Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a chronic disease, accompanied by a cluster expansion of the vessels of the legs. The main causes of varicose veins are hereditary predisposition, excessive load or a sedentary lifestyle. Women are more prone to this disease, especially after giving birth. In males, varicose veins in the legs may be due to the presence of arteriovenous communications.
When the first signs of varicose veins appear, which include visible nodular changes in blood vessels, pain and swelling in the legs and feet, it is advisable to see a doctor. After an examination and an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will determine how to treat varicose veins 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 meant to strengthen the leg muscles, which helps keep the veins in good shape. Among the most effective are:
Exercise bicycle"
- Bicycle: lie 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, you can improve microcirculation.
- When standing on your toes, the calf muscle is well trained, which compresses the varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will help bring all of the leg muscles into excellent physical shape with minimal stress on them.
A diet designed to reduce excess weight, rich in vegetable fiber and limiting the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, reduces 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 wear it correctly at home, you often have to use special devices. It is necessary to wear underwear all day, removing it only at night. The principle of action is based on the external compression of the varicose vessels of the legs and the improvement of the outflow of blood. Instead of medical knitwear, to treat varicose veins, you can use an ordinary elastic bandage, which is wound in a spiral from the fingertips to the middle of the thigh with a heel grip. It is important that the new turn overlaps the previous one by at least half.
A pneumatic massager, consisting of several cuffs into which air under pressure is introduced, can be effective in treating varicose veins in the early stages of the disease. In this case, the compression method is used, due to which blood circulation improves and swelling decreases. You can use this device at home.
Medicines
It is recommended to treat varicose veins on the legs with the help of ointments and compresses only at the very beginning of the disease or with the development of complications.
The main drug classes include:
- Verotonics increase the tone of the veins, relieve swelling and improve peripheral blood outflow.
- Drugs that improve microcirculation are effective when taken by mouth or in the form of a dropper.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent the formation of blood clots. These include heparin ointments.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling of varicose veins.
The use of all drugs must be agreed with the doctor, as there is a possibility of side effects.
It is impossible to cure varicose veins by 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 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 often used:
- Sclerotherapy is based on the introduction into the lumen of the affected vein of a substance that sticks it and deactivates it from the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for small diameter vessels in the early stages of the disease. The relapse rate reaches 30%.
- Ablation and radiofrequency removal with a laser 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 into the background, since 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, even among pregnant women, for which treatment with conventional methods is contraindicated. That is why so many recipes for folk remedies have been created to relieve the manifestations of this disease at home:
- A decoction of common 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 them.
- When dealing with apple cider vinegar, you need to rub your feet every day 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 compacted bumps overnight.
- The substances that make up 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 dry St. John's wort, coltsfoot, chamomile, meadowsweet and chicory, pour 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.
The recipes of our grandmothers are not always effective, but they allow you to cure varicose veins at home when there is no other option. Do not abuse it, it is best to contact a vascular surgeon for examination and treatment.
In the development of varicose veins, a hereditary factor, an unhealthy lifestyle and excessive stress on the legs play an important role. To reduce the likelihood of this disease and slow down the development of symptoms, you can perform special exercises and diet. But it is possible to cure varicose veins only surgically after a comprehensive examination.