Being a fairly common disease of the veins and arteries, varicose veins are accompanied by characteristic manifestations that make it possible to diagnose the disease in time and prevent its aggravation. There are certain stages of varicose veins, which are accompanied by certain symptoms and can become indicators both of neglect of the pathological process, and of the possibility of identifying ongoing changes.
However, today's phlebologists 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 manifestationand the course of this disease, and against the background of parallel current lesions of the body there is a high probability of manifestations of lubrication, which may interfere with a correct diagnosis.
The main parameters for determining the stage of varicose veins
The stages of varicose veins are usually formed depending on the 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. Classification of the manifestation of this disease is the simplest method of preliminary diagnosis and determination of the treatment scheme.
<1_img_centerxx>To determine the stage of this disease, it is necessary to answer 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 oftreatment.
These problems include:
- the presence of characteristic manifestations of varicose veins and the degree of their manifestation;
- location and intensity of symptoms;
- the presence of external manifestations of changes in the condition of the 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 the patient, it is possible to make a preliminary diagnosis, which will make it possible to establish a scheme of therapeutic effects and, depending on the individual specifics of the patient's body, the presence of current concomitant diseases and the susceptibility to continued exposure, make certain adjustments to treatment. It is important during the diagnosis of 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 greatest 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 get at least general ideas about the manifestations of this pathology, which is distinguished by its severity and great dangers to the health of the legs and bodyhuman as a whole.
The specifics of the classification of varicose veins
The stages of varicose veins may differ in the shape and location of the current pathological process in the veins. This approach is the most convenient for understanding the degree of neglect of the disease, and also allows to determine the cause of the appearance, which will earlier eliminate the current manifestations of this disease and the characteristic symptoms.
The types of varicose veins differ in several specific parameters. The use of a certain classification allows you to determine whether an existing disease belongs 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 external manifestations are characterized by segmentation - changes in the condition of the veins are noted only in a certain area of the veins.
- Varicose veins of the superficial and perforating veins, which are also noted in some segments of the skin.
- Changes in the condition of the veins, in which varicose hypertrophy 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 worsens the pathological process of changes in the veins, stimulating the aggravation of varicose veins, followed by covering an increasingly large area of veins and arteries. All types of varicose veins can show 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 on time, because even the initial phase 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 it is not necessary to treat the disease.
An external examination of the affected veins with damaged 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 allow to establish the degree of prevalence of the autologous process, as well as to correct the desired therapeutic effect in order to achieve the most pronounced andlong -Sustainable positive results. Classification will help to make a diagnosis based on 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 method of classification should be considered a variant that divides the course of the disease into certain stages. Each of them has characteristic manifestations, with the appearance of the next stage, a greater degree and strength of the symptoms are noted, a high 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 cushion the unpleasant sensations after a whole day spent standing for elementary fatigue, the presence of some excess weight. If, however, to the listed factors we add the waiting period of the child, heredity (if there is at least one close relative with existing varicose veins, it is safe to assume his own tendency to developthis disease in itself), then the pathological changes manifested in the veins of the lower extremities can be ignored for a long time.
- the first stage is already characterized by such manifestations as periodic numbness of the legs (especially with prolonged maintenance of a posture and standing), pain in some parts of the legs, a feeling of tension in the legslegs and veins due to the deterioration of the quality of the blood circulation process, the veins dilate at the same time and a strong their tension. Externally, the first stage of the disease is manifested by the appearance of small areas with visible veins and blood vessels, which can disturb the patient when pressing on such an area;
- 2nd degree varicose veins can have the following characteristic manifestations:
- the pain becomes more pronounced, increases at 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.
In the second degree of this pathological process, there is a strong heaviness in the legs, a feeling of bursting of the veins and skin, so-called goosebumps on the legs and in the popliteal area may appear, which is not associated with external factors. Varicose veins of the 2nd degree are still treatable; in later stages, the process of aggravation of the disease continues at an increasingly rapid rate and affects more and more areas of the lower extremities, while the treatment process is difficult and does not always give positive results;
- 3rd degree varicose veins are less curable. All of the characteristic symptoms are aggravated, the pain 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, increasingly resembling dead skin. At this stage, varicose veins almost always require surgery, since there is a high risk of the development and separation of a thrombus from the vessel wall, which can obstruct the lumen of the vessel and lead to serious consequences in the formof limb risk. amputation. The third stage is the most dangerous due to the high probability of concomitant negative manifestations during treatment.
There are also hair varicose veins, in which the small blood vessels are loaded, the quality of blood circulation gradually deteriorates, characteristic signs appear in the form of increased fatigue of the limbs, the appearance of swelling of the limbs. affected tissue and a change in skin color at the injury site.
Varicose veins have stages that gradually turn into more complicated stages, while the method of treatment is determined both by the localization of the site of the lesion and by the subjective manifestations of the disease. Anyone who has noticed at least one of the signs of this dreadful disease should remember that the probability of the disease transitioning in a short time to a deeper stage and a significant deterioration in the health of the lower extremities is high. In addition, in the absence of the necessary treatment, the patient can become disabled - as medical statistics show, on average it 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 progressive deterioration of blood circulation, the appearance of increasingly deep symptoms, require 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 requires treatment due to the rapid worsening of the current pathological process, affecting more and more areas. The likelihood of remaining disabled is high, especially in old age, when there is a general suppression of basic body functions 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 diagnoses made, as well as taking into account the individual characteristics of the'organization.