
Varicose veins are a very common disease that significantly affects the quality of life and causes dangerous complications that require expensive and complex treatment.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins or varicose veins are a disease associated with a disorder of the venous valve system.As a result of their damage, the normal outflow of blood from the periphery is disrupted and the blood stagnates in different parts of the vascular bed, causing them to expand.
The main population group susceptible to this disease is people over 40 years old.This is due to the fact that at this time the vessels are exposed to various negative influences, which leads to a decrease in their adaptability.
Most often, varicose veins affect the lower extremities, but the pathological process can also be observed in the groin or internal organs.
It is necessary to carry out preventive measures, since this pathology tends to progress, and the treatment regimen for varicose veins is quite complex.

Reasons
The main causes of varicose veins are excessive and insufficient mobility.The mechanism of normal blood flow through the veins is closely related to muscle contractions.When muscles are tense, blood is forced through the veins and the valves in the venous cavity prevent backflow.
Lack of physical activity leads to congestion in the periphery, which causes the blood to exert excess pressure on the valve system.Excessive stress also has a damaging effect on the vascular system.Frequent muscle contractions can cause damage to the venous valves.
In addition, there are a number of negative factors and diseases that increase the risk of developing varicose veins:
- Bad habits.Alcohol and nicotine have vasomotor properties.They can expand and narrow the lumen of blood vessels, leading to disruption of normal blood flow.
- Abuse of coffee
- Uncomfortable shoes.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Systemic connective tissue diseases.
- Arteriosclerosis.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Traumatic lesions.
- Overweight.
The presence of such factors significantly increases the risk of developing the disease.Regardless of the etiological factor, the symptoms of varicose veins of the lower extremities do not differ.
Clinical manifestations
Typically, the symptoms of this disease appear when there are already irreversible structural changes in the veins of the lower extremities.This means that the patient already needs surgical treatment at the time of contacting the doctor.

In the early stages, varicose veins may be asymptomatic.Some patients complain of mild pain that occurs after walking or running for a long time.There are no specific symptoms that allow a diagnosis.Initial forms of varicose veins can only be identified with the help of instrumental examinations.
The symptoms of developed varicose veins are as follows:
- The appearance of cyanosis localized along the veins.
- The vessels protrude above the surface of the skin and form nodules.These formations are painful and dense, which is accompanied by inflammation and the process of proliferation of connective tissue in these areas (sclerosis).
- Constant pain that does not depend on physical activity.If at the beginning of the development of the pathology it occurs exclusively after overexertion, then in later stages it can disturb the patient even in his sleep.This is because one of the signs of inflammation is pain.The intensity of the pain can be very severe and can lead to lameness.
- Local temperature increase in the area of the nodes.
The appearance of the first symptoms of the disease requires immediate contact with a medical institution for diagnosis and treatment.
Why are varicose veins dangerous?
The lack of adequate treatment is fraught with the development of a number of dangerous complications that pose a threat not only to health, but also to life.This includes:
- Thrombophlebitis.In inflamed vein areas, blood flow slows down significantly.Such conditions promote the formation of blood clots.These blood clots can obstruct the lumen of a vessel in the lower extremities and cause gangrene, or they can be transported with the blood to the lungs, heart, brain and other organs, causing acute disruption of the blood supply.These pathologies are extremely difficult to treat and often result in disability and death.
- Trophic ulcers.Violation of venous blood outflow is always accompanied by disruption of microcirculation in the tissues of the lower extremities.Lack of oxygen and nutrients leads to the formation of ulcers.These ulcers are difficult to treat and often recur, requiring therapy aimed at the cause of their occurrence.
- Bleeding.If varicose veins are accompanied by high blood pressure, ruptures of peripheral vessels and bleeding can occur.This is because dilated vessels become thinner and high blood pressure can cause them to rupture.In addition, minor mechanical damage can cause bleeding, which in a healthy person does not even lead to the formation of a hematoma.
Almost all complications can be aggravated by the addition of an infectious factor, which significantly aggravates the condition and complicates treatment.
If complications occur, varicose vein treatment should be reconsidered.
diagnosis
If varicose veins are suspected, the patient must undergo a series of examinations, the purpose of which is to confirm the diagnosis and assess the condition of the tissues surrounding the foci of pathology.
For this purpose, it is recommended to carry out the following examinations:
- General blood test.
- Biochemistry of the blood.
- Coagulogram.This laboratory test makes it possible to predict the development of thrombosis and thrombophlebitis based on the coagulation properties of the blood.A high clotting ability is a threatening condition.
- Ultrasonic.Using ultrasound, you can get a detailed picture of the vascular bed and identify foci of inflammation that are not visible externally.
- Phlebography.Obtaining a graphic image of the venous system of the lower extremities using a contrast agent allows you to examine its structures in detail and detect even the smallest changes.
In addition to instrumental and laboratory studies, specific tests are carried out that assess the condition of soft tissues and the degree of circulatory failure.
An external examination is also important, during which the doctor can identify specific external manifestations, possible locations and trophic ulcers.
A phlebologist should be involved in the treatment and care of patients with such a disease.This doctor specializes in the treatment of varicose veins.
Treatment
Treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities is possible with medication or surgical intervention.The choice of treatment depends on how severe the changes in the affected area are.
Drug treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities is carried out according to a special scheme that takes into account the impact on the pathological process and prevents the development of complications.
Surgical treatment of varicose veins is the most effective as it allows you to get rid of the pathology forever.However, it is not allowed for all patients and has a number of contraindications.
Conservative therapy

Treatment of varicose veins without surgery is allowed only in the early stages of progression of the pathology.
It is worth remembering that conservative treatment only helps to eliminate the manifestations of the disease.It is impossible to achieve a lasting effect with medication alone.They only work for a certain amount of time and cannot prevent the disease from progressing.
Patients with varicose veins are recommended to use the following groups of drugs:
- NSAIDs.It is recommended to apply non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs topically in the form of ointments. In some cases, it is possible to prescribe these drugs in tablet form, but a longer duration of treatment may lead to the development of gastritis or stomach ulcers caused by side effects.
- Antiplatelet agents.The action of such drugs is aimed at preventing blood clots.The primitive representative is normal aspirin, which is used in small doses.They thin the blood, which makes it easier for blood to flow through inflamed veins.The use of such drugs is unacceptable for patients with a tendency to bleeding.
- Prednisolone group hormones.In cases where NSAIDs do not produce the desired effect, the use of adrenal hormones is indicated.These substances are also used in the form of ointments.They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect and also improve tissue microcirculation.It is worth remembering that long-term use of hormones also negatively affects the condition of the body.
- Phlebotonics.This group of drugs is used to treat varicose veins of the lower extremities.They normalize the tone of the vascular wall, which ensures normal blood flow.
The treatment of varicose veins should be systematic.Regular cyclic administration of drugs allows you to maintain a constant concentration of active substances, which ensures a constant effect on damaged vessels.
These medications should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.Their use alone is strictly prohibited as they can cause side effects and also have specific contraindications.Failure to comply with such restrictions is associated with a deterioration in general condition.
Conservative therapy is best suited as a supportive method when preparing for a planned operation.
Surgical treatment

Many people are interested in how to cure varicose veins without surgery?In fact, this is impossible.The main type of surgical treatment is safenectomy.
Safenectomy is an operation whose purpose is to remove damaged large saphenous veins.This completely eliminates sources of disease.However, the disadvantage of this treatment is a fairly large trauma.Recently, such operations have been performed using a variety of skin incisions necessary to access the veins.
Today, modern methods of treating varicose veins allow performing a safenectomy with a minimum number of incisions, since there are special probes for removing veins.A vein up to half a meter long can be removed with one incision.
This operation has a number of contraindications that make it impossible to carry out.This includes:
- Diabetes mellitus.This pathology is accompanied by a significant deterioration in wound healing.In such a situation, surgical intervention can provoke purulent-septic processes, which may require amputation of the limbs.
- Intolerance to antibacterial agents.In the postoperative period, antibiotics are prescribed that destroy the pathogenic flora that entered the wound during surgical treatment.Some patients experience intolerance to such drugs.Carrying out surgical treatment without antibiotic therapy is strictly prohibited.
- Serious diseases of the cardiovascular system.Pathologies accompanying heart failure may become a contraindication, since the use of certain anesthetics is prohibited for them.
For uncomplicated forms of varicose veins, a safenectomy is performed.In those cases where trophic ulcers or necrotic changes are observed due to an acute disruption of the blood supply, an expansion of the scope of the operation is necessary.
It is possible to remove the ulcers during surgery.In this way, tissue death is prevented.In cases where venous thrombosis has led to gangrene, amputation is necessary.This procedure is only carried out in extreme cases.
There are also modern minimally invasive treatment methods, including:
- Sclerotherapy.
- Radiofrequency ablation.
- Laser ablation.
These treatment methods are based on the closure of the lumen of blood vessels and their further destruction by chemical or physical factors.
It is recommended to use them in the early stages of the disease.In such a situation, the risk of relapse becomes minimal.It is not worth carrying out such treatment for advanced varicose veins, as this may require a relatively large number of sessions.
Folk remedies
Some sources recommend using various traditional medicines to treat varicose veins on the legs.This is strongly discouraged, as the effect of plants on this pathology has not been scientifically confirmed.
Treatment of varicose veins in the lower extremities should only be planned by a certified specialist.Methods of treating varicose veins without surgery only contribute to delaying their implementation.You should not turn to various traditional healers, as wasting time until proper treatment can lead to amputation.
Adjunctive therapy
In order to achieve the maximum treatment effect, in addition to taking medications, additional measures must also be carried out.This includes:
- Diet.Patients with varicose veins should avoid fatty foods.It helps increase cholesterol levels and blood viscosity.Such processes lead to an increased slowdown in peripheral blood circulation in the area of dilated veins and provoke thrombus formation.In addition, you need to drink plenty of fluids to thin your blood.It is recommended to drink plain water instead of carbonated drinks or tea.
- Regularly elevate your legs.Such procedures stimulate the outflow of blood under its own weight, which prevents stagnation.
- Wearing compression stockings.When the body is in an upright position, such stockings prevent the accumulation of blood in dilated veins.However, such stockings must be used correctly, as prolonged wear can have a negative impact on the condition of the foot and the skin in the lower leg area.
- Walks.Patients must maintain an active lifestyle.In the late stages of varicose vein disease, walks should be short and not cause fatigue or pain in the legs.
In addition, concomitant diseases such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus or obesity should be treated.The presence of such therapy makes it possible in some cases to limit only drug treatment, which ensures a favorable course of the disease.
prevention

To prevent the development of varicose veins, you must follow a number of simple rules that will reduce the risk of their appearance.All of them are aimed at maintaining normal blood properties and creating a normal lifestyle.Among them are:
- Drink at least one and a half liters of fluid per day.
- Proper nutrition.This term means not only the provision of all the necessary substances in the diet and the exclusion of harmful foods, but also regular meals.Eating at the same time allows you to absorb the maximum of nutrients from food, as a reflex is developed and sufficient gastric juice is released.
- Give up bad habits.
- Limit the amount of coffee and other energy drinks.
- Ensure mobility even when sitting.There are special exercises that aim to tense the leg muscles.
- Timely treatment of diseases.Any pathology in the human body can have long-term consequences.To avoid this, you should always seek medical attention if symptoms occur and also undergo preventive examinations.
Today there are various ways to treat varicose veins.Timely diagnosis will allow you to eliminate the problem once and for all.Treating varicose veins without surgery is only advisable at the beginning of the disease.