Lower extremity varicose veins are a chronic disease accompanied by bunch-like vasodilation of the legs. The main causes of varicose veins are hereditary predisposition, excessive exercise or sedentary lifestyle. Women are more prone to this disease, especially after childbirth. In male representatives, varicose veins in the legs may be due to the presence of arteriovenous messages.
When the first signs of varicose veins appear, which include visible nodular changes in the blood vessels, pain and swelling in the legs and feet, it is advisable to see a doctor. After an accurate examination and diagnosis, your doctor will determine how to treat varicose veins in your legs 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 muscles of the legs, which helps to keep the veins in good condition. Among the most effective are:
<2_img_rightxx>- Bicycle: Lying on your back, alternately move your legs in a circular fashion.
- Roll a tennis or baseball on the floor with your feet. If you use a special massage ball, it can improve microcirculation.
- On tiptoe, the calf muscle is well-trained, which compresses the varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will help keep all of your leg muscles in excellent physical shape with minimal stress on them.
An overweight, high-fiber diet that limits your intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, reduces stress on your legs, and can be used successfully to treat varicose veins at home.
Meshes (knee-length, socks) for the treatment of varicose veins differ in the degree of compression. To place it correctly at home, it is often necessary to use special devices. It is necessary to wear underwear throughout the day, removing only at night. The principle of action is based on external compression of varicose vessels in the legs and improvement of blood flow. Instead of a medical shirt, to treat varicose veins, you can use a regular elastic bandage, which is wound in a spiral from your fingertips to mid-thigh with a grip on the heel. It is important that the new curve overlaps the old one by at least half.
A pneumatic massager, which is a series of cuffs in 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, in which blood circulation is improved and edema is reduced. You can use this device at home.
Medicines
It is advisable to treat varicose veins in the legs with ointments and pills only at the onset of the disease or when complications develop.
The main classes of drugs include:
- Verotonics increase vein tone, relieve edema and improve peripheral blood flow.
- Medications that improve microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in dropper form.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent blood clots from forming.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling in varicose veins.
The use of all medications should be arranged with your doctor, as there is a possibility of side effects.
It is impossible to cure varicose veins with traditional methods, you can only delay the process and delay the onset of serious complications, eg thrombophlebitis.
When surgery is 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 commonly used:
How can traditional medicine help
Varicose veins in the legs are a very common problem, even in pregnant women, for whom conventional treatment is contraindicated. That's why so many prescriptions for folk remedies were created to alleviate the manifestations of this disease at home:
- A common hop decoction is made 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, you need to rub your feet with them 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 hardened buds 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 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 the treatment of varicose veins at home, when there is no other option. Do not abuse this, it is best to contact a vascular surgeon for examination and treatment.
In the development of varicose veins, an important role is played by a hereditary factor, an inappropriate lifestyle and excessive stress on the legs. Exercise and diet can help reduce the likelihood of this condition and delay the onset of symptoms. But varicose veins can only be cured by surgery, after a thorough examination.