Varicose veins in the legs, the 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 a disease, and a premature reaction to the body's signals leads to quite serious consequences, which in turn harm health. In this article we will examine a topic such as varicose veins in the legs, photos, the initial stages of how to treat it. I would like to point out that varicose veins are commonly called a disease characterized by stagnation of blood in the blood vessels of the lower extremities, due to which the peripheral veins are swollen. Swollen vessels have a dark blue color, in the absence of adequate treatment, they take on a purple tinge, the formation of blood clots and ulcers begins and severe pain appears.

Symptoms of the disease in the early stages of development

Varicose veins of the legs are a very insidious disease - due to the fact that this disease is very difficult to diagnose in the early stages of development. The symptoms of the disease are similar to many other diseases, such as osteochondrosis or flat feet. Often, patients with varicose veins seek professional medical help when a fairly strong swelling and soreness of the limbs appears.

However, there are some common symptoms, noting which you should contact a specialist immediately to find out the cause of the disease and to find out what are the varicose veins in the legs, photos, the initial stage of the wayof treatment. The initial symptoms of the disease include an increase in the venous pattern, however, as a rule, in this case, there is no swelling, soreness and swelling of the vessels.

Let us consider the most obvious symptoms that indicate the presence of a disease such as varicose veins:

• the appearance of leg pain, which can appear at any time, also often such symptoms are accompanied by itching and cramping of the limbs during sleep;
• the appearance of a feeling of tiredness and swelling in the legs;
• the skin changes its color, the skin in the problem areas gets a bluish tinge, it becomes drier;
• swelling of the veins on the surface of the skin and the appearance of characteristic spider veins.

Why varicose veins are dangerous

Note that, as mentioned above, a topic such as varicose veins in the legs photo initial stage of how to treat, is very important to many. This is due to the fact that varicose veins are a very 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 the treatment of varicose veins is necessary!

As you can see in the picture of the initial stage of the disease, its characteristic symptomatology is the swelling of the veins, which is far from harmless, let us list the diseases that can provoke varicose veins.

• Phlebitis- this disease means the beginning of an inflammatory process of the venous walls. As a rule, patients with phlebitis constantly feel a fairly strong excruciating pain. In addition, painful seals appear 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 lack of adequate treatment for phlebitis. In addition to pain in the extremities, the patient feels general weakness, loses appetite.
• Trophic ulcer- this is another complication of varicose veins, which is manifested due to lack of nutrition of the epidermis, which leads to the appearance of dermatitis, the consequence of which isdifficult to cure trophic ulcers.

Preparations for varicose veins

Pomada

Today the pharmaceutical market offers a wide range of medicines for the treatment of diseases involving varicose veins and ointments for varicose veins deserve special attention.

Anticoagulants. These drugs for the treatment of varicose veins are the most popular. The main task of the oil is a complex effect, which helps reduce blood viscosity, resorption of blood clots that appear, reduce the inflammatory process and reduce pain symptoms. The drug provides the maximum positive effect when applied in the initial stage of the disease, improving blood circulation and strengthening the walls of blood vessels.

Sodium heparin-based ointment prevents blood clotting and reduces blood clotting.

Venotonics helps to effectively cope with the symptoms of varicose veins, strengthen blood vessels and inhibit inflammatory processes.

Creams

Creams for varicose veins are also effective, as well as oils due to the active ingredients contained in them, which can effectively fight the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.

Ketoprofen-based creams actively suppress inflammatory processes in the vessels of the lower extremities. These drugs belong to the non-steroidal group, which shows its effectiveness in removing bloating and eliminating pain.

Creams based on natural ingredients that effectively help remove varicose veins. The advantage of the cream is that it has no adverse effect on the patient with varicose veins.

Routine-based creams are effective at the cellular level due to which the inflammatory process is suppressed quickly. The drug has a decongestant effect, improves vascular tone, regulates intravenous pressure and quickly eliminates pain.

Tablet

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

Effective folk remedies for varicose veins

Cabbage.Even our ancestors used a variety of folk remedies to treat a disease such as varicose veins. One of them is the 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 trace elements it contains. Typically, white cabbage leaves for the treatment of varicose veins are used in the form of compresses. To make a medical compress, you will need a cabbage leaf, which must first be beaten properly. After that, one side of the leaf is smeared with vegetable oil and applied to the inflamed area for a day (attached with a bandage). The course of treatment is 1 month.

Ginger.This herb, used in cooking, can be used to treat varicose veins as an external and internal medicine. Ginger tea will help to cope with almost any disease at any stage of its development, including varicose veins. You can also make ginger bandages. To do this, we need to grind a piece of ginger root, mix it with natural honey and place it on the affected area for 3-4 hours.

Kalina.Like ginger, viburnum can be used to treat varicose veins as an enriched drink and as an effective compress. To prepare the compress, the berries should be ground to a soft state, placed in a prepared bandage or gauze, and applied to the problem area. It is best to do such a compress at night.

The initial stage of varicose veins - the first symptoms

Today, varicose veins are one of the most common dangerous diseases, both among women and men. According to WHO statistics, varicose veins of the lower extremities can lead a person to death from thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers and the cancerous tumors associated with them.

Every patient should know about the causes, symptoms and stages of the disease in order to prevent the serious consequences of this pathology.

Reasons and stages of development

Varicose veins occur as a result of venous wall pathologies and venous valve dysfunction, the task of which is to carry carbon dioxide-enriched blood from the lower extremities to the lungs for gas exchange.

As a result of improper blood flow and valve dysfunction, blood accumulates in the vessels, increasing the pressure in the veins in the legs, which leads to swelling of the weak venous wall. This is how varicose veins develop.

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

1. Inheritance.
2. Mbipesha.
3. Having bad habits.
4. Pregnancy.
5. Taking hormonal medication for a long time.
6. Cardiovascular diseases leading to blood clots.
7. Sedentary lifestyle that provokes blood stasis.
8. Long-term professions.
9. Walking in high heels.

Under the influence of these factors, a foot disease develops, which continues in several stages. Each of them is characterized by specific clinical manifestations.There are 4 stages of varicose veins in medical practice:

• early stages of varicose veins, pictured above, passesvirtually asymptomatic. A person has only a predominant feeling of heaviness in the legs, swelling and slight pain. Small spider veins begin to appear on the skin of the thighs and legs;
• grade 1 varicose veins, which is also shown in the picture, is characterized by frequent calf muscle cramps, a burning sensation that spreads from the lower leg to the lower leg. foot, as well as swelling of the feet;
• for the second degreeis ​​characterized by an abundance of spider veins, severe edema, persistent pain in the legs, an increase in the area of ​​prominent veins;
• third degreeshows the involvement of the skin in the disease process: it becomes smooth, thin, often pigmented near the ankle. The risk of thrombosis is very high. the veins dilate and dilate greatly. The patient, in addition to pain, is followed by a constant burning sensation, eczema and dermatitis on the skin of the lower extremities, deep ulcers form when the skin is damaged.

IMPORTANT! If treatment is not started in the early stages, the disease is very difficult to treat conservatively in the future and threatens the patient with deadly risk!

The first symptoms of varicose veins

The first symptoms of varicose veins in the legs are difficult to diagnose.The patient confuses them for some time with muscle fatigue and strain. With such sensations, especially if there was no serious load on the foot before, you should contact a specialist, because you can cure the disease at an early stage, without using grueling operations and procedures. Phlebologists and surgeons are engaged in the treatment of varicose veins.

The following symptoms indicate the first signs of varicose veins:

1. Continuous standing weight. This is due to impaired circulation in the leg due to malfunction of the venous valves. Because of this, the pressure in the vein increases significantly, it stretches even more and causes pain.
2. swelling of the lower extremities. The symptoms manifest as a result of a heavy load on the venous system. If the pain in the vein and the redness of the skin above it are accompanied by swelling, we can talk about the development of thrombophlebitis - an extremely dangerous complication of varicose veins.
3. An increase in the periphery of the lower legup to 1 cm in the evening is accompanied by edema.
4. The pain sensationsintensify with exertion and disappear by the next morning.
5. Spider veinsin the legs and groin. Some patients consider them a cosmetic defect. Their appearance shows the pathology of the vein with large varicose veins that feeds them. Only ultrasound diagnosis can confirm or deny this.
6. Emerging veins.

At first, the first signs of varicose veins in the legs disappear quickly if the legs are allowed to rest in a comfortable position. However,this should alert the patient as it is a sure symptom of an initial illness.

Then the patient may 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 the appearance of fatigue in the legs below the knees.

ATTENTION! The symptoms of early varicose veins are similar to other diseases - flat feet and osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. This is why it is so important to seek advice from a phlebologist in order to rule out other diagnoses and start treatment in a timely manner!

Diagnosis and treatment

As a rule, varicose veins in the initial stage, which is illustrated in the picture,is ​​painless. The patient, and according to statistics, women suffer from varicose veins twice as often as men, seeks help from a doctor regarding the vascular network. The doctor performs an examination and prescribes the studies needed to assess the extent of the damaged venous circulation.

For this, a general blood test can be prescribed, which will show the presence or absence of thrombocytopenia, a biochemical blood test to detect liver problems, such asand vascular ultrasound.

Indicates vascular wall pathology. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is referred for X-ray phlebography, which determines the location of the venous lesion.

After the research, the doctor prescribes a treatment that can prevent the transition of the initial stage of varicose veins to subsequent ones.

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.

Medical treatment at an early stage of varicose veinsis ​​not offered. Experts believe that it is enough to use tight underwear- or special socks and tights, or elastic bandages, which should be applied to the feet when you wake up and dress all day. Such therapy can evenly distribute the load on the foot and improve blood circulation.

Forms of the disease

The type of vascular insufficiency depends on the veins that struck the disease, the prevalence of the process, and the localization. There are varicose veins:

• reticular (small vascular);
• segmental (focal);
• perforator (damage to the connecting veins);
• main (pathology of a small or large vein under the skin).

Each type of varicose vein 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 mainly affects the feet of women; men are rarely affected by this pathology.

In the picture 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 located in the thigh in the area of ​​lateral surfaces. First, some star-like fragments appear, then wider areas are affected.

This form of varicose veins is often called cosmetic, it is not dangerous for blood flow, but it gives women an aesthetic concern. Varicose veins of the legs can cause:

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

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

Segment shape

This type of varicose veins can already 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 a few branch veins lose tone. This type of pathology is characterized by the lack of reverse blood discharge, which facilitates therapy.

If you look at the picture of varicose veins in the leg in a segmental shape, you can see swollen branches from the main vein in the lower leg. These are branch ships.

Treatment of the disease is conservative. With late treatment and the formation of branch nodes, miniflebectomy can be used. Segmental varicose veins are located on the anteromedial and posterior surface of the foot and in the popliteal fossa.

Trunk

This pathology affects the major large and small veins. Large, suffers several times more often than small. In the photo of the varicose veins in the leg, the emergence of large vessels in the lower leg, lateral thighs and legs is clearly visible. The vascular wall in the leg is tense and the nodal formations are visible.

The disease continues with symptoms characteristic of chronic circulatory failure. Due to damage to the vascular valves, reflux (reverse discharge) occurs. Normally, blood moves in one direction. If the valves are insufficient, they do not close completely and the vessels are overloaded. For this reason, the veins stretch and lose their elasticity.

Varicose veins of the trunk require serious treatment. Minor surgery and conservative methods are most often used.

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

Perforation form

Deep veins and safene veins are present in the legs. They are connected to each other by vessels, which are called drilling vessels.

These veins are no less important than trunk veins. Their loss leads to insufficient blood circulation in the legs. Blood is not completely directed into the bloodstream. This contributes to stagnation and thrombus formation.

• a photograph of varicose veins in the leg with perforating vein lesions clearly shows the presence of swollen vessels;
• bumps and bruises are visible in some places; the skin becomes darker;
• redness 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 legs. Sometimes the vessels also swell in the Achilles tendon and below the knee. Treatment is often surgical, but with single foci, minimally invasive methods are possible.

Stages of varicose veins of the legs

Phlebologists all over the world hold forums and seminars every year dedicated to varicose veins. The types and forms of the disease are constantly changing. Experts describe the stages of varicose veins in different ways. Their number is constantly changing. The last approved classification contains seven grades:

• First or invalid. It is not manifested by external signs. Patients complain only of weight, fatigue and swelling. It can sometimes annoy the recurrence of crises.
• Second. In the picture of the second stage, you can clearly see the vascular network in the popliteal cups and thighs. The symptomatology does not change.
• Third. Container protrusions are clearly visible, especially during exercise or in a sitting position. In addition to veins, blue knots can be seen on the legs. Patients feel pain and tension.
• Fourth. The appearance of edema is added to the swollen veins. In the evening, the legs become full, and in the morning everything returns to normal. The ringing may cause numbness or tingling in the legs.
• E pesta. Metabolic processes break down. There is not enough tissue nutrition, and trophic changes form on the skin. They can appear as dry spots, redness and scratches. The skin around the veins becomes darker in color. Thrombophlebitis may develop.
• Sixth. The picture of this stage is different from the others. Shows pronounced trophic ulcers in the veins of the lower extremities. As a result of mass treatment, the wounds heal with the main purpose.
• Seventh. The final stage. In other classifications, it is called decompensation. The most negative outcome of the disease. Non-healing ulcers form on the feet. They can get wet and empty. This degree requires urgent hospital treatment. It can be complicated by sepsis and thromboembolism.

Types of varicose veins in the legs, complicated by a violation of skin integrity and the addition of a secondary infection, can be life-threatening.

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

• Compensation. Manifested only with local symptoms (pain, convulsions, severity). External changes in blood vessels are not noticed.
• Undercompensation. External signs of moderately varicose veins develop. Spider veins and signs of segmental lesions appear.
• Decompensation. Severe 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 sufficient to overcome gravity. When this mechanism is disturbed, the body is forced to increase the pressure to push the blood up.

As a result of this process, valvular insufficiency occurs, which is characterized by blood flow to the superficial veins from the deep ones. As the pressure inside the vessels increases, their walls lose elasticity, stretch and deplete, leading to the formation of visible bluish subcutaneous nodules.

Reasons for developing varicose veins of the lower extremities:

• Increased progesterone levels in a woman's body. This hormone has a negative effect on the condition of the venous walls and valves, making them weak and vulnerable.
• Congenital malformations of the valves or walls of the veins, lack of connective tissue, poor opening of the deep veins, genetic predisposition.
• Neoplasms located in the legs, in the abdominal cavity.
• Injuries to the lower limbs.
• 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 stagnant processes.
• Increased intra-abdominal pressure. It usually occurs with lung disease, or with frequent constipation.
• Mbipesha.
• Wearing tight clothes and shoes.
• Presence in the diet of a large amount of high-calorie and fatty foods, lack of fiber.
• Smoking, frequent consumption of alcohol.

During pregnancy, BPVC occurs especially often, as during this period global changes in hormonal levels occur, as well as an increase in body weight.

Men suffer from this disease if their livingis ​​accompanied by hard physical work, or prolonged standing - machine operators, loaders, etc. Varicose veins of the legs can also occur as a result of some sports activities.

Varicose veins need urgent treatment, the lack of which can have serious consequences: the development of thrombophlebitis, bleeding from the venous nodes and trophic ulcers that can provoke amputation of the leg.