What are the common symptoms of blood clots in different parts of the body. How can you identify potential deep vein thrombosis in legs and arms. What warning signs indicate a possible pulmonary embolism or heart attack due to blood clots. When should you seek immediate medical attention for suspected blood clot complications.

Understanding Blood Clots: Formation, Risks, and Complications

Blood clots are an essential part of our body’s natural healing process, quickly stopping bleeding from minor injuries like paper cuts or shaving nicks. However, when blood clots don’t dissolve properly, they can pose serious health risks. These dangerous clots can form in blood vessels throughout the body, with the legs being particularly susceptible, especially during periods of prolonged inactivity.

Clots can develop in both arteries and veins, each presenting unique risks:

• Arterial clots: These can obstruct oxygen flow to vital organs, potentially causing life-threatening emergencies like heart attacks or strokes.
• Venous clots: While often developing more gradually, venous clots can still lead to significant complications.

Recognizing the warning signs of blood clots is crucial for seeking timely medical intervention. However, it’s important to note that some clots may form with minimal or no apparent symptoms.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Identifying Clots in Arms and Legs

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins of your arm or leg. This condition is particularly dangerous because the clot can potentially travel to your heart or lungs. Certain factors increase your risk of developing DVT, including:

• Extended periods of immobility (e.g., after surgery or during long flights)
• Certain medical conditions
• Genetic predisposition

If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention:

1. Swelling: This can be localized to the area of the clot or affect the entire limb.
2. Color changes: The affected area may take on a red or blue tinge, or become itchy.
3. Pain: Ranging from a dull ache to intense discomfort, often throbbing in nature.
4. Warm skin: The area around the clot may feel warmer than surrounding skin.
5. Lower leg cramp: If the clot is in your calf, it may feel similar to a charley horse.
6. Pitting edema: Pressing on the swollen area may leave a temporary dimple or “pit.”
7. Swollen, painful veins: These may be tender to the touch.

Recognizing Pulmonary Embolism: When DVT Becomes Life-Threatening

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot, typically originating from a DVT in an arm or leg, breaks off and travels to the lung. This is an extremely dangerous condition requiring immediate medical intervention. Watch for these warning signs:

• Sudden shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Coughing (possibly coughing up blood)
• Sweating
• Dizziness

Heart Attack: Recognizing Clot-Related Cardiac Emergencies

When a blood clot forms in or around the heart, it can lead to a heart attack. Be alert for these symptoms, which often require immediate emergency care:

• Severe pain in your chest and arm
• Profuse sweating
• Difficulty breathing

Cerebral Blood Clots: Identifying Stroke Symptoms

Blood clots affecting the brain can result from various causes, including:

• Fatty deposits in blood vessel walls
• Head injuries leading to concussions
• Clots originating elsewhere in the body and traveling to the brain

These clots can cause strokes, a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. Be vigilant for these warning signs:

• Vision problems
• Difficulty speaking
• Seizures
• General weakness

Abdominal Blood Clots: Recognizing Gastrointestinal Complications

Blood clots can form in the veins that drain blood from your intestines, potentially caused by:

• Diverticulitis
• Liver disease
• Hormonal birth control

If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor promptly:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe abdominal pain (may worsen after eating)
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stools
• Bloating

Renal Blood Clots: Identifying Kidney-Related Issues

Blood clots in the kidneys can impair their ability to remove waste from your body, potentially leading to high blood pressure or even kidney failure. Watch for these symptoms:

• Pain in the side of your abdomen, legs, or thighs
• Blood in your urine
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• High blood pressure
• Sudden severe leg swelling
• Difficulty breathing

Preventing Blood Clots: Lifestyle Changes and Risk Reduction

While not all blood clots can be prevented, certain lifestyle modifications can help reduce your risk:

1. Stay active: Regular exercise promotes healthy blood circulation.
2. Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity increases the risk of blood clots.
3. Stay hydrated: Proper hydration helps prevent blood from thickening.
4. Avoid prolonged immobility: Take breaks to move around during long trips or periods of sitting.
5. Manage underlying health conditions: Conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure can increase clot risk.
6. Consider compression stockings: These can improve circulation in the legs, especially during travel.
7. Quit smoking: Smoking damages blood vessels and increases clot risk.

Medical Interventions for Blood Clot Prevention

In some cases, your doctor may recommend additional preventive measures:

• Anticoagulant medications: These “blood thinners” can help prevent clot formation.
• Prophylactic treatments: For high-risk situations like surgery or extended hospital stays.
• Regular check-ups: Monitoring for risk factors and early detection of potential issues.

Diagnosis and Treatment: What to Expect When Seeking Medical Care

If you suspect a blood clot, your healthcare provider may use various diagnostic tools:

• Physical examination
• Blood tests
• Imaging studies (ultrasound, CT scan, MRI)
• D-dimer test: Measures a substance released when blood clots break down

Treatment options for blood clots may include:

1. Anticoagulant medications: To prevent further clot formation and help dissolve existing clots.
2. Thrombolytic therapy: For severe cases, medications to quickly break down clots.
3. Catheter-directed thrombolysis: Minimally invasive procedure to deliver clot-busting drugs directly to the affected area.
4. Thrombectomy: Surgical removal of the clot in certain situations.
5. Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter: A device implanted to prevent clots from traveling to the lungs.

Long-Term Management and Follow-Up Care

After initial treatment for a blood clot, ongoing care is essential:

• Regular follow-up appointments
• Monitoring of anticoagulant medication levels
• Lifestyle modifications to reduce future risk
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy, if needed

Special Considerations: Blood Clots in High-Risk Populations

Certain groups may be at increased risk for blood clots and require special attention:

Pregnancy and Postpartum Period

Pregnant women and those who have recently given birth are at higher risk for blood clots due to hormonal changes and increased pressure on blood vessels. Additional precautions may include:

• More frequent medical check-ups
• Prophylactic anticoagulation in high-risk cases
• Compression stockings
• Early mobilization after delivery

Cancer Patients

Cancer and certain cancer treatments can increase the risk of blood clots. Management may involve:

• Closer monitoring for clot symptoms
• Prophylactic anticoagulation during chemotherapy
• Individualized treatment plans considering both cancer and clot risk

Elderly Individuals

Older adults may be at higher risk due to decreased mobility and other health factors. Care strategies may include:

• Regular exercise programs tailored to ability level
• Careful medication management
• Fall prevention measures to reduce injury risk

Emerging Research and Future Directions in Blood Clot Management

The field of blood clot prevention, diagnosis, and treatment continues to evolve. Some promising areas of research include:

1. Novel anticoagulant medications with improved safety profiles
2. Advanced imaging techniques for earlier clot detection
3. Personalized risk assessment tools using genetic markers
4. Minimally invasive interventions for clot removal
5. Nanotechnology-based targeted therapies

As our understanding of blood clot formation and its complications grows, we can expect more effective strategies for prevention and treatment, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced mortality rates associated with these potentially life-threatening conditions.

Living with Blood Clot Risk: Empowering Patients through Education and Support

For individuals who have experienced a blood clot or are at high risk, ongoing education and support are crucial. Key aspects of living with blood clot risk include:

Patient Education Programs

• Understanding risk factors and warning signs
• Proper use of anticoagulant medications
• Lifestyle modifications for risk reduction
• When to seek emergency medical care

Support Groups and Resources

Connecting with others who have experienced blood clots can provide valuable emotional support and practical advice. Resources may include:

• Online forums and social media groups
• Local support group meetings
• Educational materials from reputable health organizations

Technology and Self-Monitoring

Advances in technology are empowering patients to take a more active role in their health management:

• Smartphone apps for medication reminders and symptom tracking
• Wearable devices to monitor activity levels and encourage movement
• Telemedicine options for remote consultations with healthcare providers

By staying informed, engaged, and proactive in their care, individuals at risk for blood clots can significantly improve their quality of life and reduce the likelihood of future complications.

Understanding the various symptoms and risk factors associated with blood clots is crucial for early detection and prompt treatment. By being aware of the warning signs in different parts of the body and seeking immediate medical attention when necessary, you can greatly improve your chances of a positive outcome. Remember, while blood clots can be serious, many are preventable and treatable with proper care and attention to your health.

Symptoms in Legs, Lungs, and More

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Arms, Legs
• Heart
• Lungs
• Brain
• Belly
• Kidneys
• More

Ever get a paper cut or nick yourself while shaving? When that happens, a blood clot saves the day. It quickly stops the bleeding, and when it’s done its job, it usually breaks up. Sometimes, though, things can go wrong.

When blood clots don’t fall apart, they can be dangerous and lead to serious medical conditions. You can get them in blood vessels in just about any part of your body. They’re most likely to affect a leg, especially if you sit for long periods of time.

You might get a clot in your arteries, which carry oxygen in your blood from your heart to all the cells of your body. The result can be really serious. It can keep oxygen from getting to your heart, lungs, or brain, and cause a life-threatening emergency, like a heart attack or stroke.

You could also get a clot in the veins that carry blood back to your heart. When that happens, symptoms usually come on more gradually, but can still mean trouble.

If you learn the warning signs, you’re more likely to get quick medical help that can make a huge difference in keeping you out of the danger zone. But it’s important to know that in some cases, clots can happen with few symptoms or none at all..

See More: Dos and Don’ts of a Blood Clot

When a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins in your arm or leg, way beneath your skin’s surface, it could be something called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). That’s dangerous because the clot could travel to your heart or lungs.

You’re more likely to get a DVT if you haven’t moved around for a long time, say after surgery or during a long plane trip. Get medical help right away if you notice any of these symptoms:

• Swelling. This can happen in the exact spot where the blood clot forms, or your entire leg or arm could puff up.
• Change in color. You might notice that your arm or leg takes on a red or blue tinge, or gets itchy.
• Pain. As the clot gets worse, you may hurt or get sore. The feeling can range from a dull ache to intense pain. You may notice the pain throbs in your leg, belly, or even your arm.
• Warm skin. The skin around painful areas or in the arm or leg with the DVT may feel warmer than other skin.
• Trouble breathing. If this happens, it could mean that the clot has moved from your arm or leg to your lungs. You may also get a bad cough, and might even cough up blood. You may get pain in your chest or feel dizzy. Call 911 to get medical help right away.
• Lower leg cramp. If the clot is in your calf or lower leg, you may feel like you have a cramp or charley horse.
• Pitting edema. DVT can cause fluid buildup (edema) in the arms or legs. It typically happens quite quickly with DVT. When you press on the swollen area, it can cause a dimple or “pit” (pitting) that remains for a few seconds.
• Swollen, painful veins. The pain may increase with touch.

A blood clot that forms in or around your ticker may cause a heart attack. Watch out for symptoms like these:

• Severe pain in your chest and arm
• Sweating
• Trouble breathing

A blood clot in your lung usually starts out in a deep vein in your arm or leg, then breaks off and travels to your lung. When this happens, you get what’s called a pulmonary embolism, an extremely dangerous condition.

Get medical help right away if you:

• Feel short of breath or have problems breathing
• Get pain in your chest
• Start to cough
• Begin to sweat
• Feel dizzy

Blood clots here may be caused by fatty deposits in the walls of the blood vessels that bring blood to your brain. Or sometimes, they may form because of a blow to your head that leads to a concussion.

In other cases, a clot that starts out in a different part of your body, like your chest or neck, might enter your bloodstream and travel to your brain, where it can cause a stroke.

Watch out for these symptoms:

• Problems with your vision or speech
• A seizure
• General feeling of weakness

Blood clots can happen in the veins that drain blood from your intestines. They can be caused by conditions like diverticulitis or liver disease, or even by birth control pills.

How will you know if this is going on? Check with your doctor if you have problems like these:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe pain in your belly, which may be worse after you eat
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stools
• A bloated feeling

A blood clot in your kidneys can keep them from removing waste from your body. That can cause high blood pressure or even kidney failure.

This is dangerous, so look out for these symptoms:

• Pain in the side of your belly, legs, or thighs
• Blood in your urine
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• High blood pressure
• Sudden severe leg swelling
• Trouble breathing

Top Picks

Symptoms in Legs, Lungs, and More

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Arms, Legs
• Heart
• Lungs
• Brain
• Belly
• Kidneys
• More

Ever get a paper cut or nick yourself while shaving? When that happens, a blood clot saves the day. It quickly stops the bleeding, and when it’s done its job, it usually breaks up. Sometimes, though, things can go wrong.

When blood clots don’t fall apart, they can be dangerous and lead to serious medical conditions. You can get them in blood vessels in just about any part of your body. They’re most likely to affect a leg, especially if you sit for long periods of time.

You might get a clot in your arteries, which carry oxygen in your blood from your heart to all the cells of your body. The result can be really serious. It can keep oxygen from getting to your heart, lungs, or brain, and cause a life-threatening emergency, like a heart attack or stroke.

You could also get a clot in the veins that carry blood back to your heart. When that happens, symptoms usually come on more gradually, but can still mean trouble.

If you learn the warning signs, you’re more likely to get quick medical help that can make a huge difference in keeping you out of the danger zone. But it’s important to know that in some cases, clots can happen with few symptoms or none at all. .

See More: Dos and Don’ts of a Blood Clot

When a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins in your arm or leg, way beneath your skin’s surface, it could be something called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). That’s dangerous because the clot could travel to your heart or lungs.

You’re more likely to get a DVT if you haven’t moved around for a long time, say after surgery or during a long plane trip. Get medical help right away if you notice any of these symptoms:

• Swelling. This can happen in the exact spot where the blood clot forms, or your entire leg or arm could puff up.
• Change in color. You might notice that your arm or leg takes on a red or blue tinge, or gets itchy.
• Pain. As the clot gets worse, you may hurt or get sore. The feeling can range from a dull ache to intense pain. You may notice the pain throbs in your leg, belly, or even your arm.
• Warm skin. The skin around painful areas or in the arm or leg with the DVT may feel warmer than other skin.
• Trouble breathing. If this happens, it could mean that the clot has moved from your arm or leg to your lungs. You may also get a bad cough, and might even cough up blood. You may get pain in your chest or feel dizzy. Call 911 to get medical help right away.
• Lower leg cramp. If the clot is in your calf or lower leg, you may feel like you have a cramp or charley horse.
• Pitting edema. DVT can cause fluid buildup (edema) in the arms or legs. It typically happens quite quickly with DVT. When you press on the swollen area, it can cause a dimple or “pit” (pitting) that remains for a few seconds.
• Swollen, painful veins. The pain may increase with touch.

A blood clot that forms in or around your ticker may cause a heart attack. Watch out for symptoms like these:

• Severe pain in your chest and arm
• Sweating
• Trouble breathing

A blood clot in your lung usually starts out in a deep vein in your arm or leg, then breaks off and travels to your lung. When this happens, you get what’s called a pulmonary embolism, an extremely dangerous condition.

Get medical help right away if you:

• Feel short of breath or have problems breathing
• Get pain in your chest
• Start to cough
• Begin to sweat
• Feel dizzy

Blood clots here may be caused by fatty deposits in the walls of the blood vessels that bring blood to your brain. Or sometimes, they may form because of a blow to your head that leads to a concussion.

In other cases, a clot that starts out in a different part of your body, like your chest or neck, might enter your bloodstream and travel to your brain, where it can cause a stroke.

Watch out for these symptoms:

• Problems with your vision or speech
• A seizure
• General feeling of weakness

Blood clots can happen in the veins that drain blood from your intestines. They can be caused by conditions like diverticulitis or liver disease, or even by birth control pills.

How will you know if this is going on? Check with your doctor if you have problems like these:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe pain in your belly, which may be worse after you eat
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stools
• A bloated feeling

A blood clot in your kidneys can keep them from removing waste from your body. That can cause high blood pressure or even kidney failure.

This is dangerous, so look out for these symptoms:

• Pain in the side of your belly, legs, or thighs
• Blood in your urine
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• High blood pressure
• Sudden severe leg swelling
• Trouble breathing

Top Picks

Why your legs hurt: symptoms and diseases

If you don’t put too much stress on your legs, but they still hurt all the time, you may have deep vein thrombosis. Let’s figure out what it is and what to do next.

What is deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Signs of DVT on the right leg: redness and swelling. Photo © hotcore.info

Deep veins in the legs usually pass through the muscles of the lower leg or thigh. They are located deep under the skin and are thicker than regular veins. Blood clots can appear in them – clots that interfere with the normal flow of blood. When this happens, DVT occurs.

Deep vein thrombosis: Causes

1. Lack of physical activity. If you move little, blood accumulates in the lower part of the body. There it slows down, which increases the risk of blood clots.

Why legs hurt – the main causes of TVG. Photo © Freepik

2. Operations on the legs or abdomen. If surgery and recovery are prolonged, the risk of blood accumulation is also increased.

3. Damage or inflammation of blood vessels. Bone fractures and muscle injuries can damage or narrow blood vessels. Inflammatory processes also worsen their function.

4. Pregnancy. During this period, blood clotting increases to prevent its excessive loss during childbirth. Clots may also appear up to six weeks after delivery.

Oral contraceptives. Photo © Wikimedia Commons / Matthew Bowden

5. Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. The female hormone estrogen increases blood clotting.

Other risk factors contributing to the manifestation of deep vein thrombosis:

• smoking;
• overweight;
• dehydration;
• age from 60 years.

Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis

Clear signs of DVT in the left leg. Photo © Wikimedia Commons / James Heilman, MD

Sometimes DVT doesn’t show up at all, but it’s worth paying attention to the main symptoms:

• pain or swelling in the leg;
• warming of any part of the skin on the leg;
• redness of the skin on the back of the leg just below the knee.

Usually only one leg is affected. Both are less common, but it happens that DVT manifests itself in other parts of the body.

Deep vein thrombosis: Treatment

What can be the treatment if the legs hurt and thrombosis is detected? Photo © Freepik / peoplecreations

If you have any of the symptoms, see a doctor. If a blood clot is detected, you will be prescribed anticoagulants – drugs that “thinn” the blood. They will restrain the growth of the clot and prevent it from dividing into fragments that can enter other parts of the body or organs through the bloodstream.

If DVT is not treated in time, there will be big problems. Every tenth patient develops a pulmonary embolism – blockage of an artery in the lung. Its symptoms are shortness of breath, chest pain when inhaling, and a sudden drop in blood pressure until it collapses.

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varicose veins – symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Varicose veins are not just an aesthetic problem, but a serious threat to health. At the first signs of the disease, you should consult a doctor and start treatment. According to statistics, 75% of women and 60% of men suffer from this pathology. The disease is insidious in that at the first stage the patient feels only a slight heaviness in the legs, without attaching much importance to this. For what reason varicose veins develop and how to treat it, we will tell in this article. If you spend many hours on your feet and feel pain and swelling, then the information is required reading.

What happens in the body during varicose veins?

The direction of blood flow in the veins is controlled by valves. When they stop working normally, excessive fluid buildup occurs. As a result, the walls of blood vessels stretch and lose their elasticity. Most often, it is varicose veins of the legs, because this part of the human body is more prone to great physical exertion. Superficial and deep-lying veins over a long distance undergo changes.

Causes of development of varicose veins

• pregnancy – there is a strong pressure of the uterus on other organs, squeezing of blood vessels. A special load falls on the legs of a pregnant woman;
• after childbirth – incorrect pressing;
• genetic predisposition;
• sedentary lifestyle and little daily activity;
• endocrine diseases;
• overweight and obesity – the load on the legs increases;
• great physical activity – often those who stand a lot during the day suffer from the disease;
• age – the older the person, the weaker the walls of the vessels;
• high venous pressure;
• development of chronic diseases;
• mechanical injuries of the extremities – disrupt the operation of vascular valves;
• taking hormonal drugs;
• hormonal changes (lactation period, menopause in women).

The predisposition to varicose veins is transmitted from parents and other relatives in a straight line. Genetic predisposition affects the development of pathology, even despite the lifestyle. If at least one of the parents in the family suffers from varicose veins, the probability of getting sick with them in children is 60%, if both parents – 90%.

The first signs of the development of venous pathology

The very first symptom of varicose veins is pain in the legs by the end of the working day. This occurs when deep and superficial vessels change due to poor blood supply to soft tissues.

The pain can be different depending on the stage – at first it looks like ordinary fatigue, why there is a burning sensation in the legs, then a pulling pain and cramps in the calf muscle. And, of course, the disease is accompanied by external changes. Blue bulging vessels or stars appear on the legs, depending on the stage. Also, the disease may be accompanied by swelling of the feet or ankles, discoloration of the skin over the affected vein.

The danger of the disease is not at all in edema and convulsions, but in the high probability of blood clots in the vessels. These are hard blood clots. They can “stick” to the wall of the vessel and narrow its lumen, or they can break off and travel with the bloodstream to other vessels, increasing the risk of blockage. This condition can even lead to death.

Stages of varicose veins on the legs

There are 4 stages in total, including:

• The initial stage of the disease lasts differently for everyone – for some patients for several years, for others only a few months, and then it passes into the next stage. Moreover, varicose veins can develop both in people aged and young.

The initial stage is manifested by fatigue and heaviness in the legs after a hard day’s work. There may be swelling of the feet, ankles and lower leg, spider veins appear on the legs, nocturnal cramps in the calves and pain along the veins. This stage is also called superficial due to the formation of vascular cobwebs. Often these symptoms disappear after a night’s sleep. In some patients, symptoms worsen in bad weather and after intense exercise.

You should not wait until the disease passes into the second stage and more painful and unpleasant symptoms appear. It is better to see a doctor right away. He will diagnose and prescribe treatment.

• Stage 2 – has more severe symptoms. After a long sitting or standing position, nodules begin to appear and veins are palpated. At this stage, there is a high probability of formation of blood clots.

The doctor may recommend 2 methods of treatment: medical or surgical. In the first case, ointments, topical gels with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, slimming stockings, elastic bandages and drugs to improve blood circulation are used. In the second, the removal of swollen veins with a laser or radiofrequency coagulation.

• Stage 3 is a more complex form of the disease, in which it is simply impossible not to notice something was wrong. All the signs are now accompanied by severe edema of the extremities, which do not go away in the morning, the outflow of venous blood is disturbed, long-term trophic ulcers on the legs are formed, and a strong bulge of the veins.

The patient at this stage often complains of dry skin and the formation of cracks of different depths on the legs. These symptoms of pathology pose a great danger to human health, so you should immediately consult a doctor.

At the stage of decompensation, as it is also called, it is pointless to carry out conservative treatment, only surgery can help the patient. During this operation, the affected veins are removed. The blood passing through the removed vessel will be redistributed to the deep veins, which will quickly get used to the increased load.

• Stage 4 – In the fourth stage of varicose veins, not only the vessels of the legs, but also the skin of the lower extremities are severely affected. It becomes dehydrated, excessively dry, microcracks of various depths form on it. The skin on the legs may become dark in color. Skin atrophy appears. Trophic ulcers stop healing.

The only possible treatment option that can be used at the last stage of the disease is surgical treatment followed by the use of drugs. The patient after treatment takes drugs that thin the blood and uses ointments to relieve local inflammation.

How is varicose veins diagnosed?

At the first examination, the doctor will talk with the patient and determine the combination of factors that led him to the development of the disease. Then the specialist will send for laboratory tests: blood and urine tests, which can provide the necessary information about diseases of internal organs, metabolic disorders, lack of vitamins and minerals, water retention in the body, which leads to vascular pathologies.

Among the hardware research methods, ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities is used, namely ultrasound dopplerography (a method that allows you to assess the patency of blood vessels, valves) or ultrasound angioscanning (if there are complications), computed tomography and MRI of the veins of the lower extremities.

Treatment methods for varicose veins

In the initial stages, pathology can be treated with conservative therapy, using medications for varicose veins. For this, anticoagulants are used (reduce blood viscosity and improve tissue nutrition), antiplatelet agents (reduce the risk of thrombosis and improve tissue trophism), venotonics (prevent further stretching of the veins, reduce inflammation and swelling).

In later stages resort to the use of surgical intervention. Modern operations that are performed using a laser, radiofrequency method or sclerotherapy are done under local anesthesia. Their goal is to close the affected vein. Blood will begin to pass through healthy deep vessels to the heart, which are extremely rarely subject to varicose veins – they are thicker and stronger.

It is important during treatment to use compression stockings that compress the legs and physically do not allow the veins to swell. Over time, it stretches, so after a few months it needs to be changed.

The patient needs to load himself with a little physical activity – light exercise or walking. Muscles that constantly contract when walking help pump blood up to the heart and reduce congestion.

Disease prevention

Doctors recommend following a few simple rules to avoid the appearance of an unpleasant ailment:

• Try not to sit or stand in one position for a long time, move more and be outdoors more often. Physical activity is the best prevention of varicose veins.
• When resting after a day’s work, lift your legs up – this will relieve pain and help the proper outflow of blood.
• It is better to constantly keep yourself in shape and prevent the appearance of obesity, we have already said above that excess weight is one of the causes of pathology.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing made from natural fabrics – don’t put too much pressure on your legs with tight pants.
• High-heeled shoes should be discarded or worn less frequently. Any shoes you wear should not squeeze the foot and lower leg too much. It is advisable to use arch support insoles.
• Avoid hot and long baths. They help reduce venous tone.