Many people think that varicose veins in the legs are just an unwanted cosmetic manifestation. However, over time, it becomes clear that varicose veins are a serious disease associated with pathological distortion of venous vessels.
As a result, the tone of the vein walls weakens and the tissues do not receive the necessary blood supply due to loss of adequate flow pressure. Knowing how dangerous the varicose veins on a woman's legs are, it is worth preventing the disease or starting treatment from the beginning.
Characteristics of the development of varicose veins
The disease develops more frequently in the lower extremities. In addition, women suffer more from varicose veins than men. Therefore, fair sex should be especially alerted by the first signs and symptoms of the disease - the vascular "asterisks" that have arisen. These signs cannot be ignored, but it is essential to consult a doctor to prescribe conservative treatment.
Otherwise, the following may appear in the future:
- feeling of heaviness, itching and pain in the legs,
- cramps and numbness at night and in the morning,
- flaking and blemishes on the skin,
- muscle pain when walking and palpation of superficial veins,
- venous nodules in the legs, feet and ankles.
Important!With advanced stages of venous disease, radical methods will be needed to stop the development of varicose veins, until surgical intervention.
Why do varicose veins appear in women more often
According to statistics, varicose veins in the lower extremities are diagnosed in eighty-nine percent of fair sex, versus sixty-six percent in men. This is due to the natural structure of the female body and the main functions, whose execution is attributed to it. And this is the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the beginning of menopause, carrying and feeding a child, when hormonal changes in the body occur.
Other causes of female varicose veins include:
- love for high heels,
- pathology of the thyroid gland - women are more frequent than men,
- type 2 diabetes mellitus, most commonly diagnosed in women,
- "standing" female professions, salespeople, waitresses, teachers, educators.
You have no insurance against varicose veins and women who use hormonal drugs.
The risk of developing varicose veins is among fans of frequent sitting in a hot bath, being in a bath / sauna.
It is worth paying attention to the condition of the veins in the legs of those who are overweight, cannot imagine life without smoking, alcohol, immense consumption of fatty, salty and spicy foods.
Important!In women, varicose veins are formed mainly during pregnancy and postpartum recovery and progress at an accelerated rate to stage 2-3.
What complications can there be?
To understand the danger of varicose veins in the legs and why it is better not to start but to heal them immediately, women who have discovered symptoms of varicose veins should consult a phlebologist. The specialist will talk about the consequences of the disease if left untreated and will prescribe therapy.
- The threat of varicose veins in the female legs leads to insufficient venous circulation. This has an unsatisfactory effect on the activity of the entire circulatory system, which directly affects the favorable course of pregnancy.
- A common occurrence in pregnant women is the formation of hemorrhoids. These varicose veins in the anus, which are hemorrhoids, startle with bleeding and malignant changes in varicose tissue.
- The disease develops more quickly in women than in men. As a result, fair sex is previously confronted with the consequences of varicose veins.
- If left untreated, varicose veins of the cervix and uterine body may occur during pregnancy. This manifests itself at the end of the second trimester with pain in the lower back and abdomen. And if there is already an assumption about the presence of varicose veins, then, before planning the pregnancy, the vessels of Organs pelvic organs should be examined.
Most patients come to the doctor with complaints of pain and swelling in the legs. These symptoms are characteristic of the 2nd stage of varicose veins.
And this is what varicose veins in the legs lead to, if you ignore the prevention and treatment of the disease:
- In the first stage, women are concerned with the non-aesthetic appearance of their legs and hide defects under long pants and skirts.
- In the second stage, an inflammatory process occurs, causing congestion of blood in the veins. This leads to the appearance of knots and pain - very rare and not very serious.
- In the 3rd stage, swelling and heaviness appear in the legs, the skin on the ankles darkens. Inflammation of the skin, eczema, thrombophlebitis of the subcutaneous vascular filaments and deep venous thrombosis are also possible. The danger of the latter lies in the unpredictable separation of a blood clot, which, once in the heart or pulmonary artery, threatens the woman's life.
- In the 4th stage, varicose trophic ulcers form, which cause, along with bleeding and wounds, intolerable pain.
Important!To avoid complications from varicose veins, you must adhere to the treatment tactics developed by the doctor.
Treatment methods
The treatment of a formidable disease must be carried out at any stage. Early examination and detection of the disease means quicker and easier relief. Neglecting varicose veins will require persistent, long-term therapy (conservative or surgical), as well as spending money.
The phlebologist's professional awareness of the dangers of varicose veins provides options for dealing with this:
- medicinal methods that use venotonic drugs in the form of tablets, gels
- bandage technique using compression stockings, and these are leggings, knee-length, stockings, tights (at home they are replaced with elastic bandages,
- hardware procedures using home appliances.
In a duel with the enemy, you must include the following initial options:
- contrast shower, whose flow is directed from bottom to top (you need to start with warm water and end with cold water),
- special diet with restriction of products of animal origin,
- Refusal to wear high heels and orthopedic footwear - especially indicated in the presence of flat feet.
Conclusion
Varicose veins of the female legs must be controlled. And if you cannot avoid the disease, at the first signs you should start treatment to prevent the development of serious complications (trophic ulcer, acute thrombophlebitis, variceal haemorrhage and others).