Varices: Where the "leg veins" come from and how to cope with them
If Jack White's veins on the skin are fascinating and even inspire the creation of songs, many of us are too noticeable vessels can deliver psychological and sometimes physical discomfort. Often, in such cases, varicose veins are diagnosed - a common disease that only up to 35% of the population in the United States faces, and in Russia, according to the latest data, 34% of 703 study participants (both men and women) are worried. The same statistics show that over 69% of Russians surveyed live with chronic venous insufficiency, which sometimes leads to varicose syndrome.
Together with the phlebologist surgeon, a member of the Association of Phlebologists of Russia and Reaclinic doctor Oleg Shonov, we understand how varicose veins change our veins, can the disease seriously harm our health and which treatment works more effectively.
Why veins swell
Varicose veins (from Latin varicis - “bloating”) are varicose veins - the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to leg diseases. Lower limbs and the truth suffer from it more often, but under certain circumstances, the veins can increase in diameter, not only in the legs. Experts say, for example, varicose veins of the pelvis, which happens during pregnancy, the expansion of intestinal vessels or varicocele - varicose veins of the testicle. But, according to Oleg Shonov, such phenomena, as a rule, turn out to be just a symptom of another condition or disease.
By itself, varicose veins leads to the fact that the vessel does not just grow in diameter, but really does swell up, acquiring a tortuous shape. The cause is a malfunction of the venous valves that regulate blood flow. The thing is that in healthy legs the blood moves through the vessels from the bottom up (towards the heart and contrary to the law of aggression), for which the valves are responsible; In addition, muscles help, for example, when we walk. They work on the pump principle, and each muscle contraction pushes the blood upward. At this time, the valve opens, letting flow, after which the sash tightly closed, not allowing blood to flow in the opposite direction. When something goes wrong, a gap appears between the doors, and, as a result, the valves no longer cope with their function: the blood is thrown in the opposite direction, that is, from the heart down, and the tissues receive less oxygen. As a result, the pressure increases so much that the walls of the veins do not stand up, which is why they are distributed in breadth.
In this case, the varicose changes affect only the subcutaneous, superficial veins, which are easy to see. The deep ones, which carry up to 90% of the blood, remain unscathed due to their thicker, thicker walls and more developed valves. Nevertheless, both are interconnected, like twigs, and although deep veins are not afraid of varicose syndrome, the occurrence of blood clots, which can be triggered by advanced varicose veins, is much more dangerous for them.
Are all visible veins dangerous?
If for some time the vessels under the skin became more noticeable and it became easy to feel them, this does not mean that varicose veins appeared. Many tend to think that its initial stage is manifested in the form of "vascular stars" or "reticulums" (in the western tradition - spider veins); may also scare large saphenous veins from nature, which are often well visible in people with thin, fair skin. The principal difference from unhealthy enlarged veins in diameter - the veins of spider veins reach no more than 1 mm, and the width of large subcutaneous veins can be within 1-3 mm, but neither are dangerous by themselves.
According to Oleg Shonov, about 80% of women face vascular nets. At first they appear as small, almost imperceptible veins, but can grow in size and occupy an increasing area. The case may be a strong physical exertion, pregnancy, general changes in the hormonal background, including when taking contraceptives, injuries or congenital diseases. It is not difficult to distinguish asterisks from varicose veins: the former can be not only blue, but also red, and are not felt when held with a hand, the latter are more textured, they rise above the skin surface, often resemble a nodule or tubercle.
In most cases, the vein phlebologist determines visually, and ultrasound tests are needed rather to find the source of varicose veins, to understand which vein has started the process, and to determine the treatment tactics. However, if patients notice specific symptoms, such as swelling, itching, pulling pain on the inside of the leg, and there are no visible manifestations, an ultrasound scan will help to eliminate non-obvious violations. In this case, the doctor will prescribe a duplex scan (Doppler sonography with ultrasound), and sometimes angiography, which will show what the vessels look like, how the valves in the veins work, how the blood flow moves.
Who is at risk
Researchers and specialists still cannot give an unequivocal answer as to why some of us have varicose veins, and others, even with strong loads on the veins (professional sports, multiple pregnancies, etc.), it bypasses. There is a theory of congenital weakness of the venous wall, as well as the idea that inflammation characteristic of the vessels may occur inside the vessels, which then leads to varicose veins, but there is still insufficient evidence.
Today, doctors agree that there are factors due to which the risks of manifestation of varicose syndrome are increasing. It is believed that much depends on heredity, and if at least one of the parents was sick with varicose veins, the chances of children facing the same problem increase to 40-50%. Pregnancy, heavy physical exertion (for example, work where it takes a long time to stand), lack of moderate athletic activity and a lot of weight can also affect. But frequent and prolonged walking on heels, in which advertising usually sees the culprit varicose veins, is unlikely to provoke a disease. “On the contrary,” says Oleg Shonov, “a high heel makes the leg muscles work actively, stimulates a more powerful release of blood, there will be no stagnation. For the veins, in my opinion, the height of the heel does not matter. Just change it periodically, do not walk constantly wearing high heels, choosing not only a high heel, but also a medium and a low one. Then different muscles are involved in the work, which is good for the foot, and the calf muscle pump will be one hundred percent involved. "
It is no coincidence that the advertising of drugs for veins is aimed at women: as shown by a recent study of a part of the Russian population, varicose veins were recorded in 63% of women and 37% of men. Shonov explains this distribution by the fact that the tone of the veins is regulated, including at the hormonal level, and pregnancy in this sense is a powerful trigger, so most patients note the appearance of noticeable veins during this period. First, the volume of blood in the veins of the pelvis, in the ovarian and uterine veins greatly increases, which can lead to their expansion through the perineal vessels, for example, to respond to varicose veins in the legs. Secondly, the uterus increases in volume and can put pressure on nearby veins with its weight, which also increases venous pressure and leads to varicose expansion.
Than it threatens
Due to impaired blood flow in the varicose veins, blood clots may form and so-called thrombophlebitis will begin. Worst of all, when blood clots spread to deep veins: the consequences of such complications (thrombosis, thromboembolism), if you do not take the necessary measures in time, can be very serious and even life threatening. Untreated varicose veins can turn into trophic disorders of the skin of different degrees: pigmentation and hyperpigmentation, venous ulcers. If the pressure on the vessels only increases, the metabolic processes start to suffer and eventually the skin. Trophic ulcers are the last stage of such changes: they heal for a long time and can repeatedly open again until they eliminate the source of the disease.
Will ointments from advertising help?
Today, you can get rid of varicose veins in different ways, and often you have to choose not one method, but several complementary ones. In the treatment of venous problems, specialists can combine both conservative means (compression knitwear, pills), and surgical intervention (laser and radiotherapy, mechanical removal of veins), and sclerotherapy. Everything depends not only on the financial capabilities and wishes of the patient, but also on the availability of the necessary equipment and preparations in the clinic.
If you do not want to perform the operation, and the extent of damage is not so strong, you can restrict yourself to conservative treatment. At the same time, Shonov recommends focusing on the use of compression hosiery, since in reality it is the only means that slows the progression of the disease without surgical intervention. Golfs and stockings create a dense framework for the veins, compensating for the lack of natural tone of the vessel walls. Ointments and pills can also help, but not in the way that advertising promises: ointments will be useful during self-massage - the cooling components that make up will reduce the unpleasant signs of varicose veins - and the tablets will close the symptoms and relieve the heaviness in the legs. The above-mentioned vascular stars do not work at all, it is better to use sclerotherapy - a method in which a drug is inserted into the vessel for gluing the veins, which is why they stop expanding. With varicose dilatation, this method can work only if the focus of damage is small and isolated; otherwise, relapses may begin.
Surgical treatment of varicose veins is still leading in effectiveness. At the same time, classical phlebectomy - surgical removal of varicose veins, when they are pulled through a small incision on the skin - is hardly used today. In addition, the procedure itself is very traumatic, it cannot be performed without anesthesia, and after the operation a recovery period is inevitable. Laser and radiofrequency surgery are also surgical methods of treatment, which, unlike traditional surgery, do not require cuts, are carried out under local anesthesia and have no physical limitations: immediately after the procedure, the patient can get up and go about his business. Moreover, after the operation, even recommended thirty-minute active walk.
Photo:Africa Studio - stock.adobe.com, Ortis - stock.adobe.com, geografika - stock.adobe.com, Mts-Invest
