Being a fairly common disease of veins and arteries, varicose veins are accompanied by characteristic manifestations that make it possible to diagnose the disease in a timely manner and prevent its aggravation. There are certain stages of varicose veins, which are accompanied by certain symptoms and can become indicators of both neglect of the pathological process, and an opportunity to identify current changes.
However, phlebologists today do not have a consensus on the isolation of the stages of the disease, since the discharge of manifestations and their characteristic course are not constant values: each case has its own characteristics of the manifestation and course of this disease, and against the background of parallel current lesions of the body, there is a high probability of lubricationmanifestations, which can interfere with correct diagnosis.
The main parameters for determining the stage of varicose veins
The stages of varicose veins are usually formed depending on a set of certain manifestations that characterize the degree of neglect of the current pathological process, as well as their effect on the patient's body as a whole. The classification of the manifestation of this disease is the simplest method of preliminary diagnosis and determination of the treatment scheme.
To determine the stage of this disease, an answer should be given to a number of specific questions that will make it possible to understand the existing symptoms and, with their help, determine the degree of aggravation of the process, which largely determines the possibilities for treatment.
These issues include:
- the presence of characteristic manifestations of varicose veins and the degree of their manifestation;
- location and strength of symptoms;
- the presence of external manifestations of changes in the state of veins and large arteries;
- identification of concomitant manifestations that worsen the patient's condition.
However, even without a detailed diagnosis by a phlebologist, during an external examination of a patient, it is possible to make a preliminary diagnosis, which will make it possible to draw up a scheme of therapeutic effects and, depending on the individual specific characteristics of the patient's body, the presence of current concomitant diseases and susceptibility to the ongoing exposure, make certain adjustments to the treatment. It is important in the course of diagnosing the patient's condition to determine what types of varicose veins occur, their location and the degree of neglect of the pathological process.
Most often, varicose veins affect the lower extremities, since it is this area of the human body that receives the most significant loads. At the same time, not everyone is aware of this load on the legs, and does not protect them even in the presence of a number of manifestations that signal the need for a more attentive attitude to the limbs and veins. Therefore, in order to understand how the stages of varicose veins differ, it is necessary to obtain at least general ideas about the manifestations of this pathology, which is distinguished by its seriousness and great dangers to the health of the legs and the human body as a whole.
The specifics of the classification of varicose veins
The stages of varicose veins can differ in the form and place of localization of the current pathological process in the veins. This approach is most convenient for understanding the degree of neglect of the disease, and also makes it possible to determine the cause of the onset, which will sooner eliminate the current manifestations of this condition and the characteristic symptoms.
The types of varicose veins differ in several specific parameters. The use of a certain classification allows you to determine the belonging of an existing disease to a group, which facilitates further diagnosis and the choice of a treatment system. The modern classification according to the location of the main nodes of varicose veins is as follows:
- Varicose veins located in the superficial layer of the skin and deep veins, while the external manifestations are characterized by segmentation - changes in the state of the veins are noted only in a certain area of the veins.
- Varicose veins of superficial and perforating veins, which is also noted in certain segments of the skin.
- Changes in the condition of the veins, in which varicose enlargement and pathological changes in the superficial veins in an unexpressed form are diagnosed, reflux.
- Varicose veins, noted in the deep veins, the development of reflux.
The presence of reflux indicates the presence of a certain pathology, since with reflux, blood flows in the opposite direction. This phenomenon usually aggravates the pathological process of changes in veins, stimulating the aggravation of varicose veins, followed by coverage of an ever larger area of veins and arteries. All types of varicose veins can have signs of reflux, which is already a certain pathology and requires medical intervention.
Understanding the severity of the disease makes it possible to start treatment in a timely manner, since even the initial stage of the process, which has a relatively small number of external manifestations, is dangerous for the health of the legs. Varicose veins of the 1st degree can be practically asymptomatic, but this does not mean that there is no need to treat the disease.
An external examination of the affected veins with altered veins will allow the specialist to roughly determine the probable cause of this disease. However, to clarify the diagnosis, one should undergo a full range of diagnostic procedures that will make it possible to establish the degree of prevalence of the autologous process, as well as to correct the intended therapeutic effect to obtain the most pronounced and long-lasting positive results. The classification will help to make a diagnosis in accordance with the external manifestations of the disease, as well as to determine the system of therapeutic effects.
Classification according to the degree of aggravation
Today, the generally accepted classification method should be considered a variant that divides the course of the disease into certain stages. Each of them has characteristic manifestations, with the onset of the subsequent stage, a greater degree and strength of symptoms is noted, a large prevalence of the affected area.
The classification of the disease, which is carried out depending on the degree of neglect, is as follows:
- early stage of varicose veins - at the initial stage of the pathological process, there is a gradual accumulation of characteristic manifestations of the disease, which are not always noted by the patient. This stage is often called latent: a person can write off the unpleasant sensations after a whole day spent on their feet, for elementary fatigue, the presence of some excess weight. If, however, to the listed factors we add the child's expectation period, heredity (if there is at least one close relative with existing varicose veins, one can safely assume one's own tendency to develop this disease in oneself), then one can ignore the manifested pathological changes in the veins of the lower ones for a long time. limbs;
- the first stage is already characterized by such manifestations as periodic numbness of the legs (especially with prolonged preservation of one position and standing position), soreness in certain parts of the legs, a feeling of tension in the legs and veins due to the deterioration of the quality of the blood circulation process, the veins at the same time expand and a strongtheir tension. Outwardly, the first stage of the disease manifests itself in the appearance of small areas with visible veins and blood vessels, which can disturb the patient when pressing on such an area;
- varicose veins of the 2nd degree can have the following characteristic manifestations:
- soreness becomes more pronounced, increases by the end of the day;
- bruises and areas with altered veins and capillaries appear on the skin, which are visible even to the naked eye;
- the degree of lesion is increased, which is revealed by an increase in the area of the lesion.
- varicose veins of the 3rd degree are less curable. All characteristic symptoms are aggravated, soreness becomes more severe, and the affected area covers most of the leg. The condition and color of the skin of the legs changes: they acquire a darker shade, the skin itself becomes an unhealthy structure, more and more resembling dead skin. At this stage, varicose veins almost always require surgical intervention, since there is a high risk of a thrombus developing and separating from the vessel wall, which can clog the lumen of the vessel and lead to serious consequences in the form of a risk of limb amputation. The third stage is the most dangerous due to the high likelihood of concomitant negative manifestations during treatment.
At the second degree of this pathological process, there is a strong heaviness in the legs, a feeling of bursting of veins and skin, so-called goose bumps on the legs and in the popliteal region may appear, which is not associated with external factors. Varicose veins of the 2nd degree are still treatable; at later stages, the process of aggravation of the disease goes on at an ever faster pace and affects more and more areas of the lower extremities, while the treatment process is difficult and does not always give positive results;
There is also capillary varicose veins, in which small blood vessels receive a load, the quality of blood circulation gradually deteriorates, characteristic signs appear in the form of increased limb fatigue, the appearance of swelling of the affected tissues, and a change in the color of the skin at the site of the lesion.
Varicose veins have stages that gradually turn into more complicated ones, while the treatment method is determined both by the localization of the lesion site and by the subjective manifestations of the disease. Anyone who has noted at least one of the signs of this formidable disease should remember that the likelihood of the transition of the disease in a short time to a deeper stage and a significant deterioration in the health of the lower extremities is high. Also, in the absence of the necessary treatment, the patient may become disabled - as shown by medical statistics, this, on average, takes about 11 years from the moment the first characteristic manifestations of the disease appear.
Why is treatment necessary?
Varicose veins of the lower extremities, or VBNK, accompanied by a gradual deterioration of blood circulation, the appearance of more and more profound symptoms, requires an immediate medical response. When detecting varicose veins of the lower extremities, a more detailed diagnosis of veins and blood vessels is carried out, the degree of neglect of the process is determined.
The disease of the lower extremities needs treatment due to the rapid aggravation of the current pathological process, affecting more and more areas. The likelihood of remaining disabled is high, especially at an older age, when there is a general suppression of the basic functions of the body and a decrease in the degree of resistance to disease. And in the presence of concomitant lesions, the treatment of varicose veins on the legs is even more difficult.
Since the disease is characterized by various types (or stages), which differ in the degree of aggravation of the pathological process, treatment should be carried out in accordance with the results of the diagnostics performed, as well as taking into account the individual characteristics of the organism.