Varicose veins — the relevance of the problem

Abstract

Varicose disease is one of the most common vascular diseases; according to some authors, its manifestations are observed to some extent in 89 % of women and 66 % of men. The basis of this pathology is a violation of the normal operation of the vascular valves, resulting in a return of venous blood, followed by vasodilation and overstretching of the vascular wall. The disease begins imperceptibly and can develop gradually over several years and even decades. As a rule, in women, the onset of the disease occurs during pregnancy. The initial signs of the disease are not specific: the feeling of heaviness in the legs, especially pronounced in the evening, pain in the calf muscles, convulsions sometimes occur at night. One of the most common signs includes swelling in the area of the ankle joints, more pronounced in the evening and passing after a night's rest. All these signs are aggravated after a long stay in an upright position, especially in the hot season. This symptom complex is called «heavy legs syndrome». In the absence of treatment in the elderly, trophic ulcers may appear in the projection of the lesion. Surgical intervention is considered the most radical and effective method of treatment; the share of operations for this pathology is about 3–4 % of the total number of surgical interventions. Preventive treatment includes wearing compression garments, controlling body weight, normalizing work and rest balance, avoiding heavy lifting and prolonged static loads.