Varicose veins of the lower extremities is a chronic disease, accompanied by a cluster-shaped expansion of the vessels of the legs. The main causes of varicose veins are hereditary predisposition, excessive load or sedentary lifestyle. Women are more prone to this disease, especially after childbirth. In men, varicose veins in the legs may be due to the presence of arteriovenous communications.
When the first signs of varicose veins appear, which include visible nodular changes in the blood vessels, pain and swelling of the legs and feet, it is advisable to consult a doctor. After an examination and an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will determine how to treat the varicose veins in each case.
conservative therapy
Conservative therapy for varicose veins is quite diverse and can only reduce the manifestations of this disease, but not cure the cause.
diet and compression
Special exercises for varicose veins that anyone can do at home. They are aimed at strengthening the leg muscles, which helps keep the veins in good condition. Among the most effective are:
Exercise "bicycle"
- Bicycle: lying on your back, move your legs alternately in a circular motion.
- Roll a tennis ball or baseball across the floor with your feet. If you use a special massage ball, you can improve microcirculation.
- By standing on your toes, the calf muscle is well trained, which compresses the varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will help get all your leg muscles in excellent physical shape with minimal stress on them.
A diet designed to reduce excess weight, rich in vegetable fiber and limiting the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, allows to reduce the load on the legs and can be successfully used to treat varicose veins at home.
Knitwear (knee-high socks, stockings) for the treatment of varicose veins differ in the degree of compression. To properly lay it at home, you often have to use special devices. It is necessary to wear underwear throughout the day, removing only at night. The principle of action is based on the external compression of the varicose vessels of the legs and the improvement of blood outflow. Instead of medical knitwear, to treat varicose veins, you can use a regular elastic bandage, which is wound in a spiral from the tips of the fingers to the middle of the thigh with a heel grip. It is important that the new turn overlaps the previous one by at least half.
A pneumatic massager, consisting of several cuffs into which pressurized air is supplied, can be effective in treating varicose veins in the early stages of the disease. In this case, the compression method is used, due to which it improves blood circulation and decreases swelling. You can use this device at home.
medicines
It is advisable to treat varicose veins on the legs with ointments and tablets only at the very beginning of the disease or with the development of complications.
The main classes of drugs include:
- Verotonics increase the tone of the veins, relieve swelling and improve the outflow of peripheral blood.
- Medications that improve microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in the form of droppers.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent blood clots. These include heparin ointments.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling in varicose veins.
The use of all medications must be agreed with the doctor, since there is a possibility of side effects.
It is impossible to cure varicose veins with traditional methods, you can only slow down the process and delay the appearance of serious complications, such as thrombophlebitis.
When is surgery indicated?
Surgical treatment of varicose veins does not always involve open surgery. Thanks to modern advances, there is the 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 into the lumen of the affected vein of a substance that unites it and disconnects it from the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for vessels of small diameter in the early 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 lining of the vein. It is performed under local anesthesia and does not leave marks 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, 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, even among pregnant women, for whom treatment with conventional methods is contraindicated. That is why so many folk remedy recipes have been created to alleviate the manifestations of this disease at home:
- A decoction of common 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 the feet daily for a month and at the same time drink a teaspoon dissolved in water.
- Sliced green tomatoes or grated raw potatoes can be applied to bumps compacted overnight.
- The substances that make up the horse chestnut have a tonic 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 make an effective ointment, you need to take a teaspoon of dried St. John's wort, coltsfoot, chamomile, meadowsweet and chicory, pour 100 ml of water, boil and mix with badger fat. Apply three times a day for a week under a plastic bandage.
Our grandmothers' recipes are not always effective, but they allow you to treat varicose veins at home when there is no other possibility. Do not abuse it, it is better to contact a vascular surgeon for examination and treatment.
In the development of varicose veins, a hereditary factor, an unhealthy lifestyle and excessive stress on the legs play a role. To reduce the probability of this disease and delay the development of symptoms, you can perform exercises and special diets. But it is possible to cure varicose veins only surgically after a thorough examination.