What are the symptoms of blood clots in different parts of the body. How can you identify a deep vein thrombosis. When should you seek immediate medical attention for potential blood clots.

Understanding Blood Clots: Formation and Risks

Blood clots are a natural and essential part of our body’s healing process. They form to stop bleeding when we sustain an injury, such as a paper cut or a shaving nick. Typically, these clots dissolve on their own once they’ve served their purpose. However, in some cases, blood clots can become problematic and lead to serious medical conditions.

Blood clots can form in blood vessels throughout the body, but they’re most common in the legs, especially if you remain sedentary for extended periods. They can occur in both arteries and veins, each presenting its own set of risks and symptoms.

• Arterial clots: These form in arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body’s cells. They can rapidly lead to life-threatening emergencies like heart attacks or strokes.
• Venous clots: These occur in veins that return blood to the heart. While they typically develop more gradually, they can still pose significant health risks.

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

Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Hidden Danger in Your Limbs

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins of your arm or leg. This type of clot is particularly dangerous because it can potentially travel to your heart or lungs, causing life-threatening complications.

Are you at risk for DVT? Prolonged immobility, such as after surgery or during long flights, can increase your chances of developing this condition. If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:

• Swelling in the affected limb or entire arm/leg
• Skin discoloration (redness or bluish tint)
• Pain or soreness, ranging from a dull ache to intense discomfort
• Warm skin in the affected area
• Trouble breathing (if the clot has moved to the lungs)
• Lower leg cramp or charley horse sensation
• Pitting edema (when pressing on the swollen area leaves a temporary dimple)
• Swollen, painful veins that are sensitive to touch

Recognizing Blood Clot Symptoms in the Heart

A blood clot that forms in or around your heart can lead to a heart attack. Identifying the symptoms quickly can be life-saving. Watch out for:

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

Can you differentiate between a heart attack and other chest pain? While not all chest pain indicates a heart attack, it’s crucial to treat any sudden, severe chest pain as a medical emergency and seek immediate help.

Pulmonary Embolism: When Clots Reach the Lungs

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot, typically originating in a deep vein of the arm or leg, breaks off and travels to the lung. This condition is extremely dangerous and requires immediate medical attention.

Be alert for these symptoms of a pulmonary embolism:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Sudden onset of coughing
• Excessive sweating
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

Why is a pulmonary embolism so dangerous? When a clot blocks blood flow in the lungs, it can prevent oxygen from reaching vital organs, potentially leading to organ damage or failure if not treated promptly.

Blood Clots in the Brain: Recognizing Stroke Symptoms

Blood clots in the brain can result from various factors, including fatty deposits in blood vessel walls or head injuries. In some cases, clots from other parts of the body can travel to the brain, causing a stroke.

Be vigilant for these potential signs of a stroke:

• Vision problems or speech difficulties
• Seizures
• General weakness

How can you remember the signs of a stroke? The acronym FAST is a helpful tool:
– Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
– Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
– Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
– Time: If you observe any of these signs, call for emergency help immediately.

Identifying Blood Clots in the Abdominal Area

Blood clots can also form in the veins that drain blood from your intestines. Various conditions, including diverticulitis, liver disease, or even birth control pills, can contribute to their formation.

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

• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe abdominal pain, potentially worsening after eating
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stools
• Bloating sensation

Why are abdominal blood clots often overlooked? The symptoms of abdominal blood clots can mimic other gastrointestinal issues, making them challenging to diagnose. Always consult a healthcare professional if you experience persistent or severe abdominal symptoms.

Kidney Complications: Symptoms of Renal Blood Clots

A blood clot in your kidneys can impair their ability to remove waste from your body, potentially leading to high blood pressure or even kidney failure. This condition is serious and requires prompt medical attention.

Be aware of these potential symptoms of kidney blood clots:

• 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

How do kidney blood clots differ from kidney stones? While both conditions can cause severe pain, kidney blood clots are typically accompanied by other systemic symptoms like fever and high blood pressure. Additionally, the pain from a kidney blood clot may be more diffuse, affecting a larger area of the body.

Preventing Blood Clots: Lifestyle Changes and Risk Factors

While not all blood clots can be prevented, certain lifestyle changes and awareness of risk factors can significantly reduce your chances of developing them.

Lifestyle Modifications to Reduce Blood Clot 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. Quit smoking: Smoking increases the risk of blood clots and other cardiovascular issues.

Understanding Blood Clot Risk Factors

Certain factors can increase your risk of developing blood clots. Being aware of these can help you take appropriate precautions:

• Age: The risk increases as you get older
• Family history of blood clots
• Pregnancy and postpartum period
• Use of hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy
• Recent surgery or injury
• Cancer and certain cancer treatments
• Obesity
• Certain medical conditions (e.g., heart failure, inflammatory bowel disease)

How can you assess your personal risk for blood clots? Consult with your healthcare provider to discuss your individual risk factors and potential preventive measures. They may recommend specific strategies based on your medical history and lifestyle.

Diagnostic Procedures for Detecting Blood Clots

If a blood clot is suspected, healthcare providers may use various diagnostic tools to confirm its presence and determine its location and severity.

Common Diagnostic Tests for Blood Clots

• D-dimer blood test: Measures a substance released when a blood clot breaks down
• Ultrasound: Uses sound waves to create images of blood flow in veins
• CT scan: Provides detailed images of blood vessels and potential clots
• MRI: Offers high-resolution images of blood vessels and surrounding tissues
• Venography: Uses contrast dye and X-rays to visualize veins
• Pulmonary angiogram: Specifically used to detect clots in the lungs

Why is early diagnosis crucial for blood clots? Prompt detection allows for timely treatment, potentially preventing serious complications like pulmonary embolism or stroke. If you suspect a blood clot, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention.

Treatment Options for Blood Clots

The treatment approach for blood clots depends on their location, size, and the patient’s overall health. Common treatment options include:

Medications for Blood Clot Management

1. Anticoagulants (blood thinners): Prevent existing clots from growing and new ones from forming
2. Thrombolytics: Dissolve existing blood clots in severe cases
3. Pain relievers: Manage discomfort associated with blood clots

Non-Pharmaceutical Treatments

• Compression stockings: Improve blood flow in the legs
• Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter: Prevents clots from traveling to the lungs
• Surgery: In rare cases, surgical removal of the clot may be necessary

How long does blood clot treatment typically last? The duration of treatment varies depending on the individual case. Some patients may need to take blood thinners for a few months, while others might require lifelong treatment. Regular follow-ups with healthcare providers are essential to monitor progress and adjust treatment as needed.

Living with Blood Clots: Long-Term Management and Recovery

After experiencing a blood clot, ongoing management and lifestyle adjustments are often necessary to prevent recurrence and promote overall health.

Long-Term Considerations for Blood Clot Survivors

• Adherence to prescribed medications
• Regular follow-up appointments with healthcare providers
• Monitoring for signs of post-thrombotic syndrome
• Lifestyle modifications to reduce risk factors
• Emotional support and mental health care

Potential Complications and Ongoing Risks

While many people recover fully from blood clots, some may experience long-term effects or face an increased risk of future clots. Potential complications include:

• Post-thrombotic syndrome: Chronic pain, swelling, and skin changes in the affected limb
• Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the lungs due to recurring clots
• Increased risk of recurrent blood clots

How can you optimize your recovery after a blood clot? Work closely with your healthcare team to develop a personalized management plan. This may include regular exercise, dietary changes, stress management techniques, and consistent medication adherence. Remember, each person’s recovery journey is unique, and patience is key in the healing process.

Emerging Research and Future Directions in Blood Clot Management

The field of blood clot prevention, diagnosis, and treatment is continuously evolving. Researchers are exploring new approaches to improve outcomes for patients at risk of or affected by blood clots.

Promising Areas of Research

• Novel anticoagulants with improved safety profiles
• Advanced imaging techniques for earlier detection of blood clots
• Personalized medicine approaches based on genetic risk factors
• Innovative devices for mechanical clot removal
• Stem cell therapies for tissue repair after clot-related damage

What potential breakthroughs are on the horizon for blood clot management? While it’s difficult to predict specific outcomes, ongoing research aims to develop more targeted treatments with fewer side effects, improve early detection methods, and enhance our understanding of individual risk factors. These advancements could lead to more personalized and effective strategies for preventing and treating blood clots in the future.

As our knowledge of blood clots continues to expand, it’s crucial for individuals to stay informed about their personal risk factors and remain vigilant for potential symptoms. By understanding the signs of blood clots in various parts of the body and knowing when to seek medical attention, we can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the impact of these potentially life-threatening conditions.

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

Deep Vein Thrombosis – Signs of Pulmonary Embolism

What is deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot. These clots usually occur deep down in your leg veins. DVT is common and can be dangerous. If the blood clot breaks off and travels through your bloodstream, it can block a blood vessel in your lungs. This blockage (called a pulmonary embolism) can be fatal.

Symptoms of DVT

Some people who have DVT do not have any symptoms. Most have some swelling in one or both legs. Often, there is pain or tenderness in one leg (may happen only when you stand or walk). Your skin may feel warm or look red or discolored. If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor right away.

What causes DVT?

Often, there are multiple factors that cause DVT. Your risk for DVT increases if you have several risk factors at the same time. You are at higher risk for DVT if you:

• Are 60 years of age or older.
• Are inactive for a long period of time, such as when you are flying in an airplane, taking a long car trip, or recovering in bed after surgery.
• Have a condition that causes increased blood clotting.
• Have an injury or surgery that reduces blood flow to a body part.
• Have a central venous catheter.
• Are pregnant or have recently given birth.
• Are overweight or have obesity
• Have varicose veins or vasculitis.
• Have cancer.
• Are a smoker.
• Take birth control pills or receive hormone therapy, including for postmenopausal symptoms.

How is DVT diagnosed?

Visit your doctor if you think you might have DVT. They will review your symptoms and health history and do a physical exam. They may order tests to help diagnose it. An ultrasound is the most common test. It uses sound waves to check the blood flow in your veins. A venography also can be done to find blood clots. A doctor injects dye into your veins and then takes an X-ray to check your blood flow.

Can DVT be prevented or avoided?

There are several things you can do to help prevent DVT. These are more important if you are at increased risk.

• Get frequent exercise. If you are inactive for a long period of time, move your legs around. Get up every hour or so and walk around, if you can. If you must stay seated, do lower leg exercises. With your feet flat on the ground, alternate lifting your heels and toes. This stretches your calves and keeps up your blood flow.
• Stretch your legs and lightly massage your muscles.
• Get out of bed and move around as soon as you can after being ill or having surgery.
• Control your blood pressure.
• Do not smoke.
• Lose weight if you are overweight.

DVT treatment

The main goals of DVT treatment are to:

• Stop the clot from getting bigger.
• Prevent the clot from breaking off and traveling to your lungs.
• Prevent future blood clots.

Several medicines are used to treat and prevent DVT. Common ones include warfarin or heparin. These thin your blood so that clots won’t form. Warfarin is taken as a pill and heparin is given intravenously (in your veins). Warfarin can cause birth defects. Women who are pregnant should not take warfarin. If you can’t take heparin, your doctor may prescribe another type called a thrombin inhibitor. Newer treatment programs recommend NOACs (novel oral anticoagulants) as preferable medicines in most settings. Brand names include Eliquis, Pradaxa, and Xarelto.

Anticoagulants can cause you to bleed more easily. For example, you might notice that your blood takes longer to clot when you cut yourself. You may bruise more easily as well. If you have any unusual or heavy bleeding, call your doctor right away.

Some other medicines can affect how well an anticoagulant works. Talk to your doctor before you take any new medicine. This includes over-the-counter medicines and vitamins. Certain foods rich in vitamin K, such as dark green vegetables, also can have an effect.

There are other treatment options if you can’t take medicine to thin your blood, or if a blood thinner doesn’t work. Your doctor may suggest putting a filter in your vena cava. This is the main vein that carries blood from your lower body to your heart. This filter can catch a clot as it moves through your bloodstream and prevent it from reaching your lungs. This treatment is more common for people who have had several blood clots travel to their lungs.

Living with DVT

It is important to start treatment right away for DVT. It takes about 3 to 6 months for a blood clot to go away. During this time, there are things you can do to relieve symptoms. Elevate your leg to reduce swelling. Talk to your doctor about using compression stockings. These cover the arch of your foot up to your knee. They create pressure on your leg to reduce swelling and relieve pain.

For some people, the clot may never fully dissolve. This can cause scar tissue in your veins. DVT also can lead to post-thrombotic syndrome. People who get this have chronic (long-term) swelling and pain.

If you have DVT and experience the following symptoms, get help right away. These are signs that the clot may have traveled to your lungs. You could be having a pulmonary embolism.

• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• dizziness
• fainting
• rapid heart rate
• coughing blood

Questions to ask your doctor

• What is the likely cause of my DVT?
• What is the best treatment for me?
• How long do I need to take anticoagulants? What are the side effects or risks?
• Can I drink alcohol or exercise while using anticoagulants?
• Are there any lifestyle changes I can make to reduce my risk of blood clots?
• If I have DVT once, what is my risk of having future blood clots?
• Is it safe for me to travel?
• Does DVT increase my risk for other health problems?

Resources

National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Deep Vein Thrombosis

Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians

This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

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.