Varicose veins (varicose veins) - a condition in which the veins grow in diameter, become winding. Most often this is due to damaged work of venous valves.
Venous system. Characteristics of the vein structure.
Venous vessels are part of the cardiovascular system, they carry blood from the peripheral tissues to the heart. The thought that venous blood always flows through the veins, and the arterials always flow into the veins. In fact, this is not always the case. For example, pulmonary arteries hold venous blood from the heart to the lungs, and the pulmonary veins return from the lungs to the arterial heart.
In many arteries, blood flows under high pressure, so they have a thick thick 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 only one direction, thus contributing to its progress to the heart. Valves are missing only in the veins of the head and neck, as they are above the heart, the blood flows down freely.
Happy what happens in the veins? The essence of varicose veins.
The walls of the lower extremities are forced to constantly experience increased loads, as blood flow through these vessels occurs against gravity. The main mechanisms leading to varicose veins:
excessive venous wall extension;
Venous valve breakdown.
It is far from always 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 disease:
Direction. This factor is present in all people. The legs are farthest from the heart of the body, which is below the rest during stay and walking. Venous blood is more difficult to get back to the heart from the feet.
Age while the risk of varicose veins increases, while venous valves are tired. They stop closing completely, so that a small amount of blood can flow in the opposite direction. It stumbles into the veins of the legs, instead of returning to the heart.
Floors women suffer from varicose veins more often than men. This is facilitated by hormonal changes in the female body during pregnancy, in postmenopause, prior to menstruation. Female sex hormones contribute to relaxation of vein walls.
Hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives.
Inheritance. The more members of your family suffer from the varicose veins of the lower extremities, the higher your risks.
Overweight additional pounds contribute to increased load on the cardiovascular system. The pressure in the veins increases.
Standing or sitting for a long time. This leads to stagnation of blood in the veins of the lower body. For example, office employees, surgeons and other people who are "standing" and "sitting" work often 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.
Varicose vein signs
Visible expansion of subcutaneous veins. They grow, become winding, visible under the skin. Variously dilated veins most often look like cereals, purple blue or dark "worms". Such a look occurs only with varicose veins located under the skin. If venous vessels placed deeper in the fabrics are affected, it is impossible to notice this outward.
The feeling of severity in the leg. It usually occurs or intensifies after intense physical exercise in the evening and at night.
Different unpleasant sensations. It can be a burning sensation, a feeling of pulsation, tingling, numbness.
Swelling in the leg. Blood stagnation in varicose veins leads to the fact that the fluid begins to remain and accumulates in the tissue. Edema occurs closer in the evening, as a rule, first only in the leg. While a violation of venous blood flow increases, the swelling extends to the lower legs, hips.
Muscle cramps. They arise because of the violation of blood supply to the tissue when a person stays for a long time.
Pain in the legs. Not all patients are concerned. Intensify with prolonged stay.
Complications of varicose veins
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 varicose vein area, bleeding occurs, which may not stop for a long time. In such cases, you need to lie down, raise your feet up and press into the bleeding area. If the blood continues to go, you should consult a doctor.
Ulcer for varicose veins. Very painful, most often located on the ankle. Ulcers occur due to edema and damaged blood supply to the tissue in the varicose vein area. Usually an ulcer is preceded by a pale place on the skin. If this complication arises, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Thrombophlebitis for varicose veins. A condition in which blood clots occur in the venous wall and inflammation occurs. In the area of damage, a feeling of heat, redness, pain may occur. Usually, with this complication, the doctor prescribes compression freedom, painkillers.
Chronic venous deficiency. A condition in which the exchange of oxygen, nutrients and waste products between the skin and blood is disturbed, due to damaged blood supply. Chronic venous deficiency increases the risk of pathologies such as eczema, strong dense skin, trophic ulcers.
Venous eczema (stagnant dermatitis). Skin lesion caused by venous blood stagnation and edema formation. Main symptoms: red spots, peel, itching in the area of varicose veins.
Disturbed leg syndrome. It is characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs that arise at rest. The patient has to make movements constantly, which is why sleep often worries.
Linseed compression for varicose veins
Compression socks and elastic bandage with varicose veins compress diluted veins, thus improving blood circulation. As a rule, the interior of the compression wrap the legs around the ankles more strongly, and above gradually becomes cheaper. It helps the blood move through the veins in the direction of the opposite force of gravity - up to the heart.
Many patients notice that compression socks and elastic bandages help to cope with discomfort, pain, edema.
Despite the fact that compression freedom helps improve blood flow and cope with some symptoms, it does not heal varicose veins. During the studies, unclear results were obtained, so scientists could not say if compression socks help to eliminate or prevent varicose veins.
Compression freedom varieties:
Socks and tights. The most common type of compression laundry. Socks reach hips, tights - up to the waist. Compression trips are more convenient, as they are safely fixed and do not slip.
Golf. They reach the knee. It is often used by men. There are different models.
Elastic bandage. It has different lengths, can only be aimed at the bandage of the lower leg or lower leg and buttocks. This is the cheapest, but the most unpleasant variety of freedom of compression. The bandage should be applied longer than to put tangs or socks, it constantly slips. The compression rate is controlled manually by adjusting the strength of the bandage, and is not always appropriate.
Operations for varicose veins
With pointed veins with varicose legs, they are directed to surgical treatment. Usually the operation is performed under general anesthesia. In most cases, the patient is discharged from the hospital on the day of surgical intervention. If the surgery is performed on two legs, then it will probably be necessary to spend a night in the hospital.
There are different types of varicose veins surgical treatment.
Wearing and removing an extended vein
Two cuts are made: one in the groin, the other below, on the ankle, knee or other place. At the top is found, bandage and cross from a vein. Through it, a special thin wire is performed at the bottom, after which it is pulled together with the bottom. Removing the surface of the surface will not affect the blood supply to the legs, as its functions will receive deep veins.
Possible complications of dressing and removal of the vein:
the formation of large hemorrhages;
bleeding;
pain;
A very rare complication is deep vein thrombosis.
Reinforcement of performance after such surgery in most patients occurs within 1-3 weeks. Throughout this time you will need to wear compression socks. If there is venous insufficiency, the interior of compression will have to be used in the long run.
Sclerotherapy
During this procedure, a special substance is inserted into the vein, which damages its wall from the inside and leads to the lumen overlap. Varicosis is done within a few weeks. Sometimes the medicine must be administered several times.
Radio frequency ablation
The technique predicts the heating of the vein wall using the radio frequency energy. Procedure Course:
A small cut is made above or below the knee and access to Vienna.
Under the control of ultrasound, a catheter (a semi -flexible tube) is performed in a vein.
Then, through the catheter, the doctor conducts an investigation that issues radio frequency energy.
The energy emitted by the probe warms the vein wall from the inside, causes its burning and closing the lumen of the ship.
Usually this operation is performed under local anesthesia, without anesthesia. During the procedure, the patient may suffer minor unpleasant sensations that resemble injections with the pins. Sometimes a small skin burn occurs. Within a few weeks after radio frequency ablation, compression linen should be worn.
Treatment of Varicose veins with a laser
Lumlen vein closure can also be caused by radiation of its wall from the inside with a laser. Procedure Course:
A catheter is inserted into the patient's vein.
A laser radiation source is performed through a catheter in Vienna.
The laser causes the vein to heat, the burning of its walls from the inside and the lumen ceiling.
The surgeon directs the laser rays under the control of the ultrasound and gradually burns the vein wall.
As a rule, treatment of varicose veins with a laser is performed under local anesthesia. The procedure is effective in 98% of cases.
Exercises for varicose veins
Therapeutic gymnastics can be useful for varicose veins. Below we will consider the simplest set of exercises, but you should definitely consult a doctor before their implementation. Only your doctor will be able to say exactly which loads are not contraindicated for you and are able to benefit.
How can gymnastics help with varicose veins:
improving the flow of venous and lymph vessels;
improving blood supply to lower extremities;
increasing the tone of vein walls;
improving blood circulation in small vessels;
Strengthening the leg muscles, increasing their durability.
Massage for varicose veins
Massage can be used for varicose veins, but not always, it depends on the degree of severity and the presence of complications. Do not get involved in yourself -massage, it is best to contact a professional massage therapist.
Massage for varicose veins helps reduce symptoms such as swelling, convulsions, numbness and other discomfort. It relieves tension in the muscles and helps restore the normal tone of the venous walls. With varicose veins, massage is often combined with physiotherapy exercises.
How to deal with varicose veins at home?
There are some measures that can be used independently, at home to slow down the advancement of varicose veins and reduce the feeling of discomfort to which it is associated with:
Physical activity. Walking helps to strengthen the leg muscles and improve the venous blood flow. Consult your doctor, it will recommend the level of physical activity that is suitable for you.
Keeping a healthy weight. Respect a healthy diet. If you suffer from an excess body weight or overweight, try to get rid of extra pound. Consult a nutritionist: a specialist will make recommendations for the nature of the food that will be optimal in your case.
The right choice of clothes. Do not wear high -legged shoes, tight linen and clothes that squeeze the veins.
Raising your feet up. It will be great if you can periodically take a break and raise your feet above heart level. When you sleep or just lie in bed, place 3-4 pillows under your feet.
Break with sitting or extended legs. Try to move every 30 minutes.
Do not place your foot on the foot when you sit down. Because of this, the veins are squeezed, the blood flow is even more disturbed.
Preventing veins with varicose
It is impossible to completely prevent varicose veins. Existing preventive measures only help to delay the disease or slow down its progress if it is already born.
If you have to sit or stay for a long time, be sure to take a break. Walk, go away. If possible, you can lie down and raise your feet.
Try to keep your feet in a raised position when you are sitting, resting, sleeping. Sometimes it is useful to go to the sofa or floor and keep your feet raised, resting them on the wall.
The more often your feet are higher than the heart level, the better for their veins.
Perform physical exercises that help strengthen your leg muscles. Thanks to this, the blood movement will improve through the veins.
If you have overweight or overweight, try to lose weight. This will not only reduce the risks of varicose veins, but will also positively affect the condition of the entire cardiovascular system.
Do not wear stolled clothes, especially the one that pulls to the waist, groin, heels. Because of it, blood flow through the veins can worsen.
Try to wear high -heeled shoes as little as possible. Because of this, the leg muscle tone is disturbed, they stop helping to push the blood through the veins.
