Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a chronic disease, accompanied by a cluster-like expansion of the vessels in 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 see 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 aim to strengthen your leg muscles, which helps keep your veins in good shape. Among the most effective are:
exercise bike"
- Bicycle: Lying on your back, move your legs alternately in a circular fashion.
- Roll a tennis or baseball on the floor with your feet. If you use a special massage ball, you can improve microcirculation.
- When standing on tiptoe, the calf muscle is well trained, which compresses varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will help get all of your leg muscles into excellent physical shape with minimal stress on them.
A diet designed to reduce excess weight, rich in plant fibers and limiting the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, allows 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 differ in the degree of compression. To correctly place it at home, you often need to use special devices. It is necessary to wear underwear throughout the day, removing it 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 flow. Instead of medical meshes, to treat varicose veins, you can use a regular elastic bandage, which is wound in a spiral from the fingertips to the mid-thigh with a heel grip. It is important that the new curve 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 treating varicose veins in the early 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.
Medicines
It is advisable to treat varicose veins on the legs with the help of ointments and tablets only at the beginning of the disease or with the development of complications.
Major classes of drugs include:
- Verotonics increase vein tone, relieve swelling, and improve peripheral blood outflow.
- Medications that improve microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in dropper form.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent blood clots. 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 radical treatment methods 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 small diameter vessels in the early stages of the disease. The recurrence rate reaches 30%.
- Radiofrequency ablation and laser removal are modern and effective methods of treatment that lead to destruction of the inner 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 it gradually fades into the background, as the operation is quite traumatic and the rehabilitation period is long.
How traditional medicine can help
Leg varicose veins are a very common problem, including among pregnant women, for whom treatment with conventional methods is contraindicated. That is why so many recipes for folk remedies have been created to alleviate the manifestations of this disease at home:
- A common 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.
- When treating with apple cider vinegar, it is necessary to rub your 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 the compacted bumps overnight.
- The substances that make up 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 in 100 ml of water, bring to a 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 best 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 an important role. To reduce the likelihood of this disease and delay the development of symptoms, you can carry out special exercises and diet. But it is possible to cure varicose veins only surgically after a thorough examination.