Varicose veins of the lower extremities is a chronic disease accompanied by cluster-like vasodilation of the legs. The main causes of varicose veins are hereditary predisposition, excessive exercise or a sedentary lifestyle. Women are more prone to this disease, especially after childbirth. In males, varicose veins of the legs may be due to the presence of arteriovenous messages.
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 examination and accurate diagnosis, the doctor will determine how to treat varicose veins in the legs in each case.
Conservative therapy
Conservative therapy for varicose veins is quite diverse and can only reduce the symptoms 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 muscles of the legs, which helps keep the veins in good shape. Among the most effective are:
- Bicycle: lying on your back, alternate your legs in a circle.
- Throw a tennis or baseball on the floor with your feet. If you use a special massage ball, you can improve microcirculation.
- When standing on tiptoe, the calf muscle is well trained, which compresses the varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will help bring all the muscles of the legs in excellent physical shape with minimal strain on them.
An overweight diet rich in fiber and limiting the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates reduces leg stress and can be used successfully to treat varicose veins at home.
Knitwear (knee, socks) for the treatment of varicose veins differs in the degree of compression. To place it properly at home, you often need to use special devices. It is necessary to wear underwear throughout the day, taking it off only at night. The principle of action is based on external compression of the dilated vessels of the legs and improving blood flow. Instead of a medical leotard, to treat varicose veins, you can use a simple elastic bandage that is wound in a spiral from the toes to the middle of the thigh with a heel grip. It is important that the new turn overlaps the previous one at least in half.
A pneumatic massager, which is a series of cuffs that supply compressed air, 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 the blood circulation is improved and the swelling is reduced. You can use this device at home.
Medicines
It is recommended that varicose veins of the legs be treated with ointments and tablets only at the beginning of the disease or with the development of complications.
The main classes of drugs include:
- Verotonics increase the tone of the veins, relieve swelling and improve the flow of peripheral blood.
- Drugs that improve microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in the form of droppers.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent blood clots.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling in varicose veins.
The use of all drugs should 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 onset of serious complications, such as thrombophlebitis.
When an operation is displayed
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 of the legs. The most commonly used radical methods of radical treatment:
- Sclerotherapy is based on the introduction of a substance into the lumen of the affected vein, which sticks it together and excludes it from the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for small diameter vessels in the early stages of the disease. The recurrence rate reaches 30%.
- Radiofrequency ablation and laser ablation are modern and effective treatments that destroy the inner lining of the vein. It is performed under local anesthesia and leaves no traces on the skin.
- Phlebectomy - direct removal of a vein performed through small incisions. This method allows you to treat varicose veins, but gradually it fades into the background, as 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 among pregnant women for whom conventional treatment is contraindicated. That is why so many recipes have been created for folk remedies to alleviate the manifestations of this disease at home:
- Decoction of common hops is 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.
- When treating with apple cider vinegar, you should rub your feet with them daily for a month and at the same time drink a teaspoon of it dissolved in water.
- Sliced green tomatoes or grated raw potatoes can be applied to the hardened buds 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 dried St. John's wort, coltsfoot, chamomile, meadow jam 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 grandmothers' recipes are not always effective, but they allow the treatment of 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.
Hereditary factors, improper lifestyle and excessive strain on the legs play an important role in the development of varicose veins. Exercise and diet can help reduce the likelihood of this condition and slow the onset of symptoms. But varicose veins can only be cured by surgery after a complete examination.