Varicose veins on the legs, initial stage, treatment

Nowadays, such a disease as varicose veins is the most common.As a rule, a sedentary lifestyle leads to the development of the disease, and a late reaction to body signals leads to quite 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 stages and their treatment.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 leads to swelling of the peripheral veins.Swollen vessels are dark blue in color;Without proper treatment, they acquire a purple color, the formation of blood clots and ulcers begins, and severe pain occurs.

Symptoms of the disease in the initial stages of development

Varicose veins of the legs are a rather insidious disease - this is due to 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.Patients with varicose veins often seek professional medical attention when there is sufficient swelling and pain in the limbs.

However, there are some common symptoms.If you notice them, you should immediately contact a specialist to find out the cause of the disease and find out what varicose veins on the legs are, photos, the initial stage and how to treat them.The first symptoms of the disease include an increase in the venous pattern, but in this case swelling, pain and swelling of the blood vessels are usually not observed.

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 occur at any time;Such symptoms are also often accompanied by itching and cramping of 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;
• prominent veins over the surface of the skin and the appearance of characteristic spider veins.

Why are varicose veins dangerous?

Note that, as mentioned above, such a topic as varicose veins on the legs, photo, initial stages, treatment is very relevant for many.This is because varicose veins are a fairly 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 enlarged veins is mandatory!

As you can see in the photo of the initial stage of the disease, the characteristic symptom is distention of the veins, which is far from harmless;We list the symptoms that can be caused by varicose veins.

• phlebitis– This disease implies the beginning of an inflammatory process in the venous walls.Patients with phlebitis usually feel a fairly severe aching pain all the time.In addition, painful lumps form in the affected area.
• Thrombophlebitis– The disease is characterized by the formation of blood clots in inflamed and enlarged veins.Note that thrombophlebitis occurs due to the lack of adequate treatment of 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 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.

Medication for varicose veins

Anoint

Today, the pharmaceutical market offers a wide range of drugs for the treatment of varicose vein diseases, 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 that helps to reduce blood viscosity, dissolve existing blood clots, reduce the inflammatory process and relieve pain symptoms.The drugs achieve the maximum positive effect when used in the initial stages of the disease, improving blood circulation and strengthening the walls of blood vessels.

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

Venotonics help to effectively cope with the symptoms of varicose veins by strengthening blood vessels and inhibiting inflammatory processes.

Creams

Creams against varicose veins are just as effective as ointments due to the active ingredients they contain and 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 relieving 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 effects on the patient with varicose veins.

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

pills

The main effect of tablets based on bioflavonoids is to increase vascular properties such as elasticity and tone, which in turn improves blood circulation and prevents the formation of blood clots.Taking these drugs eliminates the phenomenon of venous congestion and permeability of venous vessels.

Effective folk remedies for varicose veins

Cabbage.Our ancestors also used various folk remedies to treat diseases such as varicose veins.One of them is treatment with cabbage leaves.The effectiveness of this vegetable lies in the fact that cabbage is able to quickly relieve inflammatory processes due 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 thoroughly beaten.After that, one side of the sheet is smeared with vegetable oil and applied to the inflamed area for a day (secured with a bandage).The duration of treatment is 1 month.

Ginger.Used in cooking, this plant 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, you need to grate a piece of ginger root, mix it with natural honey and apply to the sore spot for 3-4 hours.

Kalina.Like ginger, viburnum can be used to treat varicose veins, both as an infused drink and as an effective compress.To prepare a compress, the berries should be ground to a mushy 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

Varicose veins are one of the most common dangerous diseases in both women and men today.According to WHO statistics, varicose veins of the lower extremities can lead to death from thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers and associated cancerous tumors.

Every patient needs to know about 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 the 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 improper blood circulation 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.This includes:

1. Inheritance.
2. Obesity.
3. Having bad habits.
4. Pregnancy.
5. Taking hormonal drugs for a long period of time.
6. Cardiovascular diseases that lead to thickening of the blood.
7. A sedentary lifestyle that leads to blood stagnation.
8. Occupations that require long periods of standing.
9. Walking in high heels.

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

• Varicose veins in the early stages, shown in the photo above, passes bypractically no symptoms.The person only has a predominant feeling of heaviness in the legs, slight swelling and pain.Small spider veins begin to form on the skin of the thighs and legs;
• Varicose veins of the 1st degreeThe disease, which can also be seen in the photo, is characterized by frequent cramps of the calf muscles, a burning sensation that spreads from the lower leg to the sole of the foot, and swelling of the ankles;
• for the second degreecharacterized by an abundance of spider veins, severe swelling, constant pain in the legs, the area of protruding veins increases;
• third degreeindicates involvement of the skin 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 greatly dilated and enlarged.In addition to pain, the patient is plagued by constant burning, 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 poses a fatal danger to the patient!

The first symptoms of varicose veins

The first symptoms of varicose veins on the legs are difficult to diagnose.The patient has been mistaking it for fatigue and muscle strain for some time.If you feel such sensations, especially if your legs were not previously seriously strained, you should contact a specialist, as the disease can be cured at an early stage.without having to resort to surgical procedures and strenuous procedures.Phlebologists and surgeons treat varicose veins.

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

1. Constant feeling of heaviness in the legs.This is due to poor blood circulation in the legs due to dysfunction of the venous valves.This causes the pressure in the vein to increase significantly, stretching it even further and causing pain.
2. Swelling of the lower extremities.The symptom is manifested by severe strain on the venous system.If the swelling is accompanied by pain in the vein area and redness of the overlying skin, we may be talking about thrombophlebitis - an extremely dangerous complication of varicose veins.
3. Increasing calf circumferenceup to 1 cm in the evening is associated with edema.
4. Painful sensationsget worse with exercise and disappear the next morning.
5. The appearance of spider veinson the legs and thighs.Some patients consider it to be a cosmetic defect.Their appearance indicates the pathology of a large varicose vein that feeds them.Only ultrasound diagnostics can confirm or refute this.
6. Presence of prominent veins.

The first signs of varicose veins on the legs will disappear quickly if you rest your legs in a comfortable position.HoweverThis should alarm the patient as it is a sure symptom of an incipient illness.

The patient may then experience a burning sensation in the veins.If you do not pay enough attention 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.That is why it is so important to see a phlebologist to rule out other diagnoses and start treatment on time!

Diagnosis and treatment

As a rule, varicose veins appear in the initial stages, which is shown in the photo.is painless.A patient, and according to statistics women suffer from varicose veins twice as often as men, seeks help from a doctor because of the vascular network.The doctor conducts an examination and prescribes the necessary tests to assess the degree of venous circulation disorder.

For this purpose, a general blood test may be prescribed., which shows the presence or absence of thrombocytopenia, a biochemical blood test to detect liver problems, as well as a vascular ultrasound.

It 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 the examination, the doctor prescribes treatment that can prevent the transition from the initial stage of varicose veins to the subsequent stages.

For this purpose, the underlying disease is treated– endocrine, cardiovascular, etc. Then risk factors are eliminated, only then the patient is offered to change his lifestyle and diet and give up bad habits.

Drug treatment in the early stages of varicose veinsnot provided.Experts believe that using it is enoughCompression clothing - either special stockings and tights or elastic bandages that must be put on the legs when you wake up and worn throughout the day.This therapy allows the load to be distributed evenly across the legs and blood circulation to be improved.

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 (fine vascular);
• segmental (focal);
• perforation (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 predominantly affects women's legs;Men are rarely affected by this pathology.

In the photo of varicose veins in the initial stages, the network shape can be determined only by the strengthening of the vascular pattern.This is a bluish network of small vein fragments with a maximum diameter of 3 mm.More often it is localized on the thighs in the area of the lateral surfaces.First, several star-like fragments appear, then larger areas are affected.

This form of varicose veins is often referred to as cosmetic;It does not pose a threat to blood circulation, but causes aesthetic discomfort in women.Reticular varicose veins of the legs can cause:

This form is the most treatable.One of the most effective methods for treating such varicose veins is microscopic sclerotherapy.It is safe and painless.But often patients do not consider the manifestations of spider veins as a serious reason to see a phlebologist.In this case, the disease turns into a chronic pathology.Bleeding from superficial vessels may occur.

The reticular form of varicose veins requires mandatory medical consultation.This will prevent complications from occurring.

Segment shape

This type of varicose veins can occur in the early stages of the disease.In the segmental form, larger vessels with a diameter of 3 mm or more are affected.However, the disease is focal in nature, only one or more accessory 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 a segmented form, you can see swollen branches of the main vein on the lower leg.These are the side ships.

Treatment of the disease is conservative.If the disease occurs late and secondary nodes form, a miniphlebectomy can be performed.Segmental varicose veins are localized in the anteromedial and posterior surface of the leg, as well as in the popliteal fossa.

Magistralnaya

This pathology affects large and small main veins.The big one suffers many times more often than the small one.In the photo of varicose veins on the legs, the bulging 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 visible.

The disease progresses with the characteristic symptoms of chronic circulatory failure.Reflux occurs due to damage to the vascular valves.Normally, blood moves in one direction.If the valves are not sufficient, they do not close completely and the vessels are overloaded.Because of this, the veins stretch and lose their elasticity.

Large varicose veins require serious treatment.Minor surgical interventions and conservative methods are used more often.

Without adequate therapy, the main varicose veins in the legs are complicated by thrombophlebitis and thrombosis.

Perforated shape

There are deep veins 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.Their defeat leads to impaired blood circulation in the legs.The blood is not completely passed 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 swollen vessels;
• bumps and bruises are visible in places;the skin becomes darker;
• Rashes and scratching may occur.

The localization of this form is diverse and depends on the location of the affected vein.These are the legs, thighs and ankles.Sometimes the vessels even bulge in the area of the Achilles tendon and under the knee.Treatment is often surgical, but minimally invasive methods are also possible for individual lesions.

Stages of varicose veins of the legs

Phlebologists around the world hold annual forums and seminars on the topic of varicose veins.The types and forms of the disease are constantly changing.Experts describe the stages of varicose veins on the legs differently.Their number is constantly changing.The latest approved classification includes seven degrees:

• First or zero.Shows no external signs.Patients only complain of heaviness, fatigue and swelling.Sometimes the occasional occurrence of seizures can be annoying.
• Second.In the photo of the second stage, the vascular network in the back of the knees and thighs can be clearly seen.The symptoms do not change.
• Third.Protrusions of blood vessels are clearly visible, especially when exercising or sitting.In addition to the veins, blue nodules can be seen on the legs.Patients feel pain and tension.
• Fourth.In addition to the swollen veins, there is also the appearance of edema.In the evening your feet get full and in the morning everything returns to normal.Swelling can cause numbness or tingling in the legs.
• Fifth.Metabolic processes are disrupted.There is not enough nutrition for the tissues and trophic changes form 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.It shows pronounced trophic ulcers in the veins of the lower extremities.Massive treatment primarily heals wounds.
• Seventh.Last stage.In other classifications it is called decompensatory.The most negative outcome of the disease.Non-healing ulcers form on the legs.They can become wet and fester.This degree requires urgent inpatient 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 endanger the patient's life.

There is another classification that provides for three stages of varicose veins:

• Balancing.It manifests itself only through local symptoms (pain, cramps, heaviness).No external changes in blood vessels are observed.
• 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 quite enough to overcome gravity.When this mechanism is disrupted, the body is forced to increase pressure to push the blood upward.

As a result of this process, valve insufficiency occurs, which is characterized by blood flowing from the deep veins into the superficial veins.When the pressure in the vessels increases, their walls lose elasticity, stretch and become exhausted, 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 negatively affects the condition of the vein walls and valves, making them weak and unprotected.
• Congenital pathologies of the valves or venous walls, lack of connective tissue, poor patency of deep veins, genetic predisposition.
• New growths on 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 that often leads to 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.

ARVNK is particularly common during pregnancy because they are present during this timeglobal changes in hormone levels and increased body weight.

Men suffer from this disease when theyLifestyle that involves heavy physical workB. by standing for long periods - machine operators, loaders, etc. Varicose veins on the legs can also be caused by certain sporting activities.

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