Signs of varicose veins of the legs are often found in women - this pathology is detected in almost every third woman. This disease, accompanied by an expansion of the lumen and thinning of the walls of the venous vessels, leads not only to the appearance of cosmetic defects, but is also accompanied by pain and malnutrition of the tissues of the lower extremities. As a result, if left untreated, a woman can develop trophic leg ulcers, leading to even more serious complications. That is why the start of varicose vein treatment should always be timely.
The signs of varicose veins of the legs in women are not always evident in the early stages - sometimes the disease lasts a long time.
Causes and first signs
Leg veins are affected by varicose veins under the influence of the following factors:
- overweight;
- inheritance;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- long stay in a static position;
- pregnancy;
- childbirth;
- taking high-dose contraceptives;
- increased abdominal pressure with frequent or prolonged coughing, sneezing or constipation;
- overload during physical training or exertion;
- leg injuries;
- pelvic pathology;
- excessive use of tanning or heat treatments;
- wearing uncomfortable shoes;
- the habit of sitting cross-legged;
- alcohol abuse;
- old age.
Due to the increase in pressure in the venous vessels and the stagnation of blood, the vessels dilate, the blood flow in them changes direction and speed, as the walls of the vessels change tone and the valves stop functioning normally. As a result, changes in the veins lead to the development of a vicious circle in hemodynamics and other functions of the venous vessels.
In the initial stages of varicose veins, blood flow can still be compensated by conservative means: wearing compression underwear, gymnastics and the use of venotonic drugs. However, as the disease progresses, changes in the structure of the veins become irreversible and can only be removed surgically.
The symptoms of varicose veins can significantly disrupt the normal rhythm of life.
The following manifestations can become the first signs of varicose veins of the legs:
- heaviness in the legs;
- the appearance of telangiectasias - spider veins and meshes of different colors (bluish, red, black);
- feeling of fullness during a long stay in a motionless position (sitting, standing);
- nocturnal convulsions;
- symptom relief after walking or resting in a horizontal position.
Often the first manifestations of this common disease are attributed to fatigue and a visit to the doctor can be postponed until the serious consequences of the disease appear. As the expansion of the venous walls progresses, the symptoms become more pronounced, and then new ones are added to the above manifestations.
Symptoms
The enlargement of varicose in later stages is manifested by the following symptoms:
- rapid leg fatigue;
- pain;
- feeling full of fluid;
- soft tissue swelling after exertion;
- translucency and protrusion of large veins above the skin;
- itchy skin;
- bruises due to rupture of large vessels;
- peeling of the skin;
- hair loss;
- trophic ulcers.
Against the background of varicose veins in women, blood clots - thrombi - can form in the lumen of the veins. When migrating through the bloodstream, consequences of varying severity develop: thrombosis, phlembothrombosis, the development of cardiovascular diseases, the opening and suppuration of ulcers, the entry of blood clots into the vessels of the heart or lungs.
Diagnostics and treatment
To confirm the diagnosis, a woman should contact a vascular surgeon and undergo an examination. The diagnostic plan includes an examination with instrumental studies:
- Doppler ultrasound of the vessels of the legs;
- duplex angioscan;
- reovasography;
- X-ray and radionuclide methods.
The tactics of treating varicose veins of the legs is determined by the stage of the disease. Conservative means can be used in the beginning:
- wearing compression stockings or bandaged with elastic bandages;
- sufficient physical activity;
- wear comfortable shoes;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- elimination of the static load on the legs;
- application of venotonics.
The duration of conservative therapy is individual and depends on the rate of progression of the disease and compliance with the doctor's recommendations. It can be supplemented with a special diet, which involves the introduction of foods into the diet that help strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
The likelihood of varicose veins receding under the onslaught of conservative treatments is determined by each clinical case. In many ways, the success of therapy depends on the timeliness of a visit to a doctor.
Furthermore, these therapies are recommended in the preparation phase for surgical treatment or for those patients who are contraindicated to invasive surgery.
Sometimes the prevention of varicose vein progression can consist of minimally invasive interventions. They are applicable only for strict indications, which are determined during the examination of the patient.
Treatment of varicose veins in advanced stages usually involves the performance of a surgical operation - minimally invasive or classic.
If possible, a woman is recommended a radical treatment of varicose veins of the legs:
- compression sclerotherapy;
- laser coagulation;
- photocoagulation;
- radiofrequency coagulation.
If the impact of these minimally invasive techniques is not enough, then for a more radical surgical treatment, the classic operations are performed:
- miniflebectomy;
- phlebectomy;
- Trendelenburg method (with complications from thrombosis and infection).
Sometimes classical surgical techniques are integrated with the use of minimally invasive ones. Such a combination allows to reduce the trauma of operations and shorten the postoperative rehabilitation period.
Varicose veins of the lower limbs can be successfully treated, especially in the early stages. That is why the first signs of this disease should always become a reason to visit a vascular surgeon. Varicose veins can occur at different ages, and observations show that women are more likely to suffer from this disease. The signs of varicose veins of the legs in women are the same as in men.