Reticular advanced varicose veins leads to the appearance of a bluish vascular mesh in the lower extremities. Therefore, among the people, this form of varicose veins is often called "cosmetic" or "reticular".
What does the phrase "reticular varicose veins" mean?
Some doctors do not consider reticular varicose veins to be a disease. They urge to treat it as a cosmetic defect that does not pose a threat to the patient's health. Men who have a mild form of varicose veins, as a rule, do not focus on it.
In Western countries there is no special term "reticular varicose veins of the lower extremities", experts do not think about what it is.
Other doctors disagree on this issue. Some experts are convinced that reticular varicose veins are a consequence of insufficiency of the valves of the venous vessels, therefore, the disease must be treated without delay. Otherwise, a patient suffering from cosmetic varicose veins will have serious complications. After all, the situation is unlikely to be limited to the defeat of the superficial veins, after a long time, varicose veins can spread to the deep vessels of the venous system.
Symptoms of the disease
There are the following signs of reticular or cosmetic varicose veins:
- Feeling of heaviness in the limbs.
- Puffiness.
- Increased fatigue.
- The appearance of blue meshes. They are formed from enlarged superficial small-caliber vessels and capillaries.
- Cramps in the calf muscles.
- Pain in the localization of the dilated veins.
At an advanced stage of the disease, external bleeding may occur.
Causes of the disease
Reticular varicose veins of the lower extremities occurs under the influence of the following reasons:
- Taking contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
- Overweight.
- Pregnancy and childbirth.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Inactive lifestyle.
Hard physical work often leads to the appearance of a vascular pattern in the limbs. With an excessive load on the legs, the venous walls gradually lose their elasticity, and blood circulation in the body worsens.
Diagnosis of the disease
If you suspect the presence of reticular varicose veins, the patient is interviewed. The doctor pays close attention to the following circumstances:
- The nature and localization of pain.
- Patient working conditions.
- The presence of concomitant diseases.
- The patient's lifestyle.
- The presence of a hereditary predisposition to varicose veins.
Then the specialist proceeds to a visual examination of the patient. During the procedure, the doctor not only examines the spider veins, but also examines the condition of the skin near them: the presence of seals or edema in the affected area. For example, varicose veins on the face often occur in the area of the eyes. In this case, the doctor may see light purple bags under the eyes. When viewed from a closer distance, small venous and capillary networks are clearly visible. With varicose veins of the lip, a small nodule of a rich red hue with a slight blue appears.
Other methods of diagnosing the disease are also used. For example, ultrasound examination helps to assess the condition of the venous valves, reveals the presence of blood clots.
MRI in the presence of reticular varicose veins is done only according to individual indications.
With varicose veins, general clinical studies are also carried out. These include primarily blood and urine tests. Thanks to general clinical studies, it is possible to assess the likelihood of developing thrombophlebitis and thrombosis. They help to choose the right tactics for further treatment.
Disease classification
There is a special classification of reticular varicose veins. Its supporters, in addition to the six main stages, also distinguish the zero stage of the disease. It is almost asymptomatic. Only a few patients experience a feeling of heaviness in the legs.
At the first stage of the disease, a thin mesh consisting of small vessels appears through the skin. The next stage is the expansion of the blood vessels. At the third stage of the disease, edema occurs, the veins stand out clearly above the surface of the skin. At the fourth stage of the disease, the color of the skin in the area of the dilated veins changes. It may turn dark brown. At the next stage, trophic ulcers may begin to form. At the sixth stage of the disease, the patient's condition deteriorates sharply. With the help of medications, it is impossible to cope with trophic ulcers.
Disease treatment methods
In the treatment of reticular varicose veins, the following methods are used:
- Taking medications.
- Exercise.
- Making decoctions based on medicinal plants.
- Carrying out laser coagulation or microflebectomy.
It is almost impossible to completely get rid of a pronounced cosmetic defect with the help of drugs, folk remedies or therapeutic exercises. Therefore, the treatment of the disease with minimally invasive methods is practiced (microflebectomy, sclerotherapy).
Laser coagulation and microflebectomy for varicose veins
Microflebectomy is performed with local anesthetic. The essence of this medical manipulation is to pull the vein damaged by varicose veins outward. During microflebectomy, the skin is pre-pierced with a thin medical hook. The remaining trace is almost invisible to the prying eye. Microflebectomy is not accompanied by discomfort, the patient quickly returns to normal life. He is advised to wear compression hosiery.
When carrying out sclerotherapy, a special solution is injected into the vessel. The tool glues the vascular walls, as a result, all damage is healed. The duration of the rehabilitation period varies from three to ten days (depending on the patient's well-being). The patient needs to wear a bandage that tightly fits the limb. It is applied to the puncture site. The number of procedures depends on the severity of the disease. The duration of the treatment session varies from 5 to 60 minutes. It is recommended to stop smoking, hot baths and alcoholic beverages within three days after sclerotherapy.
The use of drugs
In the treatment of reticular varicose veins, medications are used in various dosage forms:
- Pills.
- Capsules.
- Ointments.
- Creams.
- Gels.
Medicines have a beneficial effect on the superficial vessels of the extremities. Reticular varicose veins are usually treated with the following medications:
- Venotonic. The preparations eliminate discomfort in the legs, prevent the appearance of seizures and the occurrence of trophic ulcers.
- Medicines containing rutoside. Medicines help to reduce capillary permeability, help eliminate edema. With the help of a special drug, the vascular walls are strengthened. Medicines that contain rutoside are used not only in the treatment of varicose veins. They eliminate the symptoms of hemorrhoids, thrombophlebitis, venous insufficiency.
The benefits of physical therapy
Laser therapy has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Thanks to the procedure, the content of cholesterol in the body is reduced, tissue swelling is reduced. Laser therapy helps the patient to abandon expensive drugs intended for the treatment of reticular varicose veins.
It is necessary to highlight the following advantages of laser therapy:
- Positive changes are noticeable after the second procedure.
- In about 70% of cases, the affected veins decrease in size up to 3 mm after the first session.
After the session, the patient may experience pain. In some cases, the doctor prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to the patient to eliminate unwanted side effects.
Magnetic stimulation involves exposure to low frequency magnetic impulses. After the procedure, the condition of the muscular tissue of the vessels improves, and blood circulation improves. The average duration of a pulse magnetotherapy session is 20 minutes. After the procedure, the swelling of the legs is significantly reduced.
Folk remedies against varicose veins
Treatment with folk remedies involves both the manufacture of decoctions for internal use, and the use of ointments intended for external use.
The main benefits of alternative medicine include:
- The relatively low cost of ingredients present in folk remedies;
- Ease of preparation of funds. In order to use the recipes of traditional healers, you do not need to have special skills.
- Improving the general well-being of the patient.
| Folk remedy | Cooking scheme |
|---|---|
| Garlic ointment | The tool normalizes blood circulation in the body. To prepare the ointment, you need to mix the garlic, grated on a fine grater, and butter in a 1: 2 ratio. The mixture is applied to the affected area before bedtime. Cover the top with polyethylene or parchment paper. It is fixed with an elastic bandage or thin scarf. In the morning, the compress is removed, the legs are thoroughly washed |
| Sour milk compress | To prepare the compress, a napkin made of gauze is soaked in sour milk. The agent is applied to the affected area. From above, the affected area is carefully covered with polyethylene, the limbs are wrapped in a warm scarf. The compress should be kept for no more than 30 minutes. The procedure can be repeated up to three times a day. |
| Hop tincture | It is necessary to pour 30 grams of a medicinal plant with 400 ml of boiling water. The tool is insisted for two hours. You need to take 50 ml of the drink three times a day. The duration of the treatment course is 14 days. |
| Rinsing feet with cold water | During the procedure, water is used, which should be slightly cooler than room temperature. When rinsing, you can add solutions of medicinal plants to the water: nettle, lemon balm, apple cider vinegar. Do not wipe your feet after the procedure. They must dry naturally |
| Kalanchoe ointment | To prepare the ointment, you need to take 0. 5 kg of fresh plant leaves. Kalanchoe is thoroughly washed with water and placed in clean glassware. The plant is poured with alcohol in a ratio of 1: 1. The ointment must be infused for at least 10 days in a dry room protected from sunlight. The product is applied to the limbs with gentle massaging movements. Kalanchoe eliminates painful sensations in the legs. The duration of the course of treatment is at least three months |
Special diet
In the presence of reticular varicose veins, the following foods are usually excluded from the daily menu:
- Spicy food.
- Sweets.
- Savory spices.
- Strongly brewed coffee.
- Sweet pastries.
- Pickled vegetables.
The patient's diet must be supplemented with the following products:
- Freshly squeezed juices.
- Dishes to which berries are added: viburnum or rose hips.
- Greens.
- Fruits.
- Dishes containing grains such as rye or wheat.
The diet of a person suffering from reticular varicose veins must certainly contain foods rich in vitamins A, E, C and B. These include, first of all, fermented milk drinks, nuts, citrus fruits, sea fish dishes.
Exercises for reticular varicose veins
Therapeutic gymnastics improves the outflow of lymph from the affected vessels. You can do this simple exercise:
- The patient needs to stand up straight.
- He should slowly raise his heels and return to the starting position. When performing this exercise, it is forbidden to tear off the socks from the floor.
Therapeutic gymnastics helps to increase the strength of the venous walls. The only contraindication to training is the presence of trophic ulcers on the legs.
In the supine position, the exercises "scissors" and "bicycle" are performed. They must be done for at least two minutes (each).
Preventive actions
Many people have heard the hackneyed phrase that "an illness is easier to prevent than to cure. "No one will doubt the veracity of this statement.
There are the following preventive measures that reduce the likelihood of developing reticular varicose veins:
- Avoiding strongly brewed coffee, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.
- Wearing compression products. It is recommended to wear them every day, once a day: in the morning or in the evening.
- Refusal from intense physical activity.
- Regular visits to the pool.
- Performing special exercises designed to prevent the appearance of "cosmetic" varicose veins.