Types of varicose veins on the legs-all information about varicose veins

What is segmental varicose veins?

This is a form of varicose veins in which there is no venous discharge. In this case, inflammation of deep or branch veins with a diameter of 3 mm or more occurs.

The development of this disease begins with the fact that the function of the venous valves is impaired. This leads to a backflow of blood. This is called reflow. Infringements that occur in the future become the cause of inflammation and pathological expansion of branch veins.

Varicose veins develop only in the veins (the vessels that carry blood from the organs to the heart). The reason is that the structure of veins and arteries are different: the vein wall does not have enough muscle layer to contract and push blood through the blood.

There are valves along the entire length of the veins. These valves allow blood to flow in only one direction. When the valve is not closed sufficiently, part of the blood will flow back and generate excessive pressure in the blood vessels, making it impossible to push the liquid further.

Subsequently, this leads to the stretching of the wall and the development of an inflammatory process in the abnormal position of the vein, and the pressure on the subcutaneous network increases.

All veins in the human body are divided into deep, superficial and perforated. The deep blood vessels do almost all the work (90%) of transporting blood to the heart, and the porous blood vessels are the bridge between the deep and superficial blood vessels.

The structure of the veins provides a valve that guides and promotes blood flow only in the correct direction. When the circulatory system fails, some blood will accumulate at one point.

This will cause local dilation (lengthening) of blood vessels. The deep veins (so-called internal varicose veins) are first affected, and later appear on the surface as "spider veins and nodules".

In order to fully understand the severity of the disease, it is worth noting that its progression threatens the development of thrombophlebitis, thrombosis in the pulmonary artery (or thromboembolism), trophic leg ulcers, lymphadenopathy (edema of lower extremities) and many othersOther problems that may lead to death of the patient.

The reason for the deviation

It has been determined that the risk factors that significantly increase the possibility of pathology are:

  1. Walk upright. Due to the vertical position of the body, the blood vessels of the lower limbs bear excessive pressure when moving.
  2. Genetic susceptibility. It has been proven that in people with parental venous insufficiency, the probability of finding the disease is about 70%. Moreover, in most cases, varicose veins make them feel themselves at a young age.
  3. Lifestyle. Staying on the leg for too long and sitting in one place for a long time can cause abnormal blood flow.
  4. Changes in hormone levels. In women, hormonal imbalance is one of the main reasons for the stagnation of the circulatory system. During puberty, childbirth and menopause, instead of estrogen, a large amount of so-called progesterone is produced, which reduces the tension of the blood vessel wall. As a result, the veins are easier to swell and expand.
  5. Stress conditions and strong nerve shock will have a negative impact on the state of the circulatory system, because the nerve endings in the veins can regulate the elasticity of the blood vessels.
  6. The inflammatory process in the pelvic organs also affects the structure and function of venous valves.
  7. Risk factors include increased physical activity. This not only means that weightlifting leads to overworked muscles, but also means being overweight.
  8. Constipation and the need to tighten the pelvic muscles, which can lead to increased abdominal pressure.
  9. Wearing uncomfortable shoes and high heels.
  10. Growth also plays a role-the higher the person, the longer the blood column from the heart to the limbs, which means the greater the pressure.

Swelling of leg veins can cause varicose veins for many reasons.

One of the main reasons for this type of varicose veins is the pathology in the development of blood vessels. This is because the muscle walls of the veins become denser and so-called membranes are formed inside. Arterial blood does not enter the capillary system, so the tissue cannot receive the required amount of oxygen.

Dilated arm veins are rarely removed, and conservative treatment is usually used:

  • Medication. Help relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of disease, such as pain, numbness, heaviness and tightness. This includes medicines that strengthen the walls of blood vessels, as well as vitamin complexes and nutritional supplements that supplement essential trace elements.
  • medical treatement
  • Ultrasound therapy.
  • Sclerotherapy. One of the most effective ways to deal with varicose veins.
  • Laser treatment.
  • In rare cases, surgery is required.

Compression sleeves and gloves are also prescribed for patients. It is not recommended to wear compression socks all the time, but it is necessary during exercise, strenuous exercise and weight lifting.

These sleeves and gloves help reduce swelling, heaviness and numbness in the hands. Exercising on a step simulator helps to improve blood circulation throughout the body, which is necessary for varicose veins.

One of the reasons for development is heredity. Moreover, "family" diseases are mainly spread through female lines. The characteristics of blood vessel structure are transmitted through genes. If you don't follow the basic principles of prevention, and the vein walls are weak, you can get varicose veins.

The second reason is pregnancy. At this time, due to changes in the hormonal background, the veins are heavily loaded and their tone is reduced. The growing uterus and increasing weight exert strong pressure. Childbirth has a greater negative impact on the veins. It was at this time that many women's varicose veins regained consciousness.

Uncomfortable shoes and clothes are another reason. Tight jeans and shoes, high heels, and heavy bags can cause serious illness. The heel should not exceed four centimeters. The soles of the boots are wide.

The fourth reason is bad habits and difficult working conditions. Waiters, hairdressers, and salesmen are especially susceptible to such diseases. If you add the wrong eating habits, smoking, then vein dilation is inevitable. Even a harmless "cross-legged" sitting can lead to disastrous consequences.

Exercise load should be kept moderate. Varicose veins are common among weightlifters. Barbell weightlifting and strength training are another reason. If we add bias to this, the result will be unsatisfactory. It must always be remembered that fitness is not always beneficial.

Clinical pictures of varicose veins in various organs

The most common type of varicose veins is varicose veins on the legs, so many people think that the problem is only concentrated in these parts of the body. However, there are several types of this disease, which are distinguished by pathological location.

These places are:

  1. Legs.
  2. hands.
  3. Lips.
  4. Female labia.
  5. The groin (in men, the inner surface of the thighs, penis, and testicles are affected).
  6. The jugular vein.
  7. Esophagus.

Types of varicose veins

Varicose veins or varicose veins are diseases that impair blood flow due to the thinning and loss of elasticity of the vein walls. This disease does not appear suddenly, it is caused by many factors.

The main thing is that a sedentary lifestyle causes blood congestion in the limbs. First, unexpressed blood vessels "nets" and "stars" appear on the legs.

Then, if treatment is not started, the veins will become denser and allow fluid to pass through, which will slow down blood circulation and large, prominent veins appear on the legs. Depending on the progression of the disease, there are different types of varicose veins.

Varicose veins are not only superficial defects, but also serious complications. Complications of varicose veins include: thrombophlebitis, bleeding, skin pigmentation in the varicose vein area, and tissue hypoxia.

This disease must be treated immediately after the first symptoms appear, and then this treatment becomes easier and faster. Before starting treatment, you will need to diagnose varicose veins, donate blood for testing and perform routine tests.

In order to determine the type of varicose veins and prescribe effective treatments to relieve the symptoms of discomfort and restore the brightness and beauty of the legs, a diagnosis must be made.

The types of varicose veins are classified according to the severity of the disease and the location of the varicose veins. The symptoms and treatments of each type of varicose veins are also different. Let us take a closer look at what types of varicose veins exist, their symptoms and treatments.

Varicose veins on the legs

Every year, more and more cases of varicose veins are recorded, especially among young people. But decades ago, varicose veins were considered a disease of the elderly.

Therefore, modern experts have developed classification systems for the main and most common types of diseases. The types of varicose veins in the legs vary in symptoms, location, and rate of progression.

Types of varicose veins in the legs

  1. Mesh view. This is the least dangerous disease, but its appearance on the skin surface of the legs, especially in women, looks very unsightly, so it causes a large number of complexes in women. It cannot cause major harm to human health, so it is sometimes interpreted as a cosmetic type of varicose veins.
  2. Varicose veins on the feet. Its development is mainly attributed to the heavy burden of legs and obesity. There are many purple stars on the feet, which shows this.
  3. Men with varicose veins in the groin. This type of disease mainly occurs in men over 50 years of age. Basically, this is not dangerous, but if it occurs in young people, the main complication is infertility.

Other types of varicose veins

The structure of the venous system is very complex, including large, medium, small, reticular blood vessels, and capillaries.

The vein deformation of the lower extremities can be displayed in all parts of the system as well as in certain areas.

According to the changed blood vessels, analyze the following types of varicose veins on the legs:

  1. Mesh.
  2. Segmented.
  3. Main (in the basin of the large or small saphenous vein).
  4. Piercing.

Due to the particularity of the pathological process, each type of varicose veins of the lower extremities needs to be considered in detail.

Mesh

This disease is characterized by damage to the reticular veins, which do not exceed 2 mm in diameter. These ships are blue or green and are usually intertwined in the form of nets, threads, and stars. They are located under the skin.

Stage of disease

The entire course of the disease is usually divided into four stages, and each stage has certain signs:

  1. The first stage. The appearance of defects, visible changes in blood vessel structure, and nodule formation.
  2. The second stage. The patient’s tissue is hypoxic. The main symptoms are rapid fatigue while walking, constant fatigue, sleep disturbance, swelling of the lower limbs, numbness and cramps of the calf muscles, mainly at night.
  3. The third stage. Obvious changes appeared on the skin: brown spots appeared on the surface of the lower limbs, the skin was dry and cracked, severe itching appeared, accompanied by mechanical damage, the epidermis broke and may form erosion. The edema that appeared in various places greatly troubled the patient, and not only weakness and depression appeared near the feet.
  4. The fourth stage. In the final stage, varicose veins can cause difficult-to-treat and dangerous complications for the patient: trophic ulcers, inflammation of the blood vessel walls, bleeding begins.

There are several stages of varicose veins. If treatment is not started on time, then the disease cannot be prevented from moving to the next stage.

  • The first stage. At the end of the working day, the appearance of a "net" of small blood vessels and fatigue in the legs prove this. This is easy to treat, the main thing is to pay attention to it in time to avoid entering the next stage.
  • The second stage. In addition to the obvious veins, there were nodules that were not only obvious but also visible. At the end of the day, the legs began to swell and hurt. Leg cramps may occur at night.
  • The third stage. Vein nodules become larger, and the veins protrude strongly above the skin, and have a bright blue or green color. Leg pain worsens and it becomes difficult to stand and walk for a long time. Leg cramps appear almost every night. Age spots and ulcers will appear on the skin.

The treatment stages of varicose veins are different. If medications, ointments, vitamins, and exercises on simulators such as steppers can help patients in the first stage, then more time and energy will be needed to relieve symptoms in the next stage.

In the final stage, only surgery can help. It is true that modern varicose vein treatment methods are very effective, painless and do not require long-term rehabilitation.

This type of operation is performed in a hospital, without the patient being hospitalized and without complications.

Patients who are engaged in high-intensity manual labor or who often sit in one place while working are at risk. According to the stage and type of varicose veins, the doctor will prescribe it separately.

When the varicose veins of the legs were diagnosed in the first stage, it responded quickly to treatment and the doctor gave a positive prognosis. Therefore, when the first symptoms of discomfort appear in the legs, arms or other organs of the body, it is very important to contact a qualified expert urgently, who will qualitatively diagnose the pathology and make a suitable diagnosis based on your personal characteristics and body structure. Your treatment method.

Stage 1 and stage 2 varicose veins do not require radical treatment. The prescribed medications, as well as the recommended products to support the walls of blood vessels, these products may be vitamins, trace elements, minerals and other useful substances that the human body lacks.

In addition to medication, sclerotherapy is also very common-a medical method in which medication is injected into the victim's affected area to glue the affected area.

Carrying out special physical exercises to stimulate the work of the muscle system, the metabolism of blood cells and artificially increase the tension of the blood vessels in the legs are also very important.

Regardless of the type of varicose veins, this is a pathology of veins, which is caused by improper lifestyle and unhealthy diet. Appropriate daily physical exercise and the use of fortified foods will largely provide anyone with the qualifications to prevent this disease.

Grade 1 varicose veins are characterized by no external manifestations. You can suspect the onset of the disease by the following signs:

  • Increased leg fatigue;
  • Feel pain at the end of the work day;
  • Twitch;
  • Swelling of feet and legs at night.

Some patients suffer from restless legs syndrome-lying on the bed, a person cannot find a comfortable posture, and the legs feel uncomfortable. This leads to sleep disorders. In hot weather, the symptoms will increase.

For grade 2 varicose veins, the symptoms are more pronounced. They have appeared at the peak of the working day, and at night, they have reached their maximum. The pain is very severe and requires painkillers.

The characteristic of this stage is the appearance of clinical signs:

  • Severe swelling of limbs;
  • Spider veins are small veins that only expand under the skin.

In these areas, the pain and itching increase. At the end of the second stage of varicose veins of the lower extremities, the veins can be seen in the form of blue spots and stripes under the skin.

Warning: At this stage, the disease can still be cured. If you seek medical help in time, a person can get rid of the disease.

Grade 3 varicose veins are characterized by obvious deformation-thickening of blood vessel walls, and blood vessels becoming tortuous. The veins prominently protrude under the skin, and the appearance is similar to grape bunches.

A person is worried about severe leg pain, cramps, and fatigue. Swelling appeared in the evening and morning. This stage of varicose veins is characterized by changes in skin condition. It becomes very dry and flaky. These manifestations are especially obvious in the area of ​​venous malformations.

Symptoms of the third stage of varicose veins in the legs

In the third stage, the complications of the disease develop into thrombophlebitis and thromboembolism. Their appearance is related to significant blood stagnation in the blood vessels, resulting in the formation of blood clots. In thrombophlebitis, inflammation of the vein wall is manifested by increased body temperature and severe leg pain.

Thromboembolism is a dangerous complication of varicose veins. It is related to the separation of blood clots from the vein wall and entering large blood vessels. Usually, blood clots from veins in the legs enter the pulmonary artery. This can lead to pulmonary edema, and death can occur within a few minutes.

This is already a varicose vein. The deformation of the veins is even greater, similar to a tourniquet or rope under the skin. It is painful to touch them, and they are almost always in the inflammatory phase. Lymph node expansion-stagnation of lymph fluid in blood vessels. The legs are very swollen and the swelling will not go away even when resting.

The world scientific community has systematized the manifestation of varicose veins of the lower limbs.

In view of the patients' due attention to their own health, it is impossible not to notice the development of this disease.

As the disease progresses, the patient will suffer more and more pain and a constant pulling sensation in the knee area.

If a second grade esophageal varices is found-a person will not be able to eat normally, he will continue to suffer from heartburn and chest pain. By the way, many people blame the heart and intercostal neuralgia for this-few people know the existence of esophageal varices.

Visually, this disease is increasingly manifested: blue prominent veins are already visible to the naked eye, and dark blue nodules may appear under the skin.

Do you need surgery to treat grade 2 varicose veins? The development of the disease can still be prevented without surgical intervention: you do not need to be lazy and take care of your legs regularly.

Male inguinal varicose veins

The disease is most common in men after the age of fifty. The cause of male infertility may be dilation of the spermatic cord.

  • Intense physical exercise and hard work.
  • Abdominal cavity tumor.
  • Inguinal hernia.
  • Constipation.
  • Congenital pathology.
  • Dilated veins are visible to the naked eye.
  • Pulling on the scrotum is painful.
  • Pain in the groin during physical activity.
  • Take anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs.
  • Anticoagulant.
  • Surgery.

First stage symptoms

Varicose veins develop gradually. Initially, the structural changes of the veins have no external manifestations, and the disease can only be identified by the following signs:

  • Edema after staying in one position for a long time can prove that the blood vessels are not working properly. Usually, the edema will disappear by itself after a night of sleep;
  • At night or just after falling asleep, the patient may feel numbness in the lower limbs with convulsions;
  • At night, there is a feeling of heaviness in the legs, and there may be itching, soreness or burning.

One of the signs listed in

or a combination of them indicates the initial stage of venous insufficiency. Seeking medical attention and taking timely measures can prevent further structural changes in the circulatory system. Ignoring the signs of disease leads to further development of the disease.

The next stage is characterized by the appearance of external symptoms: dilated blood vessels become visible on the skin, in some areas of the lower limbs, skin pigmentation changes, and peeling is noticed. In addition, knots and seals protruding above the skin appear, and when pressed, pain is felt.

Sometimes the skin surface in these areas will be red. If the patient is standing, the prominent areas of blood vessels and lymph nodes are clearly visible. After adopting a reclining position, the tension of the blood vessels is significantly reduced, and it becomes practically invisible. Long-term walking can cause muscle pain of varying intensity.

The clinical pictures described require immediate expert visits and qualified help. In most cases, the lack of necessary treatment can lead to serious complications.

Disease diagnosis

Disease diagnosis

Diagnose pathology using diagnostic methods such as Doppler ultrasound and duplex scanning.

Doppler ultrasound can detect reflux. Double-sided scanning is a supplement to the information obtained during Doppler imaging, allowing you to confirm the diagnosis.

In the early stages, only experts can identify varicose veins. If you suspect a disease, you should contact a vascular surgeon or phlebologist. After the initial examination and examination of the patient, other studies are needed-ultrasound and contrast venography.

With the help of ultrasound examination, you can confirm whether there is pathology, and determine whether there are blood clots, tumors, and evaluate the structural changes of the veins. Venography is performed by intravenous injection of a special staining composition. Due to its movement, all abnormalities related to the structure and function of the circulatory system will be revealed.

Both methods are used for diagnosis, but because the process is less painful, ultrasound examinations are more frequent.

Surgical treatment

The disease can be treated with medication or surgery.

Conservative therapy

topical ointments and creams for conservative treatment:

The duration of using topical preparations depends on the severity of varicose veins and is determined by the attending doctor. Usually, this effect is obvious as early as the second week of use.

In addition to medication, patients are also required to wear compression underwear (level 1-2).

Varicose veins of the lower extremities are one of the most common vascular pathologies. According to statistics, it is getting younger every year.

14.11.2020