Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a chronic disease, accompanied by an enlargement of the vessels of the legs in the form of a tuft. The main causes of varicose veins are hereditary predispositions, overload or a 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 arterio-venous communications.
When the first signs of varicose veins appear, which include noticeable nodular changes in 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 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 intended to strengthen the leg muscles, which helps keep the veins in good shape. Among the most effective are:
Exercise "bike"
- Bicycle: lying on your back, move your legs in a circular motion alternately.
- Roll a tennis or baseball on the floor with your feet. If you use a special massage ball, you can improve the microcirculation.
- When you stand on your toes, the calf muscle is well trained, which compresses the varicose veins.
- Swimming with a plank will help to bring all the leg muscles in great physical shape with minimal stress on them.
A diet designed to reduce excess weight, rich in plant fiber and limiting the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, allows you to reduce the load on the legs and can be used successfully to treat varicose veins at home.
Knitwear (knee socks, stockings) for the treatment of varicose veins vary in the degree of compression. To properly place it at home, you often need to use special equipment. It is necessary to wear underwear all day, removing them only at night. The principle of action is based on the external compression of vessels with varicose veins of the legs and the improvement of blood flow. Instead of medical knitwear, to treat varicose veins, you can use a regular elastic bandage, which is wrapped in a spiral from the fingertips 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, which consists of several cuffs into which pressurized air is introduced, 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 the blood circulation is improved and the swelling is reduced. You can use this device at home.
medications
It is advisable to treat varicose veins in the legs with the help of ointments and tablets only at the beginning of the disease, or with the development of complications.
The main classes of drugs include:
- Verotonics increases venous tone, relieves swelling, and improves peripheral blood flow.
- Drugs that improve microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in the form of drops.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent blood clotting. These include heparin ointments.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling in varicose veins.
The use of all medications should be agreed with the doctor, as there is a 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 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 sticks it together and removes it from the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for small diameter vessels in the early stages of the disease. The repetition rate reaches 30%.
- Radiofrequency ablation and laser removal are modern and effective methods of treatment that lead to the destruction of the internal lining of the vein. It is performed under local anesthesia and leaves no marks on the skin.
- Phlebectomy is the direct removal of a vein through small incisions. This method allows you to cure varicose veins, but gradually it fades into the background, as 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 pregnant women, for whom treatment by conventional methods is contraindicated. This is why so many recipes for folk remedies have been created to alleviate the manifestations of this disease at home:
- An ordinary hop decoction 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 it.
- During the treatment with apple cider vinegar, it is necessary to rub the feet every day for a month and at the same time drink a teaspoon dissolved in water.
- Sliced green tomatoes or raw mashed potatoes can be applied to compressed lumps overnight.
- The substances that make up horse chestnut have a tonic effect on the veins. To prepare a liter of solution, you need to pour 50 g of bouquet of 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, liver, chamomile, meadows and chicory, pour 100 ml of water, boil and mix with baldos 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 option. Do not abuse it, it is better to contact a vascular surgeon for examination and treatment.
In the development of varicose veins, an inherited factor, an unhealthy lifestyle and excessive stress on the legs play an important role. To reduce the likelihood of this disease and slow down the development of symptoms, you can perform special exercises and diet. But it is possible to cure varicose veins only surgically after a thorough examination.