Varicose veins are one of the most common pathologies in which the diameter of the lumen of the vein expands and its walls thin, resulting in the appearance of "knots", which are aneurysm-like local expansions.
The disease occurs when the venous valves do not perform their functions or are completely absent. When the valves stop functioning, the blood begins to flow through the veins in the opposite direction, gradually accumulating in the lower extremities. As a result of these pathological processes, the vein changes its normal shape, after which various complications begin.
Varicose veins are a fairly common disease. According to statistics, 1/3 of the world's population has it. Therefore, if a patient is diagnosed with varicose veins in the legs, what is this question does not arise. Half of the patients in the first stage are not even aware that they have a problem.
Varicose veins in men on the legs are 3 times less common than varicose veins in women. Moreover, older women get sick much more often. Under the age of 25, only 8% of women suffer from varicose veins, while in patients older than 55 years, the disease is diagnosed in 65% of cases.
Symptoms and signs of pathology
Symptoms of the disease can vary significantly depending on its stage. So, at the initial stage, it can be asymptomatic. Sometimes dilated veins are visible to the naked eye, but there are no symptoms. With varicose veins, some patients always protrude, and some of them become visible only after performing serious physical activity. Many people notice signs of varicose veins after they have spent all day on their feet in hot weather.
Note! If you find yourself with thickened veins with nodular dilatations, if they swell when you stand and narrow when you lie down in a horizontal position, then most likely it is varicose veins in your legs.
Symptoms of varicose veins include swelling of the legs, which occurs when a person is sitting, standing or doing physical activity. In this case, the swelling usually disappears as soon as the patient assumes a prone position.
Another sign of the disease is pigmented areas of the skin from the inside of the lower leg. The skin in this place acquires a painful sheen, the hair in this area almost always falls out.
Characteristic signs are also chronic fatigue of the legs, heaviness and burning. Some have pain with varicose veins and cramps. In this case, patients are shown to wear stockings for varicose veins.
Causes of the disease
As a rule, varicose veins occur in people who, by virtue of their profession, are forced to stand for a long time, for example, teachers, hairdressers, cooks. It is important to understand that varicose veins are not only an aesthetic defect that upsets many of the fair sex.
Varicose veins are a pathology that develops over a long period of time. And this happens under the influence of various adverse factors.
Among the main causes of the disease, doctors distinguish:
- excess body weight;
- violations of the digestive tract, frequent constipation;
- flat feet;
- weakening of the tone of muscle fibers as a result of a sedentary lifestyle;
- great physical activity;
- weight lifting;
- constant tension of the muscles of the legs.
At the same time, doctors who treat varicose veins consider excess weight to be the main reason for the development of pathology. It creates a strong load on the legs, as a result of which blood circulation deteriorates.
Inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs in women, endocrine disorders, prolonged stress, poisoning with toxins, and a genetic factor can also lead to varicose veins.
Unfortunately, congenital pathologies of vein valves are transmitted from parent to child in 70% of cases. If one of the parents has varicose veins, then the child can get sick with it at a very early age.
Note! The presence of a predisposition to varicose veins does not mean 100% that a person will develop this disease. Pathology can occur only in the presence of concomitant adverse factors.
Varicose veins in pregnant women
Many pregnant women face such a problem as varicose veins. They feel constant fatigue, their legs swell and hurt. According to statistics, circulatory disorders during childbearing develop in 20-40% of patients.
The first symptoms of pathology in 20-30% of women occur during the first pregnancy and 40-60% during the second. After 3 births, the risk of developing pathology increases by 80%. At the same time, women who have a predisposition to this disease most often experience varicose veins. This situation is aggravated by the fact that pregnant women should not take pills for varicose veins. In this case, the doctor can only recommend proper nutrition and pantyhose for varicose veins.
Treatment of varicose veins at home
Faced with this disease, patients understand that the treatment will be long, and the first thing they are interested in is the question: "Varicosis on the legs: how to treat yourself? ".
To begin with, you should answer the question, is it possible to self-medicate with such a serious illness? After all, this is a serious pathology, at the first signs of which it is recommended to consult a doctor. Only a doctor will be able to correctly determine the stage of the disease and prescribe the most effective treatment, help you choose knee socks for varicose veins.
However, in some cases, doctors themselves even recommend treating the disease at home. These activities should include therapeutic exercises, the use of various ointments and tinctures. In addition, it is strongly recommended to use compression garments for varicose veins.
In order to relieve the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, you can daily wipe the affected areas with ice cubes or take cold baths with ice for 5-10 minutes. After that, it is recommended to lie down for 10 minutes, raising your legs above the body. Massage is very beneficial for varicose veins. It improves venous circulation.
In addition, you can use the following recipes.
Decoction of hop cones
To prepare the medicine, pour 1 tbsp. l. hop cones with a glass of boiling water and let it brew in a warm place for 20 minutes. This remedy for varicose veins should be drunk every morning 30 minutes before meals.
A mixture of garlic and honey
To prepare the mixture, crush 250 g of garlic with 400 g of honey and leave it to infuse for 2 weeks. This mixture should be consumed 2 times a day 30 minutes before meals, 1 tbsp. l.
Cabbage in the treatment of vein diseases
To cure varicose veins, spread a cabbage leaf with honey and apply it to sore spots, wrap everything with cling film and leave for 2-3 hours. This procedure should be carried out regularly 1-2 times a week.
Note! All patients with varicose veins should be under the supervision of a phlebologist. Folk remedies for the treatment of varicose veins can help prevent the disease or relieve its symptoms. In advanced cases, varicose veins in the legs are treated with medical preparations.
Treatment of varicose veins with medicines
Drug therapy is an important component in the treatment of varicose veins, especially in severe form. Properly selected drugs significantly reduce the risk of complications such as pulmonary thromboembolism, varicose eczema, and thrombophlebitis in patients.
Usually their action is aimed at thinning the blood, improving blood circulation, eliminating swelling and pain.
In addition, drugs help to solve the following problems:
- improvement of vein tone;
- improvement of lymph outflow;
- improved blood circulation;
- elimination of inflammatory processes.
Medicines will not only relieve the patient of unpleasant symptoms, but with regular use they will completely cure the disease.
Note! Only a doctor can prescribe drugs for the treatment of varicose veins after a thorough examination!
Prevention of varicose veins in the legs
As for the prevention of the disease, it is recommended to avoid heavy loads on the legs, while sitting, you need to change postures as often as possible. In addition, you need to do light exercises, such as walking on toes, walking up the stairs, jogging 2-3 km a day, cycling. Women are not recommended to often wear heels that are more than 4-6 cm high, tight jeans and tights, which can impair blood circulation in the veins of the legs.
Note! The best prevention of this pathology is an attentive attitude to your body. When the first symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible and begin treatment.
Only a phlebologist can adequately assess the condition of your veins and determine the stages of varicose veins. Paying attention to the disease in the early stages, the doctor will prescribe you a treatment for varicose veins without surgery.
Diet for varicose veins
How to get rid of varicose veins with a diet? Phlebologists say that by eating certain foods, a person can both improve his condition and aggravate the course of the disease.
With varicose veins, doctors recommend eating blood-thinning foods as much as possible. These include currants, garlic, onions, olive oil, cherries. If you have the opportunity, consume these foods every day. In cooking, it is recommended to use seasonings such as cinnamon and ginger.
However, proper nutrition for varicose veins does not guarantee that you will completely get rid of the disease. In addition to proper nutrition, you need to perform light physical exercises for varicose veins. They will help you lose weight. After all, varicose veins, as a rule, occur in overweight people. The diet should be selected together with the attending physician. Ideally, if it will help strengthen the walls of blood vessels, thin the blood and lose weight.
Exercises for varicose veins
No matter how modern and good the medicines are, they will never be able to normalize the pressure in the lower extremities. In this case, only exercises for varicose veins can help.
Note! Before doing exercises for varicose veins, experts recommend putting your feet on a pillow and lying down for 5-10 minutes. This is done to normalize blood circulation.
- Bike. Lie on the floor with your back and lower back firmly pressed against it, and begin to pedal in the air. Choose the speed of the exercise yourself, however, it is not recommended to overexert.
- Vertical scissors. Lie on the floor and stretch your arms along the body. Cross your legs during the exercise. Try not to let your breath hitch at this moment. You can choose the pace of the exercise yourself.
- Exercise for the lower legs with varicose veins. Rotate your feet in different directions, bend and unbend them. You can turn them clockwise and then counterclockwise, then up and down. This exercise can be done with each leg separately, or with both at the same time. The advantage of this exercise is that it can be performed during working hours, under the table before taking off your shoes.
- Semi-press. Lie on the floor, put your hands behind your head, bend your knees. While inhaling, try to raise the torso as high as possible, and while exhaling, take the starting position. This exercise should be repeated 5-10 times, depending on fatigue.
- Onion. Lie on your stomach with your arms stretched along your torso. Try to lift your chest and legs at the same time. Perform the exercise 10-15 times.
After performing these exercises, it is recommended to use a contrast shower.
Note! Exercises for varicose veins will benefit only if they are performed regularly, combined with the use of traditional medicine recipes and drugs.
Varicose veins are a serious disease that requires complex and long-term treatment. Therefore, it is better to prevent it than to treat it.