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 are often confused with usual fatigue. This leads to the fact that the disease is slowly developing and make a diagnosis already at a stage that requires serious techniques. Most often, venous insufficiency is diagnosed in the elderly, those who lead a sedentary lifestyle, drink alcohol in large quantities, and smoke. But recently the tendency of development of this ailment in young people, especially pregnant women is noticeable.

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 specific case it is the legs) into vessels that carry blood to the heart muscle for oxygen saturation. This process leads to the fact that the vessels begin to stretch, on the lower extremities edema develops. The blood stagnates, and this provokes significant circulatory disorders.

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

Principle of development

The disease develops on this principle. Initially, the blood stagnates in the lower limbs. Its excess leads to a significant pressure on the walls of the veins. The veins, in turn, are stretched due to such pressure, and their valves start to close not completely.

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

Symptoms

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

1. The person feels heaviness in the legs. This symptom is more pronounced in the evening, after a working day. Pain of a burping, aching character.
2. Sometimes there are convulsions in the lower extremities (most often disturb at night).
3. In gastrocnemius muscle, the pain is pronounced.
4. The presence of swelling, which increases after a load on the legs. It can be walking, standing in one place. Edema is formed late in the evening, and the next morning they disappear. The late stage of the disease is characterized by a significant increase in leg volume.
5. Hyperpigmentation (skin darkens).
6. The skin becomes dry, on it appear peeling, which are accompanied by constant itching. The elasticity of the skin decreases (symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremities).
7. On the legs a vascular network is visible, red-blue "stars" appear.
8. At a later stage, trophic ulcers develop. The general condition of the patient worsens.

Causes

There is a whole range of reasons for the development of the ailment:

• Hereditary predisposition;
• Congenital vascular pathology;
• Overheating of the body;
• Pregnancy, childbirth (in cases where they are difficult);
• Heavy weight (load on the lower limbs);
• Excessive physical activity or complete absence of it;
• Lifting weights;
• Work that requires a long stay in a standing or sitting position;
• Chronic gastrointestinal diseases, leading to permanent constipation;
• Taking hormonal drugs without a doctor's supervision;
• Smoking, excessive drinking;
• Age (symptoms of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, treatment of the disease in most cases are of interest to people in the elderly and senile age);
• The restructuring of the hormonal background (the main cause of the disease in adolescents).

Acute and chronic forms

Symptoms of venous insufficiency of the lower limbs, treatment of the disease at different stages have their own characteristics. All the signs listed above are more concerned with the chronic form of the disease. But there are cases when at first glance the stable state turns into a disadvantage. Occlusion of veins occurs instantaneously, as a result of which the outflow of blood ceases. In medicine, it is customary to call this state "acute venous insufficiency of the lower extremities". Treatment in such cases should begin immediately.

The acute form manifests itself as a darkening of the skin (it becomes blue), a strong edema. The person has pain in the legs, the body temperature rises, the heart rate increases, cold sweat is released. Severe cases entail the occlusion of veins. The acute form is fatal if not treated in a timely manner.

Classification

Surgeons mainly use classification, depending on the severity of the symptoms. It is considered the most understandable for an ordinary person.

Classification by degrees:

1. 0 degree. Diseases can be determined as a result of instrumental research. The patient has no complaints: pain is absent, legs are not swelling. The doctor diagnoses small varicose veins.
2. I degree. The person has slight aching pain in the lower limbs, but they do not constantly worry. Sometimes the legs swell. Work ability is normal.
3. II degree. It is characterized by persistent edema, pigmentation spots appear on the skin. The patient is disturbed by the constant itching and flaking of the skin. A person can lead a mobile lifestyle only after receiving supportive medicines.
4. III degree. The person is diagnosed with trophic ulcers on the legs, small bleeding. Often a secondary infection joins, thrombophlebitis develops.

Examination

It is necessary to immediately consult a doctor when the first symptoms of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities appeared. Treatment depends on the diagnosis, and this requires a complete examination. The patient should tell in detail all the signs of the disease that disturb him, and how long they arose. The doctor visually examines the legs and on the basis of this makes a diagnosis (for such a disease, the detection of symptoms and visual inspection in almost all cases is sufficient).

Additional diagnostic procedures:

• A 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 limbs ;
• Ultrasonic duplex scanning.

Treatment

Chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, the treatment of which will be considered in detail, occurs most often.

The main methods of treatment:

• Drug therapy (internal and external application);
• Compression therapy;
• surgical intervention;
• Folk methods.

Treatment of venous insufficiency of the lower limbs is aimed at eliminating the 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 more serious therapy of the disease.

The purpose of drug therapy:

• Reduce the severity of the inflammatory process;
• Improve circulation in the lower limbs;
• Contribute to the outflow of lymph (the main cause of swelling of the legs);
• Strengthen the walls of the vessels, improve their elasticity;
• Trophic ulcers require the use of local restorative drugs, preparations for external use (ointments, creams);
• In the presence of secondary infection 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 disaggregants (to prevent thrombosis);
• With thrombosis, which happened suddenly, thrombolytics are used in the first hours of the onset of this dangerous condition.

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 task of therapy is to restore full circulation in the lower limbs.
3. The third stage is maintenance therapy. But in those cases, when passed treatment was powerless, it will be necessary to turn to more serious methods.

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

• "Phlebofa".
• "Procted."
• "Lyoton"
• "Phleboxar".

Otherwise, development of dangerous complications is possible. Sometimes it ends in a fatal outcome.

Compression therapy

In general terms it is clear what the venous insufficiency of the lower limbs is. Symptoms, treatment (photos confirm how serious this disease is) are also considered by us. Therefore, treatment can not be neglected, 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. Compression jersey can be used:

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

Such jersey is designed to maintain optimal pressure in the legs. It is made of quality materials so that the pressure spreads evenly over the entire limb.

Surgical intervention

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

Basic methods:

1. Sclerotherapy. A special drug is injected into the vein, because of which the vein wall is damaged (this leads to overgrowth).
2. Operation Linton. This method is considered obsolete. It is based on the incision and vein ligation. Modern specialists do not resort to this type of operation.
3. Ligature method. With the help of special punctures veins are bandaged under the skin, and the knot remains on the skin. Blood circulation on such a vein stops. There are cases when after the procedure the disease recurs.
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 the venous insufficiency of the lower extremities (symptoms) is itself. Herbal treatment is a long-known method that is used to get rid of this disease. But you can not choose the recipes of traditional medicine and use them uncontrolled. Preliminary consultation of the attending physician is necessary.

The most popular and effective means:

• Tincture of chestnut ;
• Tincture of garlic and hops;
• Compresses with honey;
• Hirudotherapy (application of leeches for treatment).

Complications

What can the venous insufficiency of the lower extremities turn out for a person? Treatment, drugs, compression therapy is a complex of measures that can not be neglected. But if a person does not contact the doctor in time, or does not follow all the medical recommendations, then this is fraught with dangerous consequences. First and foremost, trophic ulcers appear, after which thrombi form. As a result, such changes lead to thromboembolism.

Possible complications:

• Significant swelling of the limb;
• Vein thrombosis;
• Blueing of the skin;
• Severe pain.

Prevention

We disassembled the concept of "varicose insufficiency of the lower extremities" (symptoms, treatment of the disease). With regard to prevention, it implies compliance with a number of rules:

• Increased physical activity;
• Refusal to visit saunas;
• Dieting:
• Refusal from fatty, smoked and spicy food;
• Inclusion in the diet of more fruits and vegetables;
• Refusal from alcoholic beverages, smoking;
• Avoiding overheating in the sun;
• Refusal to wear shoes with high heels.