Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a chronic disease accompanied by a bundle-like dilation of the vessels of the legs. The main causes of varicose veins are hereditary predisposition, excessive strain or a sedentary lifestyle. Women are more prone to this disease, especially after childbirth. In men, varicose veins in the legs can be due to the presence of arteriovenous connections.
At the first signs of varicose veins, which include visible nodular changes in the blood vessels, pain and swelling of the legs and feet, it is advisable to see a doctor. After an examination and a precise diagnosis, the doctor determines how varicose veins should be treated in each case.
Conservative therapy
Conservative therapy for varicose veins is very diverse and can only reduce the manifestations of this disease, but not cure the cause.
nutrition and compression
Special exercises for varicose veins that everyone can do at home. They aim to strengthen the leg muscles, which helps keep the veins in good shape. The most effective include:
Exercise "Bike"
- Bicycle: Lying on your back, move your legs alternately in a circle.
- Roll a tennis or baseball ball on the ground with your feet. If you use a special massage ball, you can improve microcirculation.
- Standing on toes gives a good workout to the calf muscle, which compresses varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will help bring all the muscles of the legs into excellent physical shape with minimal stress.
A diet to reduce excess weight, rich in vegetable fiber and limiting the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, allows you to reduce the load on the legs and can be successfully used to treat varicose veins at home.
Knitwear (knee socks, stockings) for the treatment of varicose veins differ in the degree of compression. To put it on properly at home, you often have to use special devices. It is necessary to wear underwear all day and take off only at night. The principle of action is based on the external compression of the varicose veins of the legs and improving blood drainage. Instead of medical knitwear, to treat varicose veins, you can use an ordinary elastic bandage, which is wrapped in a spiral from the tips of the fingers to mid-thigh with a heel gripper. It is important that the new turn overlaps the previous one by at least half.
A pneumatic massager, which consists of several cuffs into which air is supplied under pressure, can be effective in the treatment of varicose veins in the initial stages of the disease. In this case, the compression method is used, due to which blood circulation improves and swelling decreases. You can use this device at home.
medication
It is advisable to treat varicose veins on the legs with ointments and tablets only at the beginning of the disease or when complications arise.
The main drug classes include:
- Verotonics increase the tone of the veins, relieve swelling and improve the outflow of peripheral blood.
- Drugs that improve microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in the form of droppers.
- Antiplatelets, which prevent blood clots. These include ointments with heparin.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to relieve pain and swelling associated with varicose veins.
The use of all medications must be agreed with the doctor because of the possibility of side effects.
It is impossible to cure varicose veins using traditional methods, you can only slow down the process and delay the onset of such serious complications as thrombophlebitis.
When is an operation indicated?
The surgical treatment of varicose veins does not always have to be an open operation. Thanks to modern advances, there is a possibility of outpatient removal of varicose veins in the legs. The following methods of radical treatment are most often used:
- Sclerotherapy is based on the introduction of a substance into the lumen of the affected vein, which glues it together and shuts it off from the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for small-diameter vessels in the initial stages of the disease. The recurrence rate reaches 30%.
- Radiofrequency ablation and laser removal are modern and effective treatment methods that lead to the destruction of the inner vein wall. It is performed under local anesthetic and leaves no traces on the skin.
- Phlebectomy is the direct removal of a vein through small incisions. This method allows you to cure varicose veins, but it gradually fades into the background, since the operation is quite traumatic, and the rehabilitation period is long.
How traditional medicine can help
Varicose veins of the legs are a fairly common problem, including in pregnant women, for whom treatment using conventional methods is contraindicated. That is why so many recipes for folk remedies have been developed to relieve the manifestations of this disease at home:
- A decoction of ordinary hops is taken in a glass three times a day. To prepare it, you need to take a tablespoon of crushed cones and pour boiling water over them.
- When treating with apple cider vinegar, it is necessary to rub your feet every day for a month while drinking a teaspoon of it dissolved in water.
- Sliced green tomatoes or grated raw potatoes can be applied to the compacted bumps overnight.
- The ingredients of the horse chestnut have a strengthening effect on the veins. To prepare a liter of tincture, you need to pour 50 g of inflorescences with vodka for two weeks. Drink 2 tablespoons three times a day.
- To prepare an effective ointment, you need to take a teaspoon of dry St. John's wort, coltsfoot, chamomile, meadowsweet and chicory, pour 100 ml of water, bring to a boil and mix with badger fat. Apply under a plastic bandage three times a day for a week.
Our grandmothers' recipes are not always effective, but they allow you to treat varicose veins at home when there is no other option. Do not abuse it, it is better to contact a vascular surgeon for examination and treatment.
A hereditary factor, an unhealthy lifestyle and excessive load on the legs play an important role in the development of varicose veins. To reduce the likelihood of this disease and slow the development of symptoms, you can do special exercises and diets. But it is possible to cure varicose veins only surgically after a full examination.