Advanced reticular varicose veins lead to the appearance of a bluish vascular network in the lower limbs. Therefore, among people, this form of varicose veins is often called "cosmetic" or "reticular".
What does the phrase "reticular varicose veins" mean?
Some doctors do not consider reticular varicose veins a disease. They urge to treat it as a cosmetic defect that does not pose a threat to the patient's health. Men who have a mild form of varicose veins, as a rule, do not focus on it.
In Western countries there is no special term "reticular varicose veins of the lower limbs", experts do not think about what it is.
Other doctors disagree on this issue. Some experts are convinced that reticular varicose veins are a consequence of the insufficiency of the valves of the venous vessels, so the disease must be treated without delay. Otherwise, a patient suffering from cosmetic varicose veins will have serious complications. After all, the situation is unlikely to be limited to the defeat of the superficial veins, after a long time varicose veins can spread to the deep vessels of the venous system.
Symptoms of the disease
There are the following signs of reticular or cosmetic varicose veins:
- Feeling of heaviness in the limbs.
- swelling.
- Increased fatigue.
- The appearance of the blue shirts. They consist of enlarged superficial small caliber vessels and capillaries.
- Cramps in the calf muscles.
- Pain in the localization of dilated veins.
In an advanced stage of the disease, external bleeding can occur.
Causes of the disease
Reticular varicose veins of the lower extremities occur under the influence of the following reasons:
- Taking contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
- Overweight.
- Pregnancy and childbirth.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Inactive lifestyle.
Hard physical work often leads to the appearance of a vascular pattern in the limbs. With excessive load on the legs, the venous walls gradually lose their elasticity and blood circulation in the body worsens.
Diagnosis of the disease
If the presence of reticular varicose veins is suspected, the patient is interviewed. The doctor pays close attention to the following circumstances:
- The nature and localization of the pain.
- Working conditions of the patient.
- The presence of concomitant diseases.
- The patient's lifestyle.
- The presence of a hereditary predisposition to varicose veins.
Then the specialist proceeds to a visual examination of the patient. During the procedure, the doctor not only examines the spider veins, but also examines the condition of the skin near them: the presence of seals or edema in the affected area. For example, varicose veins on the face often occur in the eye area. In this case, the doctor may see light purple bags under the eyes. When viewed from a closer distance, small venous networks and capillaries are clearly visible. With varicose veins of the lip, a small lump of a rich red hue with a slight blue appears.
Other methods are also used to diagnose the disease. For example, ultrasound examination helps to assess the condition of the venous valves, reveals the presence of blood clots.
MRI in the presence of reticular varicose veins is performed only according to individual indications.
With varicose veins, general clinical studies are also carried out. These mainly include blood and urine tests. Thanks to general clinical studies, it is possible to evaluate the likelihood of developing thrombophlebitis and thrombosis. They help in choosing the right tactics for further treatments.
Disease classification
There is a special classification of reticular varicose veins. Its supporters, in addition to the six main stages, also distinguish the zero stage of the disease. It is almost asymptomatic. Only a few patients experience a feeling of heaviness in the legs.
In the first stage of the disease, a thin network consisting of small vessels appears through the skin. The next stage is the expansion of the blood vessels. In the third stage of the disease, edema occurs, the veins clearly stand out above the surface of the skin. At the fourth stage of the disease, the color of the skin changes in the area of the dilated veins. It may turn dark brown. In the next stage, trophic ulcers can begin to form. At the sixth stage of the disease, the patient's condition deteriorates dramatically. With the help of drugs, it is impossible to cope with trophic ulcers.
Methods of treatment of the disease
In the treatment of reticular varicose veins, the following methods are used:
- Taking medications.
- Exercise.
- Making decoctions based on medicinal plants.
- Performing laser coagulation or microflebectomy.
It is almost impossible to completely get rid of a pronounced cosmetic defect with the help of drugs, folk remedies or therapeutic exercises. Therefore, the treatment of the disease with minimally invasive methods (microflebectomy, sclerotherapy) is practiced.
Laser coagulation and microflebectomy for varicose veins
Microflebectomy is performed with local anesthetic. The essence of this medical manipulation is to pull out the vein damaged by varicose veins. During microflebectomy, the skin is pre-punched with a thin medical hook. The remaining trace is almost invisible to the prying eye. Microflebectomy is not accompanied by discomfort, the patient quickly returns to normal life. Compression stockings are recommended.
When performing sclerotherapy, a special solution is injected into the vessel. The tool glues the vascular walls, as a result, all damage is healed. The duration of the rehabilitation period varies from three to ten days (depending on the patient's well-being). The patient should wear a bandage that adheres tightly to the limb. It is applied to the puncture site. The number of procedures depends on the severity of the disease. The duration of the treatment session varies from 5 to 60 minutes. It is recommended to stop smoking, hot baths and alcoholic beverages within three days of sclerotherapy.
The use of drugs
In the treatment of reticular varicose veins, drugs are used in various dosage forms:
- Pills.
- Capsules.
- Ointments.
- Creams.
- Gel.
Drugs have a beneficial effect on the superficial vessels of the extremities. Reticular varicose veins are usually treated with the following drugs:
- venotonic. The preparations eliminate discomfort in the legs, prevent the appearance of convulsions and the occurrence of trophic ulcers.
- Medicines containing rutoside. Medicines help reduce capillary permeability, help eliminate edema. With the help of a special drug, the vascular walls are strengthened. Medicines that contain rutoside are used not only in the treatment of varicose veins. They eliminate the symptoms of hemorrhoids, thrombophlebitis, venous insufficiency.
The benefits of physiotherapy
Laser therapy has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Thanks to the procedure, the cholesterol content in the body is reduced, the swelling of the tissues is reduced. Laser therapy helps the patient to abandon expensive drugs intended for the treatment of reticular varicose veins.
It is necessary to highlight the following advantages of laser therapy:
- Positive changes are evident after the second procedure.
- In about 70% of cases, the affected veins decrease in size by up to 3 mm after the first session.
After the session, the patient may experience pain. In some cases, the doctor prescribes the patient non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to eliminate unwanted side effects.
Magnetic stimulation involves exposure to low-frequency magnetic pulses. After the procedure, the condition of the muscle tissue of the vessels improves and blood circulation improves. The average duration of a pulsed magnetotherapy session is 20 minutes. After the procedure, the swelling of the legs is significantly reduced.
Folk remedies for varicose veins
Treatment with folk remedies involves both the production of decoctions for internal use, and the use of ointments intended for external use.
The main benefits of alternative medicine include:
- The relatively low cost of the ingredients found in folk remedies;
- Ease of preparation of funds. To use the recipes of traditional healers, it is not necessary to have special skills.
- Improve the patient's general well-being.
| Folk remedy | Cooking scheme |
|---|---|
| Garlic ointment | The tool normalizes blood circulation in the body. To prepare the ointment, you need to mix garlic, grated on a fine grater, and butter in a 1: 2 ratio. The mixture is applied to the affected area before bedtime. Cover the top with polyethylene or parchment paper. It is fixed with an elastic bandage or a thin scarf. In the morning they take off the compress, wash their legs thoroughly |
| Sour milk compress | To prepare the compress, a gauze napkin is soaked in sour milk. The agent is applied to the affected area. From above, the affected area is carefully covered with polyethylene, the limbs are wrapped in a warm scarf. The compress should be kept for no more than 30 minutes. The procedure can be repeated up to three times a day. |
| Hop tincture | It is necessary to pour 30 grams of a medicinal plant with 400 ml of boiling water. The tool is insisted for two hours. You need to take 50 ml of the drink three times a day. The duration of the treatment course is 14 days. |
| Rinse your feet with cold water | Water is used during the procedure, which should be slightly cooler than room temperature. During rinsing, solutions of medicinal plants can be added to the water: nettle, lemon balm, apple cider vinegar. Do not clean your feet after the procedure. They must dry naturally |
| Kalanchoe ointment | To prepare the ointment, you need to take 0. 5 kg of fresh plant leaves. Kalanchoe is thoroughly washed with water and placed in clean glasses. The plant is poured with alcohol in a ratio of 1: 1. The ointment should be infused for at least 10 days in a dry place protected from sunlight. The product is applied to the limbs with gentle massaging movements. Kalanchoe eliminates painful sensations in the legs. The duration of the course of treatment is at least three months |
Special diet
In the presence of reticular varicose veins, the following foods are usually excluded from the daily menu:
- Spicy food.
- Sweets.
- Salty spices.
- Strongly infused coffee.
- Sweet pastries.
- Pickled vegetables.
The patient's diet must be supplemented with the following products:
- Freshly squeezed juices.
- Dishes to which berries are added: viburnum or dog rose.
- Greens.
- Fruit.
- Dishes containing grains such as rye or wheat.
The diet of a person suffering from reticular varicose veins must certainly contain foods rich in vitamins A, E, C and B. These include, first of all, fermented milk drinks, nuts, citrus fruits, sea fish dishes.
Exercises for reticular varicose veins
Therapeutic gymnastics improves the outflow of lymph from the affected vessels. You can do this simple exercise:
- The patient needs to stand upright.
- He should slowly raise his heels and return to the starting position. When performing this exercise, it is forbidden to tear socks off the floor.
Therapeutic gymnastics helps to increase the strength of the venous walls. The only contraindication to training is the presence of trophic ulcers on the legs.
In the supine position, the exercises "scissors" and "bicycle" are performed. They need to be done for at least two minutes (each).
Preventive actions
Many people have heard the hackneyed phrase that "a disease is easier to prevent than to cure". No one will question the veracity of this statement.
There are the following preventive measures that reduce the likelihood of developing reticular varicose veins:
- Avoid heavily brewed coffee, cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages.
- Wear compression products. It is recommended to wear them every day, once a day: in the morning or in the evening.
- Refusal of intense physical activity.
- Regular visits to the pool.
- Performing special exercises designed to prevent the appearance of "cosmetic" varicose veins.