What are segmental varicose veins?
This is a venous leg disease in which there is no venous outflow. In this condition, inflammation of the deep or arm arteries with a diameter of 3 mm or more occurs.
The development of the disease begins with dysfunction of the venous valves. This causes blood flow. This is called reflux. The resulting disorders lead to inflammation and pathological dilation of the walls of the arteries.
Varicose veins develop only in the veins (the vessels that carry blood from the organs to the heart). The reason for this is the difference in the structure of the veins and arteries: there is not enough muscle layer in the venous walls to contract and push through the bloodstream.
There are valves along the entire length of the arteries that allow blood to flow in only one direction. When the valves close sufficiently, some of the blood returns and creates excess pressure in the vein, which cannot push the fluid further.
This then leads to elongation of the walls and the development of inflammatory processes in the dysfunctional parts of the vessels, increasing the pressure in the subcutaneous network.
All the blood vessels in the human body are deep, superficial and perforated. The deep veins do almost all the work (90%) to carry the blood to the heart, and the perforated veins are a kind of bridge between the deep and the surface.
The structure of the arteries includes valves that direct and facilitate the flow of blood only in the right direction. When the circulatory system breaks down, part of the blood collects at one point.
This leads to local expansion of the vessel. The first to suffer are deep veins (called internal varicose veins), then superficial in the form of "spider veins and nodules".
In order to fully understand the severity of the disease, it should be noted that its development includes the development of thrombophlebitis, thrombus (or thromboembolism) of the pulmonary artery, as well as trophic ulcers of the foot, lymphostasis (edema of the lower extremities) and other problems.
The following risk factors that significantly increase the likelihood of pathology have already been identified:
Elongation of the veins in the leg, which causes varicose veins, occurs for many reasons.
One of the main causes of this type of varicose veins is a pathology in the development of blood vessels when the muscle walls of the veins become more dense and a so-called membrane is formed inside. Arterial blood does not enter the capillary system, so the tissues do not receive the necessary amount of oxygen.
Dilated arteries are rarely removed, and conservative treatment is generally used:
Patients are also prescribed compression sleeves and gloves. It is not always recommended to wear compression stockings, but it is necessary during sports, strenuous physical activity and weightlifting.
These sleeves and gloves help relieve swelling, heaviness and numbness in the hands. Exercising in a step simulator helps to improve blood circulation in the body, which is necessary for varicose veins.
One of the reasons for development is heredity. In addition, the "family" disease is transmitted mainly through women. The structural features of blood vessels are transmitted through genes. Without following the initial prophylactic rules, you can get varicose veins with weak vascular walls.
The second reason is pregnancy. At this time, a large load on the arteries, the tone decreases due to changes in the hormonal background. Growing uterus and increasing weight show strong pressure. Birth has an even more negative effect on the arteries. At the moment, many women wake up with varicose veins.
Uncomfortable shoes and clothes are another reason. Skinny jeans and shoes, high-heeled shoes, heavy bags are suitable for a serious illness. The heel should not exceed four centimeters. The soles of the boots are wide.
The fourth reason is bad habits and difficult working conditions. Waiters, hairdressers and salespeople are especially susceptible to such diseases. If you add the wrong diet, smoking, you can not avoid varicose veins. Sitting on a harmless "leg" can lead to such catastrophic consequences.
Sports loads should be moderate. Varicose veins are common in weightlifters. Barbell lifting and strength training are another reason. If we add to this tendency, the result is not heartwarming. We must not forget that fitness is not always useful.
The most common type of varicose veins are varicose veins in the legs, so many people think that the problem is concentrated only in these parts of the body. However, there are several types of this disease, which are distinguished by the location of the pathology.
Such places:
Varicose veins or varicose veins are a disease in which blood flow is disrupted due to thinning and loss of elasticity of the venous walls. This disease does not appear suddenly, many factors come first.
The main thing is the stagnation of blood around due to a sedentary lifestyle. First, unexpressed vascular "nets" and "stars" appear in the legs.
If you don't start treatment later, the arteries become denser, allowing fluid to pass, slowing blood circulation and causing large protruding veins in the legs. There are different types of varicose veins depending on how the disease develops.
Varicose veins are not only a cosmetic defect, but also a serious disease with complications. Complications of varicose veins include: thrombophlebitis, bleeding, skin pigmentation in areas with varicose veins, lack of oxygen to the tissues.
This disease should be treated as soon as the symptoms appear, then treatment becomes easier and faster. Before starting treatment, you need to be diagnosed with varicose veins, donate blood for tests and undergo a general examination.
Diagnosis is needed to determine the type of varicose veins and prescribe effective treatment to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms, relieve the legs and restore beauty.
Types of varicose veins are classified according to the severity of the disease and the location of varicose veins. The symptoms and treatment of each varicose vein also differ. Let's take a closer look at what types of varicose veins, symptoms and treatment methods.
Varicose veins in the legs
Every year, more and more varicose veins are registered, especially among young people. However, a few decades ago, varicose veins were considered a disease of the elderly.
Therefore, modern experts have developed a classification system for the main and most common types of disease. Types of varicose veins in the legs differ in symptoms, location and rate of development.
The structure of the venous system is very complex and includes large, medium, small, reticular vessels, capillaries.
Deformation of blood vessels in the lower extremities can manifest itself in all parts of this system, as well as in some regions.
The following types of varicose veins in the legs are analyzed based on which veins have changed:
Each type of varicose veins of the lower extremities requires a detailed study of the characteristics of the pathological process.
This disease is characterized by damage to the reticular vessels with a diameter of not more than 2 mm. These containers are blue or green and are often intertwined in the form of nets, lines, stars. They are under the skin.
The whole course of the disease is generally divided into four stages, each of which is characterized by certain symptoms:
There are several stages of varicose veins. If treatment is not started on time, the disease cannot be avoided.
The treatment of varicose veins is different. If exercise on a simulator such as medications, ointments, vitamins, and a stepper can help the patient in the first stage, more time and effort will be needed to relieve the symptoms of the later stages.
Only surgery can help in the final stage. It is true that modern treatment of varicose veins is very effective, painless and does not require long-term rehabilitation.
Such operations are performed in a hospital, the patient is not required to be hospitalized and there are no complications.
Patients whose work involves either intense physical exertion or sitting in a standing position are at risk. Depending on the stage and type of varicose veins, the doctor prescribes treatment individually.
In the first stage, when varicose veins are diagnosed in the legs, they respond very quickly to treatment, and the doctor gives a positive prognosis. Therefore, when the first signs of discomfort appear in the legs, arms or other organs of the body, immediately contact a qualified specialist who can qualitatively determine the pathology and prescribe a treatment that suits you according to your individual characteristics and body structure.
Stages 1 and 2 of varicose veins in the legs do not require radical therapy. Medication-prescribed medications, as well as products that support the walls of blood vessels, can contain vitamins, trace elements, minerals and other nutrients that the body lacks.
In addition to pharmacological treatment, sclerotherapy is very often used - a medical method, injecting drugs into the affected vein to attach the victim to the affected areas.
It is also important to prescribe special physical exercises that stimulate the musculoskeletal system, increase the metabolism of blood cells and artificially increase the tone of the arteries in the legs.
Regardless of the type and type of varicose veins, it is a pathology of the arteries caused by improper lifestyle and malnutrition. Moderate daily physical activity and consumption of fortified foods will provide everyone with qualified prevention of this disease.
Grade 1 varicose veins are characterized by the absence of external manifestations. The onset of the disease can be suspected by the following symptoms:
Some patients have restless legs syndrome - when lying in bed, a person can not find a comfortable place, there is a feeling of discomfort in the legs. This causes sleep disorders. An increase in symptoms is noted in hot weather.
With grade 2 varicose veins, the symptoms are more pronounced. They are already visible at the height of the working day and reach their maximum in the evening. The pain is so severe that pain medication is required.
This stage is characterized by the appearance of clinical signs:
Pain and itching have increased in these areas. At the end of the second stage of varicose veins of the lower extremities, the veins appear in the form of blue spots and streaks under the skin.
Warning: At this stage, the disease is still being treated. If a person sees a doctor in time, he can get rid of the disease.
Grade 3 varicose veins are characterized by acute deformation of the vessel wall - thickening and twisting of the veins. The veins are noticeably stretched beneath the skin, which looks like bunches of grapes.
The person is worried about severe pain, cramps and fatigue in the legs. The swelling appears both in the evening and in the morning. This stage of varicose veins is characterized by a change in the condition of the skin. It is extremely dry and scaly. These manifestations are especially pronounced in the area of deformed vessels.
Symptoms of the third stage of varicose veins in the legs
In the third stage, complications of the disease - thrombophlebitis and thromboembolism develop. Their appearance is associated with blood stasis in the arteries, resulting in the formation of blood clots. With thrombophlebitis, inflammation of the venous wall occurs, which is manifested by fever and severe pain in the legs.
Thromboembolism is a dangerous complication of varicose veins associated with the separation of the thrombus from the venous wall and into the large vessels. Often, blood clots from the arteries of the legs enter the pulmonary artery. This causes pulmonary edema, and death occurs within minutes.
These are already neglected leg varicose veins. The veins are even more deformed, resembling a tourniquet or rope under the skin. It is painful to touch them, they are almost always in the inflammatory stage. Lymphostasis develops - stagnation of lymph in the vessels. The legs are very swollen and the swelling does not decrease at rest.
The world community of scientists has systematized the manifestations of varicose veins of the lower extremities.
Given that the patient pays due attention to his health, it is simply impossible not to see the onset of the disease.
As the disease progresses, the patient will feel more and more pain, there is a constant feeling of tightness in the knee area.
If second-degree varicose veins of the esophagus are detected, a person will not be able to eat normally and will have a constant pest with heartburn and chest pain. By the way, many blame it on the heart and intercostal neuralgia - rarely does anyone know the presence of varicose veins of the esophagus.
Visually, the disease manifests itself more and more: blue protruding veins are already visible to the naked eye, it is possible to see dark blue nodules under the skin.
Do you need surgery for grade 2 varicose veins? It is still possible to prevent the development of the disease without surgery: you just should not be lazy and take care of your feet regularly.
Often the disease occurs in men after fifty years. The cause of male infertility may be venous dilatation of the spermatic cord.
Varicose veins develop gradually. Initially, there are no external manifestations of structural changes in the vessels, and the disease can be identified only by the following symptoms:
One or more of the listed symptoms indicates an early stage of venous insufficiency. Getting medical care and taking timely measures can prevent further structural changes in the circulatory system. Ignoring the symptoms of the disease leads to further development of the disease.
The next stage is characterized by the appearance of external signs: dilated veins appear on the skin, skin pigmentation changes in some areas of the lower extremities, and peeling is noted. In addition, knots and seals appear on the surface of the skin, and pain is felt when pressed.
Sometimes there is redness on the surface of the skin in these places, and the protruding areas of blood vessels and nodules are clearly visible if the patient is standing. After taking a sleeping position, the tension in the arteries decreases significantly and they become virtually invisible. Prolonged walking can cause muscle pain of varying intensity.
The described clinical picture should immediately consult a specialist and require qualified assistance. In most cases, the lack of proper treatment leads to serious complications.
The pathology is diagnosed using diagnostic measures such as Doppler sonography and duplex scanning.
Doppler ultrasound detects reflux. Duplex scanning complements the information obtained during Doppler imaging and allows you to confirm the diagnosis.
In the early stages, only a specialist can diagnose varicose veins. If you suspect a disease, you should contact a vascular surgeon or phlebologist. After the initial examination and examination of the patient, additional studies are scheduled - ultrasound and contrast venography.
With the help of ultrasound it is possible to confirm the presence of pathology, as well as to determine the presence of blood clots, neoplasms and assess structural changes in blood vessels. Contrast venography is performed by intravenous application of a special dye composition, as all the abnormalities in the structure and function of the circulatory system are detected.
Both methods are used in diagnosis, but ultrasound is performed more often because the procedure is less painful.
The disease can be treated with both surgery and medication.
Ointments and creams for external use are used in conservative therapy:
The duration of use of topical medications depends on the severity of varicose veins and is determined by the attending physician. The effect is usually noticeable as the second week of use.
In addition to medication, the patient is prescribed to wear compression underwear (1-2 degrees).
Varicose veins of the lower extremities are one of the most common vascular pathologies and, according to statistics, are constantly rejuvenating.