Varicose veins are a very common disease in the adult population. According to the World Health Association, around 40% of people are affected by this disease in varying degrees of severity.
The disease is more typical for women: every fifth member of the fair sex is susceptible to varicose veins. Men suffer less from this disease and only 10% face this problem.
In the initial stages, the disease causes little concern and does not pose a threat to the patient's life, but later dangerous diseases can develop, for example, thrombophlebitis. The resulting blood clots already pose a serious threat to life.
Depending on the etiology, two forms of varicose veins are distinguished, which are presented in the table:
| Primary | Secondary | |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Weakening, rupture of the structure of the venous wall | Impaired outflow of venous blood due to improper functioning of vascular valves |
| Aggravating factors | Excess weight, pregnancy, working while standing, compression of veins by elements of clothing, congenital weakness of the venous walls | Development of various types of tumors, rupture as a result of trauma |
Causes of the disease
The essence of the disease lies in the abnormal increase in pressure in superficial vessels due to rupture of the valves, which normally facilitate the flow of venous blood in one direction (towards the heart). When disturbed, the valves weaken and blood begins to stagnate in the veins, leading to their stretching, formation of nodules, etc. In this case, a slowdown in blood flow is observed, which leads to a disturbance in the trophism of cells and tissues and the formation of ulcerative processes.
Main causes of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- long stay in an upright position;
- limited movement throughout the day;
- disorders of the endocrine system, both due to illness and the use of hormonal medications;
- pregnancy;
- physical activity of different types (at work, in the gym, at the dacha, etc. );
- lower limb injuries;
- bad habits, especially smoking.
Observation.The risk group includes people who spend all day standing, sitting and moving little, for example, salespeople, teachers, drivers, people sitting in front of a computer, etc.
The fact is that people who sit for a long time compress their blood vessels and this slows down blood circulation. Therefore, varicose veins develop in this case regardless of age, and in those who stand for a long time, according to physical laws, the blood creates constant pressure in the vessels, and as a result they begin to deform, which leads to development of the disease.
Also at risk are:
- women wearing high-heeled shoes;
- people involved in sports with loads on the legs (strength sports, tennis);
- all people who work standing up;
- people, out of habit, cross one leg over the other when sitting;
- people who drink a lot of coffee and alcoholic beverages, which contribute to thickening of the blood, impairing its flow.
How to recognize the disease
The first sign of varicose veins is the appearance of tiredness in the legs at the end of the day, the appearance of swelling, which is why shoes become tight. Infrequent cramps and pain in the calf muscles are also possible.
It is possible to visually notice the manifestation of the disease by the so-called stars, made up of modified inflamed blood vessels. As varicose veins progress, irreversible pathologies appear in larger diameter vessels and begin to appear under the skin. The gnarled appearance of the latter is due to the refinement of the walls in certain places.
Main features
But to understand more accurately whether these are varicose veins or not, we specifically list the main signs of the disease:
- pain and heaviness in the legs;
- unpleasant, hot, burning pain coursing through the veins;
- after a day's work, leg swelling is clearly visible;
- nocturnal cramps in the calves;
- veins become wider, more tortuous, dense to the touch;
- the epithelium of the legs becomes denser and darker;
- Trophic ulcers are possible.
Prevention and treatment
If you identify symptoms of varicose veins, consult a specialist. Treatment and prevention of varicose veins requires contacting medical institutions.
Only the doctor, after determining the exact diagnosis, should determine therapy and eliminate the causes. There are a number of simple rules, observance of which can prevent the development of the disease or even, in some cases, help prevent the development of the disease.
The main ones are listed below:
- Avoid temperature effects on veins. Hot baths, saunas, long exposure to the sun lead to a decrease in vascular tone, which causes blood stagnation, especially in the legs;
- Physical activity. All sports, except those with heavy loads, are beneficial for the cardiovascular system. Light jogging, aerobics, morning exercises and physical fitness strengthen the veins especially well.
- Overweight. For a number of reasons, the condition of the blood and blood vessels worsens in obese people. A greater volume creates greater pressure, the heart has to work much harder to pump all the blood, excess cholesterol leads to blockage of blood vessels, the development of arteriosclerosis, thrombosis and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Advice.If you don't want to get varicose veins and feel cheerful, carefully monitor your weight and prevent the development of obesity.
- Tight and constrictive clothing interferes with blood circulation. Get rid of tight stockings, stockings and tights with tight elastic bands, don't tighten your belt too much and generally eliminate any compression of the veins.
It should be noted that there are special support stockings and tights to inhibit the development of varicose veins. - Distribute the load when working, change position, don't stay static for too long.
- When sitting, do not place one leg over the other. This interferes with the passage of venous blood through the vessels.
- More movement. A static position sitting for a long time, and especially upright, causes the development of the disease due to increased pressure in the legs and a slowdown in the flow of venous blood. Therefore, the more movements, the better. Take breaks, change positions, etc.
- Stool normalization. Both constipation and diarrhea negatively affect the vascular system. Therefore, make sure your diet includes fiber-rich foods. Avoid legumes, beer and yeast products if you are prone to flatulence.
- Eat less salt. Salt and then drinking fluids causes bloating.
- Do limb exercises. Before going to bed and when waking up in the morning, it is good to make rotational movements with your fingers and toes for several minutes, this will improve blood circulation.
- Avoid tight shoes, and the one with high heels.
- After a day of work at home, make it a rule to wash or rinse your feet in cold water.
Note that it is helpful to prevent varicose veins by walking barefoot in the dew or along the shore at the wave line, getting your feet wet.
In the case when there are no manifestations of varicose veins, but there is a predisposition to this disease, it will be useful to massage the legs every day. It's very easy to do. The technique consists of caressing the legs and kneading.
Observation.Massage is contraindicated if the doctor has diagnosed varicose veins!
Patients are recommended to keep their lower limbs elevated while resting or sleeping. To do this, it is advisable to place your feet on a hill, for this use all available means, you can place a pillow or cushion.
A contrast foot bath helps, or after a hot shower, rinse your feet with cold or cold water.
Swimming is recommended for varicose veins, as it not only forces all muscle groups to work, but also perfectly strengthens blood vessels. Morning runs, hiking, cycling and skiing are also good options.
Physiotherapy
Treatment and prevention of varicose veins will be successful if you do gymnastics.
Below are simple exercises that you can do without being distracted from work or household chores:
- Heel raise. The following instructions are simple. To do this, you need to stand with your legs together and your feet close to each other. Do lifts about 30 times, standing on your toes and returning to the starting position. There are three types of exercise:
- toes close together, heels close together;
- toes close together, heels apart;
- heels close, toes apart.
It is advisable to perform all variations 20-30 times for each position;
- Rolling on your feet. Stand with your feet together. Roll from toes to heels. Also repeat on the inside and back of the feet. The number of repetitions is arbitrary; spend 2-3 minutes on the exercises.
- Bicycle. It can be performed either lying down or sitting in a chair. Use your feet to imitate riding a bicycle, as shown in the photo. Your legs must be fully stretched while performing. 30-40 repetitions will be enough.
Nutrition and diet
Proper nutrition and adherence to a diet not only help to cope with varicose veins, but also have a positive effect on the body as a whole. Enrich your diet with plant foods, especially fruits, and eliminate fatty, spicy, salty and smoked foods, which lead to thickening of the blood and the formation of blood clots.
Vegetarian diets are preferable, but as they are not suitable for everyone, try to give preference to lean meats, fish and animal proteins of marine origin. Reduce alcohol consumption as much as possible, eat more fortified foods, especially rich in vitamins A, B, C and E.
The first and last help to strengthen the epithelial vascular walls and also increase the body's overall immunity. Regular intake of vitamin C and E helps to strengthen the collagen fibers in blood vessels and their valves.
Scientists have proven the positive effect of consuming fresh garlic on the cardiovascular system, thanks to its unique chemical composition. Let's just focus on the effect.
Garlic prevents the formation of blood clots and promotes the dissolution of existing ones, preventing the development of arteriosclerosis and varicose veins. Furthermore, it stimulates the body's defense mechanisms and helps prevent colds.
It is important to note that you should not overuse garlic. Eating a few cloves a day is enough. If you are too addicted to this spice, you could end up with stomach and heart problems.
Some basic nutrition rules:
- lean, boiled or stewed meat is recommended;
- lactic acid products such as yogurt, kefir and cheese are very healthy, especially when their fat content is low;
- increase your consumption of vegetables, whole grain products and legumes. They are rich in fiber and potassium compounds. The first helps in the fight against slagging in the body and constipation: potassium regulates the channels during water-salt metabolism in the body's tissues. Please note that industrial processing reduces the amount of useful microelements and eliminates the beneficial properties of the fiber;
- it is advisable to reduce the amount of fast carbohydrates (sweet) and salt to minimum values;
- To cook, use dishes with a special coating that allows food to be cooked without using fat that heats up on the surface;
- replace animal fats with vegetable ones, do not cook twice in the same oil;
- For salad dressing, use olive oil, low-calorie sour cream, kefir or yogurt.
Varicose veins treatment
Varicose veins are quite difficult to treat and it is much easier to prevent their occurrence or control the development of the disease by slowing its progression. When the disease is diagnosed, according to statistics, about 15-20% of patients are completely cured, but do not despair.
Damaged veins have a stretched structure, which causes stagnant processes in them. In the case of severe vascular injuries, they require surgical treatment by removing the ear to prevent further spread of the disease to healthy veins.
Today there are many methods to treat the disease. In most cases, these are minimally invasive techniques and only at an advanced stage does the patient go to the operating table.
Among the most used we highlight the following:
- Sclerotherapy.In simple words, removal of a vein without direct surgical intervention. The end result is that a special medication is injected into the damaged blood vessel via a needle, which glues the walls of the veins together and after about a week resolves on its own.
- Laser therapy.A special probe connected to a laser is inserted into the vein through a microincision. The vein is burned from the inside, which leads to the gluing of its walls and their subsequent resorption.
Basic treatment techniques
Early detection of the disease contributes to successful treatment if started in a timely manner. The more developed the varicose veins, the more difficult the disease is to treat.
Among the main techniques, therapeutic massage has proven itself well, but as long as it is carried out by a specialist. Thanks to appropriate manipulations on the legs, blood circulation increases and congestion in blood vessels decreases.
Treatment usually involves wrapping the limbs with elastic bandages or wearing special compression stockings. This helps prevent the development of the disease and the occurrence of complications such as thrombophlebitis.
The additional compression created compresses the veins, narrowing their lumens, which creates increased blood flow, reducing congestion in the vessels. This prevents the blood from thickening and forming blood clots.
Treatment also includes compliance with all the basic preventive measures described above. Among them, close attention should be paid to diet, combating excess weight, regular rest and therapeutic exercise.
After consultation with the attending physician, drug therapy and the use of various creams and ointments are prescribed. Medicines taken orally have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, as well as helping to thin the blood and strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
The cream for preventing and treating varicose veins gives the same result. These medications are affordable and available without a prescription. Its use does not cause any complications, but it is still advisable to consult a professional doctor.
Traditional treatment methods
Treating and preventing varicose veins with traditional medicine is not a panacea for the disease, but it can improve the results of basic treatment and alleviate symptoms, especially since it is convenient to use at home.
The most popular methods are as follows:
- take a bath with a decoction of medicinal herbs (St. John's wort, chamomile, plantain, etc. ), which help to strengthen blood vessels and increase blood flow;
- compresses with sea buckthorn oil or aloe vera juice have an excellent healing effect and are used to treat eczema and trophic ulcers (applications of honey can also be used for this purpose);
- the use of decoctions or tinctures of herbs that help thin the blood (hawthorn, licorice or angelica root, sweet clover and others).
Complications of varicose veins
If varicose veins are not treated or taken seriously, stagnation processes will progress, causing the development of the disease and giving rise to a number of concomitant pathologies, which significantly worsens the general condition and reduces the comfort of life. The nutrition of the epithelial layers of the skin deteriorates.
This causes the appearance of eczema, necrosis or trophic ulcers, which become chronic. As a result of the formation of blood clots, the veins become abnormally tortuous and swell greatly.
Lime begins to settle on them and so-called "vein stones" appear. The nodules that appear may rupture and bleed. The swelling of the legs becomes permanent and "elephantiasis" appears.