Varicose veins, Varicose veins

Varicose veins, varicose veins

Varicose veins, varicose veins (varicose veins) are a common vascular disease of the lower extremities, manifested by tortuous or nodular expansion of the saphenous veins. One of the main factors in the development of varicose veins (varicose veins) is hereditary weakness of the connective tissue of the walls and valves of the veins, as well as hormonal and endocrine disorders and shifts. The expansion of veins in such people is facilitated by heavy physical work, standing, chronic constipation, pregnancy and other factors.

In the initial period of the disease, patients often complain about cosmetic defects. However, over time, swelling of the lower leg and dorsum of the foot, increased fatigue, heaviness, dull aching pain in the legs, and cramps in the calf muscles at night appear. These complaints are more pronounced when standing, decrease when walking and disappear in a horizontal position. Leg pain is never intense or painful. After rest, all unpleasant sensations disappear.

For many women, leg swelling increases during pregnancy, before and during menstruation, and varicose veins enlarge, causing pain and fatigue. Varicose veins that appear during pregnancy do not disappear after childbirth, but progressively expand with each subsequent pregnancy.

Winding trunks and conglomerates of varicose veins, translucent through the skin and protruding above it, fall and disappear when the lower limb is raised above the horizontal level.

With decompensation of varicose veins, pain and swelling increase, skin itching, dry or wet eczema appear. The skin of the lower parts of the leg becomes dark brown, shiny, easily wounded, and stops folding. Subsequently, trophic ulcers open in the lower third of the leg, which often do not heal for months, reaching large sizes.

A frequent complication of varicose veins (varicose veins) of the lower extremities is thrombophlebitis, which can affect both saphenous varicose veins and deep veins of the leg.