Varicose veins are a fairly common disease among the adult population. According to the World Health Association, about 40% of people are affected by this disease in various degrees of severity.
This disease is more typical for women; every fifth representative of the fair sex is prone to varicose veins. Men suffer from this disease to a lesser extent and only 10% face this problem.
In the early stages, the disease is not alarming and is not something that threatens the patient's life, but later a dangerous disease can develop, for example, thrombophlebitis. The resulting blood clots pose a serious threat to life.
Depending on the etiology, two forms of varicose veins are distinguished; they are shown in the table:
| main | Secondary | |
|---|---|---|
| reason | Weakening, disruption of the structure of the vein wall | Venous blood outflow is impaired due to improper vascular valve function |
| Aggravating factors | Overweight, pregnancy, standing work, squeezing veins by elements of clothing, congenital weakness of the vein wall | The development of various types of tumors, disorders due to trauma |
Cause of disease
The essence of this disease lies in the abnormal increase in pressure in the shallow vessels due to valve disorders, which usually facilitate venous blood flow in one direction (toward the heart). When disturbed, the valve becomes weak and blood begins to stagnate in the veins, which leads to their stretching, the formation of nodes, etc. In this case, a slowdown in blood flow is observed, which leads to disturbances in the trophism of cells and tissues, and the formation of an ulcerative process.
The main cause of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- staying in an upright position for a long time;
- limited movement throughout the day;
- disorders of the endocrine system, both due to disease and due to taking hormonal drugs;
- pregnancy;
- various types of physical activity (at work, in the gym, at the dacha, etc. );
- lower limb injuries;
- bad habits, especially smoking.
Notes.Risk groups include people who spend all day on their feet, sitting and moving little, for example, salespeople, teachers, drivers, people who sit in front of a computer, etc.
The problem is that people who sit for a long time compress the blood vessels, and this slows down blood circulation. Therefore, varicose veins develop in this case regardless of age, and in those who stand for a long time, according to physical laws, the blood creates constant pressure on the vessels, and as a result they begin to change shape, which leads to the development of the disease.
Also at risk are:
- women wear high heels;
- people involved in sports with loads on the legs (strength sports, tennis);
- all the working people stand;
- people, out of habit, cross one leg over the other when sitting;
- people who drink a lot of coffee and drinks containing alcohol, which contribute to blood clotting, thereby affecting its outflow.
How to recognize the disease
The first sign of varicose veins is the appearance of fatigue in the legs at the end of the day, the appearance of swelling, for this reason the shoes become tight. Cramps and rare pain in the calf muscles are also possible.
You can visually see the manifestation of the disease by the so-called stars, which consist of modified inflamed blood vessels. When varicose veins develop, irreversible pathology arises in vessels with a larger diameter, and they begin to appear under the skin. The appearance of the latter knot is due to the smoothing of the wall in certain places.
Main characteristics
But to understand more precisely whether it is varicose veins or not, we list the main signs of the disease specifically:
- pain and heaviness in the legs;
- unpleasant heat, burning pain running along the veins;
- after a working day, leg swelling is clearly visible;
- night cramps in calves;
- veins become wider, more tortuous, dense to the touch;
- the foot epithelium becomes denser and darker;
- Trophic ulcers are possible.
Prevention and treatment
If you identify symptoms of varicose veins, you should consult a specialist. Treatment and prevention of varicose veins requires contacting a medical institution.
Only the doctor, after determining the correct diagnosis, should determine the therapy and eliminate the cause. There are some simple rules, compliance with which can stop the development of the disease or even in some cases help prevent the development of the disease.
The main ones are listed below:
Avoid temperature effects on veins . Hot baths, saunas, long exposure to the sun lead to a decrease in vascular tone, which causes blood stagnation, especially in the legs;Physical activity . All sports, excluding those with heavy loads, are beneficial for the cardiovascular system. Light running, aerobics, morning exercise and fitness strengthen the veins well.Overweight . For several reasons, the condition of blood and blood vessels worsens in obese people. A larger volume produces a larger pressure, the heart has to work harder to pump all the blood, excess cholesterol leads to blockage of blood vessels, the development of arteriosclerosis, thrombosis and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.Advice.If you do not want to have varicose veins and feel cheerful, carefully monitor your weight and prevent the development of obesity.
Tight tight clothing interferes with blood circulation . Get rid of stockings, tights and tights with tight elastic bands, don't tighten the belt too much, and generally eliminate any compression of the veins.
It should be noted that there are special support stockings and tights to prevent the development of varicose veins.Distribute the load when working , change position, don't stay static for long.When sitting, do not cross one leg over the other . This interferes with the passage of venous blood through the vessels.More movement . A static position for a long time in a sitting, and especially an upright, position provokes the development of the disease due to increased pressure on the legs and slowing of venous blood outflow. Therefore, the more movement, the better. Take breaks, change positions, etc.Normalization of stool . Both constipation and diarrhea have a negative effect on the vascular system. Therefore, make sure your diet includes foods rich in fiber. Avoid beans, beer and yeast products if you are prone to flatulence.Eat less salt . Salt and then drink fluids cause swelling.Do limb exercises . Before going to bed and after waking up in the morning, it is good to do circular movements of the fingers and toes for a few minutes, this will improve blood circulation.Avoid tight shoes , and high heels.After a working day, at home, make it a rule to wash or rinse your feet with cold water.
Note that it is useful to prevent varicose veins by walking barefoot through the dew or along the beach in the wave line, getting your feet wet.
In cases where there are no manifestations of varicose veins, but there is a tendency to this disease, it will be useful to massage the legs every day. It is very easy to do. This technique consists of rubbing the feet and kneading.
Notes.Massage is contraindicated if the doctor has diagnosed varicose veins!
Patients are recommended to keep their lower limbs elevated while resting or sleeping. To do this, it is advisable to put your feet on the hill, to do this, use all the available means, you can put a pillow or a cushion.
A contrast bath for your feet helps, or after a warm shower, rinse your feet with cold or cool water.
Swimming is indicated for varicose veins; it not only forces all muscle groups to work, but also perfectly strengthens blood vessels. Morning jogging, hiking, cycling and skiing are also good options.
Physiotherapy
Treatment and prevention of varicose veins will be successful if you do gymnastics.
Below are simple exercises you can do without being distracted from work or homework:
- Raising the calf. The instructions to follow are simple. To do this, you need to stand up straight, legs together, legs next to each other. Do the lift about 30 times, rise on your toes and return to the starting position. There are three types of exercise:
- toes side by side, heels side by side;
- toes next to each other, heels apart;
- heels close together, toes apart.
It is advisable to perform all variations 20-30 times for each position;
- Roll over your legs. Stand up straight with your feet together. Roll from toe to heel. Also repeat on the inside and back of the leg. The number of repetitions is arbitrary; spend 2-3 minutes on the exercise.
- Bicycle. Can be done lying down and sitting in a chair. Use your legs to imitate riding a bicycle, as shown in the photo. Legs should be fully straightened while performing. 30-40 repetitions are enough.
Nutrition and diet
Proper nutrition and diet compliance not only help to overcome varicose veins, but also have a positive effect on the body as a whole. Enrich your diet with plant foods, especially fruits, and eliminate fatty, spicy, salty and smoked foods, which lead to blood thickening and blood clotting.
A vegetarian diet is better, but since this is not suitable for everyone, try to give priority to lean meat, fish and animal proteins of sea origin. Reduce alcohol consumption as much as possible, eat more fortified foods, especially rich in vitamins A, B, C and E.
The first and last help to strengthen the vascular wall of the epithelium, and also improve the immunity of the whole body. Regular intake of vitamins C and E helps strengthen the collagen fibers of blood vessels and valves.
Scientists have proven the positive effect of eating fresh garlic on the cardiovascular system, thanks to its unique chemical composition. Let's focus only on the effect.
Garlic prevents the formation of blood clots and promotes the dissolution of existing ones, preventing the development of arteriosclerosis and varicose veins. In addition, it stimulates the body's defense mechanism and helps in the prevention of colds.
It is important to note that you should not use garlic excessively. Eating a few cloves a day is enough. If you are too addicted to this seasoning, you may suffer from stomach and heart problems.
Some basic nutritional rules:
- lean meat is recommended, stewed or stewed;
- lactic acid products such as yogurt, kefir and cheese are very healthy, especially when the fat content is low;
- increase consumption of vegetables, whole food products and legumes. They are high in fiber and potassium compounds. The first helps in combating slagging in the body and constipation; potassium regulates channels during water salt metabolism in body tissues. Please note that industrial processing reduces the amount of useful microelements and eliminates the beneficial properties of fiber;
- it is advisable to reduce the amount of fast carbohydrates (sweet) and salt to a minimum;
- For cooking, use dishes with a special coating that allows you to cook food without using grease that heats up the surface;
- replace animal fat with vegetable fat, do not cook in the same oil twice;
- For salad dressing, use olive oil, low-calorie sour cream, kefir or yogurt.
Treatment of varicose veins
Varicose veins are quite difficult to treat and it is easier to prevent their occurrence or control the progression of the disease by slowing its progression. When the disease is diagnosed, according to statistics, about 15-20% of patients are completely cured, but you should not despair.
Damaged veins have a stretched structure, which causes stagnation in them. In the case of serious vascular lesions, they require surgical treatment by removing the ear to prevent further spread of the disease to healthy veins.
Today there are many methods to treat this disease. In most cases, this is a minimally invasive technique, and only in advanced cases will the patient be on the operating table.
Among the most frequently used we highlight the following:
Sclerotherapy. In simple words, vein removal without direct surgical intervention. The point is that a special drug is injected into the damaged blood vessel using a needle, which sticks to the vein wall and after about a week it heals on its own.Laser therapy. A special probe connected to a laser is inserted into the vein through a micro-incision. The vein is burned from the inside, which leads to sticking to its walls and subsequent absorption.
Basic treatment techniques
Early detection of this disease contributes to the success of treatment if it is started on time. The more varicose veins develop, the more difficult the disease is to treat.
Among the main techniques, therapeutic massage has proven itself well, but only on the condition that it is performed by a specialist. Thanks to the correct manipulation of the legs, blood circulation increases and congestion in the blood vessels decreases.
Treatment often involves wrapping the limb with elastic bandages or wearing special compression stockings. This helps to prevent the development of the disease and the occurrence of complications such as thrombophlebitis.
The additional compression created compresses the veins, their lumen narrows, which creates an increase in blood flow, reducing congestion in the vessels. This prevents the blood from thickening and forming blood clots.
Treatment also includes compliance with all the basic preventive measures described above. Among them, attention should be paid to diet, combating excess weight, regular rest and therapeutic exercises.
After consultation with the attending physician, drug therapy and the use of various creams and ointments are prescribed. Medicines taken orally have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and also help thin the blood and strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
Creams for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins give similar results. The price of the drug is reasonable, it is available without a prescription. Its use does not cause complications, but it is still advisable to seek professional advice from a doctor.
Traditional treatment methods
Treatment and prevention of varicose veins using traditional medicine is not a cure for this disease, but it can improve the results of basic treatment and reduce symptoms, especially because it is easy to use at home.
The most popular methods are as follows:
- bath with a decoction of medicinal herbs (St. John's wort, chamomile, plantain, etc. ), which helps strengthen blood vessels and increase blood flow;
- compresses with sea buckthorn oil or aloe juice have an excellent wound healing effect and are used to treat eczema and trophic ulcers (honey application can also be used for this purpose);
- the use of herbal decoctions or tinctures that help thin the blood (hawthorn, licorice or angelica root, sweet clover herb and others).
Complications of varicose veins
If varicose veins are not treated or not taken seriously, then the stagnant process will develop, causing the development of the disease and causing several concomitant pathologies, which significantly worsen the general condition and reduce the comfort of life. The nutrition of the epithelial layer of the skin deteriorates.
This causes the appearance of eczema, necrosis or trophic ulcers, which become chronic. As a result of the formation of blood clots, the veins become abnormally tortuous and strongly bulging.
Lime begins to settle in it and so-called "vein stones" appear. The nodule that appears may rupture and bleed. Swelling of the legs becomes permanent and "elephantiasis" appears.