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 investigation, the doctor prescribes treatment that can prevent the transition from the initial stage of varicose veins to the later one.

For this, 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 give up bad habits.

Pharmacological treatment in the early stages of varicose veins.not provided.Experts believe that it is enough to use.compression garments, whether special stockings and stockings or elastic bandages, which should be applied to the legs when waking up and worn throughout 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 location.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 easiest.The disease predominantly affects the legs of women;Men are rarely affected by this pathology.

In the photography of varicose veins in the initial stage, the reticular shape can only be determined by strengthening the vascular pattern.This is a bluish mesh 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 flow, but causes aesthetic discomfort to women.Reticular varicose veins of the legs can cause:

This form is more treatable.One of the most effective methods to treat these varicose veins is microscopic sclerotherapy.It is not dangerous and is painless.But patients often do not consider the manifestations of spider veins to be an important reason to visit a phlebologist.In this case, the disease becomes a chronic pathology.May cause bleeding from superficial vessels.

The reticular form of varicose veins requires mandatory medical consultation.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 of 3 mm or more are affected.But the disease is focal in nature, only one or several 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 in the legs segmentally, you can see swollen branches of the main vein in the lower leg.These are the tributary vessels.

Treatment of the disease is conservative.In case of late presentation and formation of tributary nodes, miniphlebectomy can be used.Segmental varicose veins are located on the anteromedial and posterior surface of the leg and in the popliteal fossa.

Magistralnaya

This pathology affects the large and small main veins.The big one suffers several times more than the small one.In the photo of varicose veins on the legs, the protrusion of the main vessels on the lower leg, side thighs and feet is clearly visible.The vascular wall of the legs is tense and nodular formations are noted.

The disease presents 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 become overloaded.For this reason, the veins stretch and lose elasticity.

Major varicose veins require serious treatment.Minor surgical interventions and conservative methods are most frequently used.

In the absence of adequate therapy, the main varicose veins of the legs are complicated by thrombophlebitis and thrombosis.

perforated shape

There are deep and saphenous veins in the legs.They are connected to each other by vessels called perforators.

These are no less important veins than the main ones.Its defeat causes circulatory failure in the legs.The blood is not completely directed into the bloodstream.This contributes to stagnation and thrombus formation.

• a picture of varicose veins on the legs with damage to the perforating veins clearly shows the presence of inflamed vessels;
• bumps and bruises are noticeable in some places;the skin becomes darker;
• Rash and scratching may occur.

The location of this form is varied and depends on the location of the affected vein.These are the legs, thighs and ankles.Sometimes the vessels swell even in the area of the Achilles tendon and under the knee.Treatment is usually surgical, but for single lesions minimally invasive methods are possible.

Stages of varicose veins in the legs.

Phlebologists around the world annually hold forums and seminars dedicated to varicose veins.The types and forms of the disease are constantly changing.Experts describe the stages of varicose veins in the legs in different ways.Their number is constantly changing.The latest approved classification contains seven grades:

• First or zero.It shows no external signs.Patients only complain of heaviness, fatigue and swelling.Sometimes the occasional onset of seizures can be bothersome.
• Second.In the photo of the second stage you can clearly see the vascular network in the area of the popliteal cups and thighs.The symptoms do not change.
• Third.The bulges of blood vessels are clearly visible, especially during exercise or in a sitting position.In addition to the veins, blue nodules can be seen on the legs.Patients feel pain and tension.
• Four.Added to the inflamed veins is the appearance of edema.At night, your feet fill up and in the morning everything returns to normal.The swelling may cause a feeling of numbness or tingling in the legs.
• Fifth.Metabolic processes are altered.There is not enough nutrition for the tissues and trophic changes form in the skin.They can appear in the form of dry plaques, redness and scratching.The skin around the veins becomes darker.Thrombophlebitis may develop.
• Sixth.The photo of this stage is different from the others.It shows pronounced trophic ulcers in the area of the veins of the lower extremities.As a result of massive treatment, the wounds heal by first intention.
• Seventh.Last stage.In other classifications it is called decompensatory.The most negative result of the disease.Non-healing ulcers form on the legs.They can get wet and rot.This grade requires urgent hospital treatment.It can 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 for three stages of varicose veins:

• Countervailing.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.Spider veins and signs of segmental lesions appear.
• Decompensation.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 sufficient to overcome gravity.When this mechanism is disturbed, the body is forced to increase pressure to push blood upward.

As a result of this process, valvular insufficiency occurs, which is characterized by the flow of blood into the superficial veins from the deep ones.As 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, leaving them weak and unprotected.
• Congenital pathologies of venous valves or walls, lack of connective tissue, poor permeability of deep veins, genetic predisposition.
• Neoplasms located in the legs, in the abdominal area.
• Lower extremity injuries.
• Diseases of the endocrine system.
• Thrombophlebitis.
• Joint diseases: osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
• Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives.
• A sedentary lifestyle, which often causes congestion in the legs.
• Increased intra-abdominal pressure.It usually occurs with lung diseases or frequent constipation.
• Overweight.
• Wear tight clothing 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 frequently, since during this period there areglobal changes in hormonal levels, as well as increase in body weight.

Men suffer from this disease iflifestyle associated with heavy physical work, or standing for long periods: machine operators, loaders, etc.Varicose veins in the legs can also appear as a result of certain sports activities.

Varicose veins require immediate treatment, the absence of which can lead to serious consequences: the development of thrombophlebitis, hemorrhage from venous nodes and a trophic ulcer that can lead to leg amputation.