Many people experience occasional red dotted skin rashes. They appear due to leakage of a small amount of blood through the wall of small vessels - capillaries. If such changes are isolated, do not sound the alarm. Periodic violation of the integrity of the vessel wall can be in absolutely he althy people.
But if such dots cover almost the entire body and appear often, this may indicate fragility of blood vessels. This article is for such people.
Pathogenesis of disease
Pathogenesis is the gradual development of a certain disease from the moment the pathological process starts to recovery. It is necessary to know it, as it simplifies the understanding of symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of pathology.
The main mechanism of increased vascular fragility is a violation of the structure of the vascular wall. This can occur due to direct exposure to toxic substances, damage to the vessel by mediatorsinflammation, changes in vascular tone due to excessive activation of the sympathetic-adrenal mechanism.
This part of the nervous system is included in the work during the action of stress factors. An increased release of adrenaline leads to a narrowing of the lumen of the vessel and hypertonicity of its smooth muscles. Short-term activation of the sympathetic nervous system does not cause any problems, but its long-term excitation ultimately leads to an increase in the permeability of the vascular wall. That is why, with strong nervous shocks, a person develops fragility of blood vessels and pinpoint rashes appear.
Causes of disease
The fragility of blood vessels appears not only with an increase in the tone of their walls, but, conversely, with their sagging. This is a characteristic symptom of a lack of vitamins C and P, which are called ascorbic acid and rutin, respectively. In addition to hypovitaminosis, the following causes of vascular fragility are possible:
- acute viral diseases (influenza, adenovirus infection);
- purulent tonsillitis;
- jade;
- autoimmune inflammatory processes (rheumatism, lupus erythematosus);
- vasculitis - inflammation of the vascular wall;
- diabetes mellitus;
- hypertension;
- chronic stress, neuroses;
- septic condition;
- idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura - reduced platelet count.
The spectrum of conditions that lead to fragility of blood vessels is indeed wide. Therefore, when diagnosing a disease, it is important not onlyindicate the fact of damage to the vascular wall, but also find out what caused it. After all, the causes and treatment of vascular fragility in women and men have a direct relationship. To restore the structure of the vascular wall, it is necessary to eliminate the original process.
Symptoms of increased vascular fragility
The disease can manifest itself in completely different forms. It all depends on the severity of the problem. So, with a pronounced fragility of blood vessels, nosebleeds occur. Women may even experience hemorrhages from the uterus. If the disease is mild, small spots appear on the body, the diameter of which is a few millimeters.
Vessels perform a trophic, or nutritional, function. In addition, they take an active part in heat transfer. Therefore, with increased fragility of the vessels on the legs, the patient feels constant cold in the area of the feet, even in the heat. The skin of the lower parts of the legs becomes dry, cracks appear on it. With running processes, ulcers appear that heal with difficulty.
Most often, symptoms appear in the cold season. There are several reasons for this. First, in winter and spring, a person suffers from a lack of vitamins due to the cold, less exposure to fresh air, and the lack of many vegetables and fruits.
Secondly, cold air causes a spasm of the vascular wall. And a prolonged spasm, as we have already found out, leads to fragility of the vessel and impaired blood circulation.
Methods for determining increased fragility: tourniquet symptom
Violation of the structure of the vascular wall can be determined already at the first examination of the patient, without the use of laboratory and instrumental diagnostics.
There are several methods for detecting vascular fragility:
- pinch symptom;
- hammer symptom;
- a symptom of a tourniquet.
The last symptom on the list is used to determine the fragility of blood vessels in the hands. To do this, take the cuff, which is in the kit for measuring blood pressure. The patient's shoulder is mentally divided into three parts and the cuff is applied to the middle third with such force that it blocks the flow of blood in the veins, and the arterial current is preserved. Veins are thinner vessels than arteries, so they are easier to pinch. Pump up the pressure in the cuff so that it is equal to diastolic. It is also possible to apply a conventional tourniquet. In this case, it is enough to apply the cuff for 5 minutes, and the tourniquet - for 10 minutes.
A symptom is considered positive if small and larger hemorrhagic rashes appear at the site of compression and beyond. They are called petechiae and ecchymosis respectively.
Most often this reaction is observed in the following diseases:
- typhus;
- scarlet fever;
- idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura;
- sepsis;
- flu.
Methods for determining increased fragility: pinch and hammer symptom
The pinching symptom is carried out on the skin of the anterior or lateral surface of the chest, it is most convenient and informative to do this in the interval between the first and second ribs. The doctor takes a fold of skinindex and thumb, so as to capture two to three millimeters. Next, the doctor moves the fold with two fingers in opposite directions. If vascular fragility occurs, a hemorrhagic spot appears on the skin.
A special percussion hammer is needed to perform the hammer symptom. The doctor gently taps them on the surface of the sternum. If the symptom is positive, small red rashes appear on the sternum.
Additional diagnostic methods
The examination methods listed above help to determine the presence of fragility of the vascular wall, but do not say anything about its origin. If the doctor, on the basis of examining the patient, collecting complaints and anamnesis, suspects the presence of a more serious pathology, he prescribes laboratory and instrumental methods.
The most commonly used diagnostic methods are:
- general and biochemical blood tests - to detect signs of inflammation of an infectious or autoimmune origin;
- urinalysis - if kidney function is suspected;
- blood test for sugar - to confirm or rule out diabetes;
- ultrasound examination - if necessary, examine the vessel wall;
- Doppler ultrasound - allows you to see the blood flow through the vessel.
Treatment of the disease: etiotropic
If, after additional examination methods, the doctor made an accurate diagnosis, he prescribes treatment for the cause of vascular fragility. For example, in an autoimmune disease,corticosteroids and cytostatics. These drugs suppress the immune response, thereby preventing the production of antibodies against one's own cells.
If an acute viral illness is the underlying cause of fragility, your doctor may prescribe specific antiviral medications. For example, oseltamivir is effective for influenza. If the cause is a purulent process, antibiotics are used.
With diabetes, a strict diet and the use of drugs that lower blood sugar levels are important. High blood pressure should be corrected with antihypertensive drugs.
Treatment of disease: symptomatic
In addition to eliminating the cause, symptomatic treatment is carried out. It is aimed at restoring the vessel wall and eliminating the hemorrhagic rash. The following groups of drugs are used:
- multivitamin complexes containing vitamins C and P;
- drugs that increase vascular tone and strengthen the wall of the blood vessel: Ascorutin, Kapilar, Rutozid.
If there are large bruises on the body that are not eliminated after drug therapy, cosmetic intervention is possible:
- ozone therapy;
- sclerosing;
- laser photocoagulation;
- electrocoagulation.
Reviews claim that such methods show high efficiency.
Preventive measures
Toto avoid vascular fragility, you must adhere to the following rules:
- give up bad habits: alcohol, smoking;
- strengthen blood vessels through physical activity: walking, exercising, cycling, jogging;
- increase vascular tone using a contrast shower;
- increase in your diet the amount of foods containing vitamins A, C, E and P; these vitamins are found in vegetables, fruits, fish, greens, cereals.
The right lifestyle is the key not only to strong blood vessels, but also to he alth in general!
