Varicose veins in the lower legs are a chronic disease, accompanied by cluster -like vasodilation of the legs. The main causes of varicose veins are hereditary predisposition, excessive exercise or inactive lifestyle. Women are more susceptible to this disease, especially after childbirth. In representatives of the male genus, varicose veins in the legs may be due to the presence of arterio-venous messages.
When the first signs of varicose veins appear, which include nodular changes of blood vessels, pain and swelling of the legs and feet, it is recommended to see a doctor. After proper examination and diagnosis, the doctor will determine how to treat varicose veins on the legs in each case.
Conservative therapy
Conservative therapy for varicose veins is quite diverse, and can only reduce the manifestations of the disease, but does not cure the cause.
Diet and compression
Special exercises for varicose veins that can be done by anyone at home. They are intended to strengthen the leg muscles, which helps keep the veins in good condition. Among the most effective are:
- Bicycle: lie on your back, move your legs alternately in a circular manner.
- Roll a tennis or baseball ball on the floor with your feet. If you use a special massage ball, you can improve microcirculation.
- While standing on the tip of the leg, the calf muscles are well trained, which presses on the varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will keep all the leg muscles in excellent physical condition with minimal pressure on them.
A diet that is overweight, high in fiber and limits the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, reduces stress on the legs and can be successfully used to treat varicose veins at home.
Knitwear (knee -high, stockings) for the treatment of varicose veins differ in the degree of compression. To install it properly at home, you often have to use special devices. You must wear underwear all day, throwing it away only at night. The principle of action is based on external compression of the varicose veins of the legs and increased blood flow. Instead of a medical jersey, to treat varicose veins, you can use a regular elastic bandage, which is wrapped in a circle from your fingertips to the middle of your thigh with a heel grip. It is important that the new turn overlaps with the previous one by at least half.
Pneumatic massage, which is a network of cuffs to which air is supplied under pressure, can be effective in treating varicose veins in the early stages of the disease. In this case, the compression method is used, as blood circulation is improved and edema is reduced. You can use this device at home.
Medications
It is recommended to treat varicose veins on the legs with ointments and tablets only at the beginning of the disease, or with the development of complications.
The main drug classes include:
- Verotonics improve vein tone, relieve edema and improve peripheral blood flow.
- Medicines that increase microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in the form of drops.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent blood clotting.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling in 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 using traditional methods; you can only slow down the process and delay the emergence of serious complications, for example, thrombophlebitis.
When surgery is indicated
Surgical treatment of varicose veins does not always involve open surgery. Thanks to modern advances, it is possible for outpatients to remove varicose veins in the legs. The following radical treatment methods are most commonly used:
- Sclerotherapy is based on the introduction of a substance into the lumen of the affected vein, which unites it and shuts it off from the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for small -diameter vessels in the early stages of the disease. The relapse rate reaches 30%.
- Radio frequency ablation and laser ablation are modern and effective treatments that damage the lining of the veins. It is performed under local anesthesia and leaves no trace on the skin.
- Phlebectomy - removal of a vein directly, performed through a small incision. This method allows you to cure varicose veins, but gradually it fades into the background, because the operation is quite traumatic, and its recovery time is long.
How traditional medicine can help
Varicose veins are a fairly common problem, including in pregnant women, for which conventional treatment is contraindicated. That is why so many recipes for folk remedies have been made to reduce the manifestations of this disease at home:
- Decoction of hops is usually taken in a glass three times a day. To prepare it, you need to take a tablespoon of crushed cones and pour boiling water over it.
- While treating with apple cider vinegar, you need to rub your feet every day for a month and at the same time drink one teaspoon of water -soluble.
- Sliced green tomatoes or grated raw potatoes can be rubbed on the hardened buds overnight.
- The ingredients that make up horse chestnuts have a tonic effect on the veins. To prepare one 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 dried 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.
Our grandmother's recipe is not always effective, but it is possible to treat varicose veins at home, when there is no other option. Do not abuse this, it is better to contact a vascular surgeon for examination and treatment.
In the development of varicose veins, an important role is played by hereditary factors, improper lifestyle and excessive pressure on the legs. Exercise and diet can help reduce the likelihood of this condition and slow the onset of symptoms. But varicose veins can only be cured with surgery after a full examination.