Varicose veins is one of the diseases that does not understand who exactly to choose as its victim, because both young people and the elderly can suffer from it.
Few rush to doctors after the development of the disease, not thinking that it is much easier to get rid of the problem at the first stages.
In order to promptly seek help, you should know what varicose veins on the legs look like, symptoms and treatment, the photo will also help to identify the disease and respond immediately.
What are the symptoms of varicose veins in the legs
It is believed that only women are usually worried about varicose veins on the legs, while the symptoms are inherent in both men and the fairer sex, because they are almost the same. You should not wait until the disease begins to progress, so you need to contact the doctor immediately as soon as the first signs of an insidious disease appear.
What symptoms of varicose veins in the legs should be alarming? There are not so many of them:
- venous patterns appearing on the legs, thighs;
- feeling of fullness and heaviness in the lower limbs;
- night cramps (they often manifest themselves in the daytime);
- puffiness appears after a hard day's work;
- fatigue rises sharply;
- there is discomfort in the legs.
Even one alarm signal is enough to immediately send for medical help, the earlier it is done, the higher the chances of successful treatment.
Varicose veins in the legs, symptoms during pregnancy
Problems with the veins of the lower extremities often appear in women who are in an interesting position, because there is an additional load on the legs. There is a considerable difficulty here - treatment should not harm the fetus, so you should not try to overcome the disease yourself. Only a doctor can accurately diagnose the disease and prescribe the safest treatment option for the baby.
If there is a suspicion of varicose veins in the legs, symptoms during pregnancy differ little from the most common signs of the disease. These include:
- small “stars” appearing on the legs;
- unpleasant discomfort that is felt in the lower extremities not only in the evenings, but throughout the day;
- severe swelling that can form not only in the lower legs, but also from the very thighs;
- pain and aches when walking;
- changes in the skin (peeling, the appearance of age spots, a change in the natural shade);
- veins begin to protrude above the skin, when pressed, severe pain appears.
Even if there is no certainty that these are varicose veins on the legs, the symptoms must be indicated to the doctor - only a specialist can accurately diagnose the disease and determine the degree of its development.
Symptoms of internal varicose veins in the legs
According to doctors, internal varicose veins can lead to serious complications, so it is especially important to recognize it in time. Even this does not guarantee that the treatment will be successful.
Symptoms of internal varicose veins in the legs:
- aching or dull pain in the lower extremities;
- heaviness and burning that hardly stops;
- seals are visible on the skin;
- red or blue "stars" appear;
- veins under the skin expand, in places they resemble grapes;
- wounds appear that practically do not heal, possibly even the development of gangrene, this can lead to the loss of a limb.
The most dangerous stage is when muscles and bone mass begin to deform. If left untreated, this can be fatal.
Varicose veins in the legs, symptoms
No less life-threatening is varicose veins of the deep veins in the legs, the symptoms of which are not as pronounced as in a common disease. How to independently determine the presence of a serious illness?
There are many signs of the disease, and almost every one of them can be detected independently if you know what to look for:
- discomfort in the lower extremities (burning, heaviness, aching pain);
- the skin becomes dry, scaly areas may appear;
- convulsions appear at night, which can last until the morning;
- saphenous veins expand, increasing in diameter several times;
- there are numerous small wounds that do not respond to treatment and do not heal themselves.
Without immediate treatment, ulcers and eczema may soon develop, followed by gangrene. Blood clot formation with subsequent death is also possible.
Which doctor should I contact if symptoms of varicose veins are found
Even if dangerous signs were identified in a timely manner, patients do not rush to the hospital, not knowing which doctor to contact if symptoms of varicose veins are detected. There are no options here - only one doctor is able to stop the development of the disease. An immediate visit to a phlebologist significantly reduces the risk of complications.
If you are late in going to the doctor, it is quite possible that the ailment will spread to the lower extremities, so you will not be able to do with the help of a phlebologist. If the specialist considers it necessary, he can turn to colleagues.
Among the specialists who will help in the treatment of varicose veins are:
- cardiac surgeon;
- angiosurgeon (specializing in the treatment of pathologies by surgical intervention);
- physiotherapist;
- dermatologist.
A multi-specialist treatment can take many months or even years. If the phlebologist cannot cope with the disease on his own, this indicates that it has already outgrown the initial stage.
Treatment with ointments: what drugs to use to effectively get rid of the disease
At home, treatment with ointments is most often prescribed, but only when there are no complications or contraindications. It is better not to use such drugs on your own, it is imperative to first agree on the course of action on the disease with a doctor.
Treatment of varicose veins with folk remedies
At the initial stages of the disease, you can practice treatment with folk remedies, but only with the permission of the doctor. The most effective here are compresses and rubbing, which you can prepare yourself from plant materials.
Green walnuts have shown themselves well in the fight against varicose veins. Grind about a glass of unripe fruits, pour olive oil in equal parts. Insist fragrant liquid for about one and a half months. After that, use as a rub, daily rubbing a small amount of oily liquid into the affected areas.
Horse chestnut infusion can also be used, which acts locally. To prepare the medicine, you will need the inflorescences and leaves of the plant. Grind them, pour high-quality vodka or alcohol (based on a part of plant materials, 6-8 parts of alcohol). Insist a week, rub into the skin of the legs before bedtime.
Consequences of varicose veins on the legs
Knowing what consequences of varicose veins on the legs threaten health will help you to start treatment faster. The disease can progress in the absence of treatment at an incredible speed and end with thromboembolism. At best, this will lead to disability, but statistics show that in almost a third of patients, the disease ends in death.
Trophic ulcers may appear, which are practically not subject to treatment. The size and depth of the lesions can increase and soon spread to large areas of the lower extremities. This inevitably leads to gangrene. Even if you resort to treatment, therapy can take a long time, and without any guarantees of a successful outcome.
Varicose veins in the legs, symptoms and treatment, photos and consequences - all this information can be studied on your own to prevent a dangerous ailment. One should not hope that it will be possible to avoid it by midnight, but even timely treatment will be enough so as not to worry about the consequences or complications.