What to do with varicose veins?
Varicose veins - this disease is known to many people, not by hearsay. At the moment, they suffer from every third woman and every tenth man.
In the veins, blood flows from the bottom to the top of the heart muscle. Inside these vessels there are valves that do not allow changing the flow of blood in the opposite direction. If there is a violation of their work, stagnation occurs and varicose veins develop on the legs.
Causes of
Over the years, this disease has been thoroughly studied and the reasons for its occurrence can be clarified:
- reception of hormonal( contraceptive) drugs for women;
- as a result of pregnancy;
- low-activity lifestyle combined with work that takes a long time to sit or stand;
- is overweight;
- constant lifting of weights;
- wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes.
The main manifestations of leg varicose
At the very beginning of the disease, its signs can be so insignificant that a person does not pay attention to them. There is a slight fatigue and puffiness in the ankle area, visible only under the elastic band of socks. All the symptoms pass after a night rest, but intensify when exposed to unfavorable factors - static load, high ambient temperature, tension when dragging heavy things or exercises associated with weightlifting.
Then visually increase the subcutaneous veins, they swell, become harder, the skin of the legs dries up and can change its color, hair falls out on it, itchy itching appears. Puffiness becomes more pronounced and does not go away after resting in a horizontal position.
If to not take measures, about disease passes in an extreme stage, with development of a thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers, a dermatitis or an eczema. The most dangerous complication in varicose veins is phlebothrombosis, when a detached clot enters the pulmonary artery, causing its embolism.
Treatment and therapy
How to treat varicose veins? This question worried medical scientists in ancient times. Now there are many ways to help with this pathology, but it should be understood that any disease is easier to cure at the very beginning, and it is very difficult or absolutely impossible if it goes into the stage of severe complications.
Conservative Methods
In the early stages of the disease, conservative methods can be used in the form of venotonic drugs in tablets and agents that reduce the likelihood of thrombus formation. They are recommended to be combined with topical ointments and gels, which contain heparin or horse chestnut.
In addition to taking medication with varicose veins, special compression clothes are used. It is selected depending on the degree of progression of the disease, and can serve both preventive and therapeutic purposes. An alternative option is to use elastic bandages. It should only be taken into account that it is necessary to wind it up correctly, otherwise it will be possible to achieve the opposite effect. And this kind of method does not always provide a sufficient degree of compression.
There is such a method of treatment as pneumomassage. This technique was developed recently, and is performed using a special device - pneumomasser. So it is possible to achieve better nutrition of tissues, eliminate discomfort, reduce swelling.
A good effect is the treatment of varicose veins with sclerotherapy, laser coagulation, and other modern methods.
Surgical methods
Absolute removal of varicose veins on the legs occurs only through surgical intervention. All other methods can lead to relapse, and are suitable only in the initial stages of the disease.
Complete or partial excision of the damaged site or the entire vein can achieve a good result, in addition, all operative manipulations do not take much time, and do not require a long stay in the hospital. Within a few hours or days( depending on the type of intervention) a person can begin his or her usual life.
Nontraditional methods
Folk remedies can also be widely used in the treatment of this pathological condition, but they can not replace basic therapy, and serve as an auxiliary link for some improvement in the condition when varicose is not released.
How to cure varicose veins with natural recipes? To do this, you should first consult your doctor. There are a number of anti-inflammatory and blood-raising herbs that, in the form of monotherapy, or in the collection can effectively affect the condition of the legs in varicose veins. They are applied as infusions inside, or externally as compresses.
In non-traditional medicine, also such a method as treatment with leeches is practiced. Hirudotherapy is based on the fact that when leaking to the skin a leech emits a special substance - hirudin, which in its chemical structure is similar to heparin. This allows you to improve the rheology of blood in the diseased limb, prevent thrombosis. Based on hirudin at the moment there are a number of officially registered drugs that are used in modern pharmacology.
Features of nutrition in varicose veins
Diet in this disease plays a very important role. First of all, the food should not be too high in calories, especially for people who are overweight.
In the diet must be present fish for seafood. They saturate the body with essential trace elements and contribute to the development of a substance to strengthen the vessel wall - elastin. The use of sea cabbage will make it possible to obtain a sufficient amount of copper and bioflavonoids. This will help improve the repair properties of tissues and reduce the reactivity of blood vessels to pressure spikes.
The use of chokeberry berries, sea buckthorn, as well as citrus fruits in the food will strengthen the walls of the veins and make them less dilatable under the pressure of regurgitation blood.
To completely refuse or as much as possible to limit flour and sweet dishes. Do not eat fatty meat, broths, marinades, since they do not work well on blood vessels. Coffee can be drunk no more than twice a day, and it is best to dilute it with milk.
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco are also prohibited. Alcohol promotes fluid retention in tissues and intensifies edema, and regular smoking leads to severe atherosclerosis.
Massage
In addition to general treatment, a doctor can recommend a massage. The use of this method significantly improve the outflow of blood, improve metabolic processes in the tissues of the legs, and strengthen the muscles. The technique of classical massage with varicose veins depends on the location and extent of the disease.
LFK
For the prevention and treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities, it is very useful to perform special exercises. They are especially relevant for those people who are constantly subjected to static or physical overloads.
How to prevent the development of varicose veins
If a person is at risk, then it is necessary to prevent this disease. For this it is necessary:
- to reduce weight;
- move, especially if during the day work forces you to be in the same position;
- to exercise;
- wear preventive compression knitwear;
- try to rest from time to time with raised legs;
- wear only comfortable shoes with an average heel.