Varicose veins of the lower extremities is a chronic disease, accompanied by a massive dilation of the veins of the legs. The main causes of varicose veins are hereditary predisposition, overwork or sedentary lifestyle. Women are more prone to this disease, especially after childbirth. In men, varicose veins on the legs may be due to the presence of arterio-venous 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 consult a doctor. After the examination and the correct diagnosis, the doctor will determine how to treat varicose veins in each individual case.
Conservative therapy
Conservative treatment of 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 aimed at strengthening the leg muscles, which helps keep the veins in good shape. Among the most effective are:
Exercise "bike"
- Bicycle: lying on your back, alternately move your legs in a circle.
- 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 your toes, the leaf muscle is well trained, which compresses varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will help get all the leg muscles in great physical shape with minimal stress on them.
A diet designed to reduce excess weight, rich in plant fiber and limiting the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, allows you to reduce the load on the legs and can be successfully used to treat varicose veins at home.
Knitwear (knee socks, stockings) for the treatment of varicose veins differs in the degree of compression. To put it right at home, you often have to use special devices. Underwear should be worn during the day, removed only at night. The principle of action is based on external compression of varicose veins of the legs and improving blood flow. Instead of medical knitwear, you can use an ordinary elastic bandage to treat varicose veins, which is spirally wound from the fingertips to the middle of the thigh by grabbing the heel. It is important that the new bandage overlaps the previous one by at least half.
Pneumatic massager, which consists of several cuffs into which compressed air is supplied, can be effective in treating varicose veins in the early stages of the disease. In this case, the compression method is used, which improves blood circulation and reduces swelling. You can use this device at home.
Medications
It is recommended 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.
The main classes of drugs include:
- Verotonics increase venous tone, relieve swelling and improve peripheral blood flow.
- Drugs that improve microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in the form of drops.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent blood clots from forming. This includes heparin ointments.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling in varicose veins.
The use of all medications must be agreed with the doctor, as there is a possibility of side effects.
It is impossible to cure varicose veins with traditional methods, you can only slow down the process and delay the appearance of serious complications, such as thrombophlebitis.
When is surgery indicated?
Surgical treatment of varicose veins does not always include open surgery. Thanks to modern achievements, there is a possibility of outpatient removal of varicose veins on the legs. The following methods of radical treatment are most commonly used:
- Sclerotherapy is based on the introduction into the lumen of the affected vein of a substance that connects it and excludes it from the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for small diameter vessels in the initial stages of the disease. The recurrence rate reaches 30%.
- Radiofrequency ablation and laser removal are modern and effective methods of treatment that lead to the 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 gradually fades in the background, because the operation is quite traumatic, and the rehabilitation period is long.
How traditional medicine can help
Varicose veins of the legs are a fairly common problem, including for 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:
- Decoction of ordinary hops is taken in a glass three times a day. To prepare it, you need to take a spoonful of crushed cones and pour boiling water over it.
- During the treatment with apple cider vinegar, it is necessary to rub the feet daily for a month and at the same time drink one teaspoon of the same dissolved in water.
- Sliced green tomatoes or grated raw potatoes can be applied to the compacted protrusions overnight.
- The substances that make up wild chestnut have a tonic effect on the veins. To prepare a liter of tincture, it is necessary 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, meadow and chicory, pour 100 ml of water over it, boil it and mix it with badger fat. Apply three times a day for one 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 option. Do not abuse it, it is better to contact a vascular surgeon for examination and treatment.
Hereditary factors, unhealthy lifestyles and excessive stress on the legs play an important role in the development of varicose veins. To reduce the likelihood of this disease and slow the development of symptoms, you can perform special exercises and diet. But varicose veins can only be cured surgically after a complete examination.