Chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins are widespread diseases: according to statistics, in developed countries every third person faces them. A special risk group includes the fair sex, to whom this pathology causes physical and psychological distress. In this article we will see why vascular diseases occur in women, what are their signs and symptoms, what you need to do to treat and prevent this disease.
Varicose veins: causes of varicose veins in womenAccording to statistics, men are less likely to suffer from varicose veins than women, who have vascular disease 1. 5 times more likely. What is the reason for the gender characteristic of this pathology?
In addition to these exclusively female preconditions for the development of pathology, varicose veins in women can be triggered by the following factors:
Pathological enlargement of the pelvic vessels is a common problem faced by 15-25% of women of reproductive age. This disease is often mistaken for infectious and inflammatory processes localized in the reproductive organs of the female genitourinary system. In connection with the misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment is prescribed and the patient receives no relief. Consequently, the problem of adequate diagnosis and therapy of pelvic varicose veins is an urgent problem of modern phlebology and gynecology.
The blood supply to the pelvic organs is due to the veins of the uterus and ovaries, as well as the venous plexuses - uterovaginal, vesicovaginal, uviform, rectal plexus, etc. The cause of pelvic varicose veins in women is the violation of blood flow in these vessels. It is usually caused by blood stasis, which can be caused by the following:
The peak of pain usually occurs in the second half of the menstrual cycle, complemented by severe premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea. Psychosomatic disorders can be associated with these symptoms.Expert OpinionThe main symptom of this venous disease in women is the presence of chronic pelvic pain syndrome. It is represented by pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the area of the pubis, sacrum and perineum.
As mentioned above, diagnosing the pathology is difficult because the symptoms of this venous disease in women can be misinterpreted as signs of purely gynecological problems. Therefore, to make an accurate diagnosis, it will be necessary to perform transvaginal ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound, phlebography and in some cases, diagnostic laparoscopy.
Both conservative and surgical approaches are used to treat varicose veins in the pelvis.
In the first case, the goal of therapy is to increase the tone of the venous walls, to normalize the nature of blood flow and blood viscosity. To solve these problems, patients are prescribed venotonic sections, hirudotherapy, ultrasound and magnetotherapy, as well as exercise therapy. If conservative therapy for this pelvic vascular disease is ineffective, surgery is performed - sclerotherapy or venous embolization in pregnant women.
Varicose veins are a problem for most pregnant women. This is due to the changes that occur in the body of the expectant mother during pregnancy. During this period, there is a complete restructuring of the hormonal background, which is directly related to the condition of the vessels. For example, an increase in estrogen leads to changes in the structure of the muscular layer of the venous walls and vasodilation.
In addition to the hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy and childbirth, pregnancy and childbirth can provoke the development of venous diseases in pregnant women and for other reasons. First of all, it is an increase in body weight and an accompanying increase in load on the lower extremities, as well as the excessive stress that a woman in childbirth experiences during labor.
During pregnancy, there is an increase in the total volume of blood circulating, which occurs due to an increase in plasma and erythrocyte content.
Depending on the stage of development, varicose veins in the legs manifest in different ways:
There are two main approaches to solving this problem: conservative and surgical. The first of these is usually used in the initial stages of pathology development, while the second is justified to combat the later stages of the disease.
Conservative therapy includes taking medication, using external products, attending physiotherapy sessions, wearing compression stockings, correcting physical activity, daily routine, eating and drinking regimen. In addition, you can use additional remedies to fight varicose veins - for example, Normaven® foot cream. Its regular application to the lower limbs helps to get rid of bloating, fatigue, heaviness and discomfort in the legs, elimination of night cramps and a decrease in the severity of the vascular pattern.
Due to its natural composition, the cream can also be used during pregnancy.
Surgery aims at complete or partial removal of the varicose vein. Modern vascular surgery can offer the following types of surgeries:
When it comes to treating venous diseases in women 50-60 years old and in older patients, surgery is usually not performed as it is stressful for the body.