Symptoms of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, treatment with drugs and herbs, photo

Symptoms of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, the treatment of which should begin immediately, people often confuse with ordinary fatigue. This leads to the fact that the disease slowly develops and is diagnosed at a stage that requires serious techniques. Most often, venous insufficiency is diagnosed in old age, those who lead a sedentary lifestyle, drink alcohol in large quantities, smoke. But in recent years, a tendency to develop this ailment in young people, especially pregnant women.

Features of the disease

Venous insufficiency is a disease characterized by a violation of the outflow of venous blood from tissues and organs (in the particular case, the legs) to the vessels that carry blood to the heart muscle for oxygen saturation. This process leads to the fact that the vessels begin to stretch, edema forms on the lower extremities. Blood stagnates, and this provokes significant circulatory disorders.

As a result of this process, a disease develops called "varicose veins of the lower extremities." This ailment is dangerous for its consequences. In some cases, it causes death due to blockage of a vessel in the brain or in the heart.

Development principle

The disease develops according to this principle. Initially, blood stagnates in the lower extremities. Its excess leads to the fact that there is significant pressure on the walls of the veins. The veins, in turn, are stretched due to such pressure, and their wings begin to close incompletely.

As a result, blood circulation is disturbed, and the blood stops moving up. This leads to stagnation and partial movement of blood down.

Signs

Symptoms of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities are pronounced and leave no doubt for making the correct diagnosis. The main signs of the disease:

1. A person feels heaviness in his legs. Such a symptom is more pronounced in the evening, after a working day. Pain of bursting, aching nature.
2. Sometimes cramps occur in the lower extremities (most often disturb at night).
3. In the calf muscle, pain is pronounced.
4. The presence of edema, which increases after a load on the legs. It can be walking, standing in one place. Swelling forms in the late afternoon, and disappears the next morning. A late stage of the disease is characterized by a significant increase in leg volume.
5. Hyperpigmentation (skin darkens).
6. The skin becomes dry, peeling appears on it, which are accompanied by constant itching. Skin elasticity decreases (symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremities).
7. A vascular net is visible on the legs, red-blue “stars” appear.
8. At a late stage, trophic ulcers develop. The general condition of the patient is deteriorating.

Causes

There are a number of reasons why the disease develops:

• hereditary predisposition;
• congenital vascular pathology;
• overheating of the body;
• pregnancy, childbirth (in those cases when they are difficult);
• heavy weight (load on the lower limbs);
• excessive physical activity or its complete absence;
• weight lifting;
• work that requires a long time in a standing or sitting position;
• chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to persistent constipation;
• taking hormones without the supervision of a doctor;
• smoking, excessive drinking;
• age (symptoms of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, treatment of the disease in most cases is of interest to people in the elderly and senile age);
• hormonal changes (the main cause of the disease in adolescents).

Acute and chronic forms

Symptoms of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, treatment of the disease at different stages have their own characteristic features. All the symptoms that are listed above are more related to the chronic form of the disease. But there are cases when, at first glance, a stable state turns out unfavorably. Venous blockage occurs instantly, as a result of which the outflow of blood stops. In medicine, it is customary to call this condition "acute venous insufficiency of the lower extremities." Treatment in such cases should begin immediately.

The acute form manifests itself by darkening of the skin (it turns blue), severe swelling. A person has pain in his legs, his body temperature rises, his pulse quickens, and cold sweat is released. Severe cases entail blockage of veins. The acute form is fatal if treatment is not started in a timely manner.

Classification

Surgeons generally use classification, depending on the severity of the symptoms. It is considered the most understandable for the average person.

Degree classification:

1. 0 degree. Diseases can be determined as a result of instrumental research. The patient has no complaints: no pain, legs do not swell. The doctor diagnoses small varicose veins.
2. I degree. A person has small aching pains in the lower extremities, but they do not constantly disturb. Sometimes the legs swell. Working capacity is normal.
3. II degree. It is characterized by persistent edema, age spots appear on the skin. The patient is disturbed by the constant itching and peeling of the skin. A person can lead a mobile lifestyle only after taking supporting medicines.
4. III degree. A person is diagnosed with trophic ulcers in the legs, minor bleeding. A secondary infection often joins, thrombophlebitis develops.

Survey

It is necessary to immediately consult a doctor when the first symptoms of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities occurred. Treatment depends on the diagnosis, and this requires a full examination. The patient should tell in detail all the signs of the disease that worry him, and how long they have arisen. The doctor visually examines the legs and on the basis of this makes a diagnosis (for such a disease, identifying symptoms and a visual examination in almost all cases is enough).

Additional diagnostic procedures:

• general blood test (pay attention to the level of leukocytes, which indicates the presence of an inflammatory process in the patient's body);
• Ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities ;
• ultrasonic duplex scanning.

Treatment

Chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, the treatment of which we will consider in detail, is most common.

The main methods of treatment:

• drug therapy (internal and external use);
• compression therapy;
• surgical intervention;
• folk methods.

Treatment of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities is aimed at eliminating pressure in the veins and neutralizing other factors that lead to damage to the endothelium.

Drug therapy

Often people confuse with other diseases the first symptoms of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities. Treatment does not start on time, but it could be minimal. Therefore, the doctor has to resort to a more serious treatment of the disease.

The purpose of drug therapy:

• reduce the severity of the inflammatory process;
• improve blood circulation in the lower extremities;
• contribute to the outflow of lymph (the main cause of swelling of the legs);
• strengthen the walls of blood vessels, improve their elasticity;
• trophic ulcers require the use of local fortifying agents, preparations for external use (ointments, creams);
• in the presence of a secondary infection, they resort to antibiotic therapy or antifungal agents (depending on the causative agent of the infection);
• late stages of the disease require the use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents (to prevent thrombosis);
• with thrombosis, which happened suddenly, thrombolytics are used in the first hours of this dangerous condition.

The treatment of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities requires a certain strategy:

1. At the first stage, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate inflammation and prevent the development of secondary infection.
2. At the second stage, the goal of therapy is to restore full circulation in the lower extremities.
3. The third stage is maintenance therapy. But in those cases when the treatment passed was powerless, you will need to turn to more serious methods.

When a person knows that he has venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, treatment (drugs) must be prescribed by a doctor. The most popular drugs for this disease are:

• "Phlebof."
• "Proctoven."
• Lyoton
• "Phleboxar".

Otherwise, the development of dangerous complications is possible. Sometimes it ends in death.

Compression therapy

In general terms, it is clear what constitutes venous insufficiency of the lower extremities. Symptoms, treatment (photos confirm how serious this disease is) are also considered by us. Therefore, one cannot neglect treatment, which includes compression therapy.

This method is suitable only for the initial stage of the disease, as well as for the prevention of varicose veins in pregnant women. From compression hosiery can be used:

• stockings;
• socks (more suitable for men).

This knitwear is designed to maintain optimal pressure in the legs. It is made from quality materials so that the pressure spreads evenly throughout the limb.

Surgical intervention

This treatment method is resorted to in severe cases when drug therapy did not help. The purpose of the operation is to remove the affected areas of the veins. The procedure depends on the severity of the course of the disease.

The main methods:

1. Sclerotherapy. A special drug is injected into the vein, due to which the wall of the vein is damaged (this leads to overgrowth).
2. Linton's operation. This method is deprecated. It is based on an incision and ligation of a vein. Modern experts do not resort to this type of operation.
3. Ligature method. With the help of special punctures, the veins are bandaged under the skin, and the knot remains on the skin. Blood circulation in such a vein stops. There are cases when the disease recurs after the procedure.
4. Endovasal coagulation (thermal effect on the affected areas of the vein).
5. Miniflebectomy. Removal of veins through point punctures.

Folk methods

Now it is known that venous insufficiency of the lower extremities (symptoms) is. Herbal treatment has long been a known method used to get rid of this disease. But you can not independently choose recipes for traditional medicine and use them uncontrollably. First you need a consultation with your doctor.

The most popular and effective means:

• chestnut tincture;
• tincture of garlic and hops;
• compresses with honey;
• hirudotherapy (the use of leeches for treatment).

Complications

What can result in venous insufficiency of the lower extremities for a person? Treatment, drugs, compression therapy is a complex of measures that should not be neglected. But if a person does not consult a doctor in a timely manner, or does not comply with all medical recommendations, then this is fraught with dangerous consequences. First of all, trophic ulcers appear, after which blood clots form. As a result, such changes lead to thromboembolism.

Possible complications:

• significant swelling of the limb;
• vein thrombosis;
• blue skin;
• severe pain.

Prevention

We examined the concept of “varicose insufficiency of the lower extremities” (symptoms, treatment of the disease). As for prevention, it implies compliance with a number of rules:

• increase in physical activity;
• refusal to visit baths, saunas;
• dieting:
• refusal of fatty, smoked and spicy foods;
• inclusion of more fruits and vegetables in the diet;
• refusal of alcoholic beverages, smoking;
• avoid overheating in the sun;
• refusal to wear high-heeled shoes.