Vascular disease is a very common phenomenon, especially in women over forty years old. However, the age threshold is very conditional. The first symptoms of the disease may appear much earlier, in youth. Today we will consider the symptoms of varicose veins in women, prevention and treatment measures. It will be useful for everyone to know.
Let's get started
And first of all, we need to understand what is hiding under this name. Some mean by it a vascular network, clearly visible under the skin. Others believe that varicose veins are called venous nodes protruding to the surface. In fact, everyone is right, but we are talking about different stages of the disease. By examining the symptoms of varicose veins in women, we will show you how it develops. This will allow you not to miss the very first stage, when the disease is even better treatable. So, varicose veins is a pathological expansion of the saphenous veins. More often it is the lower limbs that are implied. But a similar phenomenon is characteristic of the abdomen and arms, and developing in the rectum, it is called hemorrhoids.
Some statistics
According to the WHO, symptoms of varicose veins in women are found in every fifth. However, in ordinary life, this percentage is even higher. The fact is that a doctor is consulted only when they experience extreme discomfort. And in the initial stages of the vein is not visible. Processes begin deep beneath the skin. Therefore, we are talking about the importance of preventive measures. This is the correct daily routine, compliance with the regime of work and rest, wearing comfortable shoes and good nutrition.
Development mechanism
The venous wall is very different from the arterial. It is much easier to stretch. The internal cavity is equipped with valves, which alternately close, help the blood to return back up the limbs. But this is a variant of the norm. Symptoms of varicose veins in women begin to manifest themselves when the walls become weak. In this case, the lumen of the vessels increases, and the valve flaps stop closing. Blood, instead of rising, flows down. It is under its pressure that the lumen widens and the disease progresses.
Further we go, worse it becomes
Indeed, the treatment of varicose veins in women should be started as early as possible, with the participation of a professional doctor. Otherwise, blood clots begin to form. Sooner or later, such a blood clot can break away from the wall and go into free navigation through the bloodstream. This can result in pulmonary thromboembolism and death.
Causes of the disease
There are people who, at a young age, became acquainted with all the "charms" of this ailment. And others live to a very old age, never knowing what varicose veins mean. Why is this happening? In fact, for the development of the disease a lot is not needed. An important role is played by the innate features of the individual. They are supplemented with conditions created throughout life, and the pathological process is launched. Let's highlight the main reasons:
- Hereditary predisposition. That is, the child receives from his parents not a disease, but the structure of the vessels, which is conducive to its development.
- Belonging to the female sex.
Factors contributing to the progression of the disease
Two people with the same heredity, but living in different conditions, can be very different from each other. In some, the legs and at 50 will be beautiful and healthy, while in others in 30 they will be covered with blue knots. Why does it depend? Loss of vascular elasticity occurs as a result of:
- Professional features.
- Physical activity. Exercise, pregnancy, overweight, all equally affect the development of the disease.
- Hormonal changes. This refers to the period of pregnancy, as well as the time of onset of menopause.
- Eating disorders that are regular. That is, a high content of harmful fats and carbohydrates in the diet and a minimum of fiber, as well as omega 3 polyunsaturated acids.
- Pathological metabolic disorders.
- Liver disease.
- Smoking and drinking.
What does varicose veins look like?
In addition to the fact that the development of this ailment entails serious consequences for our health, it is also unaesthetic.
- At the very beginning, when 1-2 wreaths have expanded, this may be invisible to you and others. Therefore, the treatment of varicose veins in women is most often delayed until its presence becomes obvious.
- The next step will be the development of spider veins. In this case, a real web of red or blue wreaths forms on the surface of the skin. This looks completely ugly, so women most often prefer to dress in trousers without exposing the disease.
- The disease progresses, the nodes begin to crawl out.
- In places of damage, the skin changes. It becomes dense, darkens and loses elasticity.
- Another symptom is cramps.
- Hair falls out, and a burning sensation is observed in the affected areas.
Severe disease
This is better not to bring, however, considering the symptoms and treatment of varicose veins in women, we must tell you what this ailment threatens if it is severely launched. As the development of the clinical picture becomes brighter. Now the pain intensifies, and as a result of stagnation of blood, eczema and dermatitis appear, areas of the skin are covered with ulcers. Moreover, the affected areas are very itchy, vesicles appear that bleed when integrity is compromised. In parallel, there is a process of thrombosis and thrombophlebitis may develop.
Prevention and treatment
Those measures that we are going to talk about now can be used by healthy people who do not yet have a hint of the disease. Conservative therapy helps reduce symptoms, but does not remove the causes. Treatment of varicose veins in women (symptoms should decrease as a result) involves a special diet, compression and gymnastics.
- It is important to review your diet for the presence of a large amount of a source of cholesterol and harmful fats in it. In general, the diet is designed to reduce excess weight. Along with the restriction of foods containing a large amount of fat, the consumption of plant fiber is increasing. This is not a short-term diet, a similar diet must be observed constantly.
- Symptoms of varicose veins in women (the photos are not very aesthetic, but we will have to bring them in order for you to have a full impression) can be removed quite well when wearing special knitwear. These are anti-varicose stockings and socks. Their doctor prescribes individually, choosing a different degree of compression. The effect is based on squeezing of varicose vessels and improving blood outflow.
- Gymnastics. Special exercises help keep the vein in good shape, so they need to be performed for prevention every day. Among the most effective, you can highlight the "bike". Only 15-20 minutes, and your veins will be better protected from the disease.
Nature is the guardian of beauty and health
Everything that we described above is well suited for prevention. And what if the symptoms of varicose legs in women have already become very noticeable? Alternative methods of treatment will come to the rescue. Herbal preparations, tinctures and ointments help in the early stages very well, so do not give up alternative therapy.
- Kalanchoe. This plant is on the windowsill in almost every house, and many do not even suspect its properties. Cut the leaves and fold them into a glass jar (halfway). Pour with alcohol and leave for 14 days in a dark place. Before applying, shake the jar. The course of treatment is designed for a period of one to four months. But the pain goes away much earlier.
- To strengthen the vessels from the inside, it is good to use the following remedy. In a liter of boiling water, you need to boil 3 apples for 5 minutes and leave for 4 hours under the lid. Now mash the fruit without removing it from the water, mix and strain. Take 50 g in the morning and evening with the addition of honey.
- Raw potatoes. If you need to remove the severity and pain, then just rub a few root crops and attach the pulp to the sore spots. After about 4 hours, unpleasant symptoms will begin to subside.
- Garlic. A therapeutic compress is made from it for the night. Take a head of garlic and chop, mix with two parts of butter. Apply overnight to protruding veins and wrap with a warm scarf. Perform this procedure daily, and you will soon feel relief.
Do not forget that only an experienced doctor will tell you how to treat varicose veins in women. Reviews confirm that herbal medicine can be effective with proper support, adequate diagnosis and with the appointment of additional drugs. Of course, a lot depends on the severity of the course of the disease.
Achievement of the pharmaceutical industry
Since it is not always possible to treat varicose veins in women with folk remedies, doctors use a wide range of different drugs, each of which can somewhat alleviate the situation. But even they cannot eliminate the cause. We will consider the main groups of drugs, but the final choice should be the doctor.
- Venotonic. These are means that are designed to protect the vascular wall, improving fluid outflow and microcirculation. Most often produced in the form of gels and ointments. An example is Troxevasin, but it has a lot of analogues. Venotonic courses are prescribed 2-3 times a year, for 60 days. In addition, rutosides with anti-edematous action (Troxerutin), and diosmin-based drugs belong to this group. This is "Phlebodia", which increases the tone of the vein wall and reduces their lumen, improves blood circulation.
- Venosclerosing drugs. They are designed to eliminate painful stasis in the dilated veins, excluding them from the blood circulation. As a result of exposure, the lumen of the vessel closes the connective tissue. An example is Hepatrombin and its analogues.
Surgical intervention
Once again, I want to emphasize that only an experienced doctor decides how to treat varicose veins in women. Drug reviews may carry some information, but everything is very individual. Therefore, do not risk your health, following the advice of friends. If drug therapy does not give a visible effect or ulceration of the skin near the affected vessel is observed, then the following methods are used:
- Stripping - a damaged vein is pulled out using a special hook.
- Phlebectomy - a diseased vessel is removed through incisions.
- Miniflebectomy is the same only if a tiny wreath is affected.
- Laser coagulation - a damaged vein is cauterized from the inside, and it gradually dissolves.
- Sclerotherapy. Directly into the vessel inject drugs that glue it from the inside.
The combination of treatment methods can be very diverse. But usually doctors choose the main one (medicinal or surgical), and in addition to it, herbal medicine, diet, and also a set of special exercises are prescribed. None of them can be ruled out. It is the interaction of different approaches that makes it possible to make therapy as effective as possible.