Have you noticed that your legs quickly start to feel numb? And then you have to knead them long and unpleasant?
Do your legs often swell and hurt for no apparent reason?
Maybe the skin on your feet is covered with an irritating network of blood vessels?
At least one affirmative answer - and you are at risk. Most likely you have varicose veins in the lower extremities. Due to this disease, the veins increase and this already leads to impaired blood flow - part of the blood passes from deep vessels to superficial ones.
There are even disappointing statistics for this result. According to him, in developed countries 30% of women and 10% of men suffer from the disease. And these are the only ones who have reached the doctors. As you can imagine, the numbers are actually much higher, especially among people over 50.
Varicose veins start with mild discomfort and do not cause serious problems. Here's how clever he is. Because of "such nonsense" I do not want to go to the doctor, and the disease is progressing in the meantime. The skin gradually darkens, blood vessels swell like ropes and even trophic ulcers appear. Blood clots appear in the affected veins, which subsequently enter other organs and disrupt blood circulation in them. As a result, a fatal outcome is possible.
Have you ever considered dying from simple varicose veins?
People don't think about it. And it would be worth it.
After all, all this is easy to avoid - you just need to consult a phlebologist in time. He will prepare a detailed program for complex treatment and the exercises will occupy an important place in it.
Let's face it, not all types of workouts are equally useful. Some exercises will relieve your vein pain, while others will seriously worsen your condition. Until emergency hospitalization.
Agree, it is worth distinguishing one from the other.
In this article we will tell you in detail about the effective treatment of varicose veins through gymnastics.
But wait, you may panic early. You may not have varicose veins at all. Now let's compare your situation with the main signs of varicose veins.
How to recognize varicose veins, even if they are just beginning
Some of the signs are visible to the naked eye, others can only be felt. Let's start with the external manifestation.
There are four main ones:
- Cobwebs of blood vessels appear on the skin, most often red, blue or purple.
- The veins swell a lot - it looks like a rope stretched under the skin.
- Brown spots appear on the lower part of the legs.
- The legs swell in the evening.
Another group of symptoms is not visible externally, but causes discomfort:
- Cramps and burning in the legs.
- Feeling of heaviness and pain.
- Itching near a varicose vein.
- Severe pain after prolonged standing or sitting.
As you can see, varicose veins manifest in different ways. But even if you do not suffer from cramps and pain, this is not a reason to postpone a visit to the doctor. The longer you wait, the more the disease progresses. One day, medical care will not be a choice, but an urgent need.
Therefore, if you find yourself with any of the signs of varicose veins in the legs - contact a phlebologist immediately.
But what if you just can't get to a doctor in the near future? And the consequences of varicose veins scare you. Or cramps, burning, pain and heaviness in your legs have brought you so much that you already want to climb the wall. We will tell you how to help yourself in such a situation.
The discomfort of varicose veins will decrease if you follow these 7 proven recommendations
Let's talk about the downside right away - these techniques do not give an instant effect. Although we would really like that. But at least gradually reduce the discomfort of varicose veins. Here are 7 tips:
- Do gymnastics as often as possible. . . Every exercise is good for the blood circulation. Except maybe lifting heavy weights and running. But we are ahead of ourselves.
- Wear compression stockings. . . Maintains the walls of blood vessels and relieves pressure on them. The swelling and tightness disappear, the legs relax.
- Do not sit or stay in one place for a long time - walk every hour.This will put extra stress on the veins of the legs and prevent blood stasis. If you are upright while working, try to sit regularly for a few minutes. With raised legs. If you sit for a long time, get up and walk for at least a few minutes every hour so that your feet are pumping blood back to your heart. The same goes for road trips - stop every 45-60 minutes for a short walk.
- Do not stand near open flames or hot radiators.This disrupts blood circulation.
- Eat less salty foods. . . Salt in the body interferes with the circulation of fluids.
- Take a relaxing bath at the beginning of the day, not at the end. . . And it is better to do completely without them.
- Do not sleep while sitting. . . In this situation, blood circulation is difficult. Place your feet horizontally to reduce strain on the vessels.
Remember that even strict adherence to our advice will not cure you of varicose veins. Contact a phlebologist - this is the only way to get rid of diseased vessels forever.
The doctor will tell you about the next steps - sometimes it is medication, sometimes painless and quick surgery, but always the treatment is accompanied by a change in lifestyle and exercise. We just talked about lifestyle. Now let's show you the most effective exercises.
These exercises will relieve the symptoms of varicose veins, slow its development and prevent complications.
Dilation of blood vessels is largely due to blood stasis. Therapeutic leg exercises for varicose veins and edema help to lower blood pressure and maintain blood circulation. It also improves the tone of the venous walls - so that even with increasing pressure, the vessels will not dilate.
The choice of exercise depends on the stage of the disease. But in any case, follow the motto "It is better to walk and lie down than to sit and stand. "
Walking, running, cycling and swimming are useful. The easiest way to walk is to engage the calf muscles, improving blood circulation. Change positions often and raise your legs.
If your legs are not yet entangled in thick varicose veins and only the initial signs of the disease are visible, then the following steps will be helpful:
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Stand on your toes and then slowly lower your heels until they touch the floor. Stand on your toes again and repeat the exercise. |
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Lift your left leg and move it as if you were describing an eight. Repeat this with your right foot. |
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March on the spot and wave your hands vigorously. Raise your knees as high as possible - to waist level. |
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Stand up straight and stretch your arms out in front of you. Sit down slowly. Make sure your knees do not go beyond the steps. |
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Sit down and put your hands behind the back of the chair. Lift your legs to your torso and then stretch them forward. |
In fact, your actions are aimed at improving blood circulation in the lower extremities.
Now let's look at working with the legs - this is an elementary exercise and does not require much effort and time.
Here's how to do it:
- Lie down or sit with your feet above your knees.
- Use your fingertips as a brush and draw a circle in the air. Do not move your whole leg, only your ankle.
- Pull the sock towards you to the limit. You will feel warmth in the calf muscle.
- Stretch your toes and lower your heels, moving the calf muscles.
- Turn your legs - first outwards, then towards each other.
- Repeat the exercise several times.
No special equipment is required for such activities. Sit on your favorite couch, lift your legs and train your joints. Remember to exercise regularly for varicose veins and then you can easily improve your blood circulation.
We have an even more effective set of exercises - with it you will stretch the muscles and joints not only of the legs, but also of other parts of the body. But this will require extra time to find. If this is not possible, stop the previous exercises. If you can take extra minutes it turns out, do the above and plus this complex.
Still, it stimulates blood circulation throughout the body, not just the legs.
Neck and head activities:
- We make circular movements with our head - 10 in one direction and 10 in the other. Move slowly, feel how the muscles of the neck work.
- Pull the chin to the chest 3-4 times, then pull the back of the head to the back, the same 3-4 times. Also slowly and carefully.
Exercises for shoulders and arms:
- We make circular movements with the shoulders forward and then backward. I move my shoulders slowly, pulling my muscles.
- We straighten our arms and make circular motions. You don't have to wave them like a windmill. Maintain a speed of 2 rpm. Do not hold your breath.
Exercises for the lower back:
- Put your hands on the belt. Rotate the lower back all the way to one side, then the other side 10 times.
- Lean back and forth. Keep your feet in one place.
Foot activities:Do 10 squats slowly. Extra weight cannot be used.
Press classes:
- Lie on your back and move your legs like pedaling - exercise a bicycle.
- Twist while lying down.
We completely forgot to talk about sports. But most often we are asked about it. The most rewarding sport for you is swimming. When immersed in water, the pressure in the circulatory system returns to normal. Swimming is good not only for the heart, but also for the immune and nervous systems. It also strengthens the leg muscles.
What about another sport? Is it possible, for example, to run?
Not all exercises are good for blood vessels. Let's move on to those that can seriously harm you.
What exercises kill the whole result of the treatment of varicose veins
Let's say you're the perfect patient. Follow all the doctor's prescriptions: take medication, wear compression underwear, change your lifestyle. The symptoms of the disease gradually disappear. You are happy, the doctor is happy.
And then you think, why not consolidate the result with regular training? And to completely forget about varicose veins and train your legs, you decide to squat with a good load.
Bad idea. Now all the work is down the canal. Your blood vessels will dilate even more than before.
What is the problem?
There are a number of exercises that increase the load on the veins and destroy them if the vascular walls are weakened:
- Power exercises.
- Weighed squats.
- Prolonged use of ergometer.
- Jumping high and long.
- Running on a hard surface.
No treatment will help if you continue to run or lift regularly in the gym. So do not tempt fate.
5 powerful accelerators of your recovery from varicose veins
Yes, they are everyday. We have already talked about some of them. But believe me, they are really important and worth repeating.
If you have already consulted a phlebologist and started vascular treatment, these 5 tips will help you regain your health faster:
- Do not sit or stand in the same position for long periods of time. Crossing the legs is especially dangerous - it interferes with blood circulation.
- Do the recommended exercises regularly, walk more and wear comfortable shoes.
- Use compression stockings selected by your doctor.
- Keep track of your weight. In obese people, the load on the venous system increases.
- After doing the exercises, lie on your back and rest your feet on the wall so that they are above your head. This will allow blood to drain from the legs.
But this is not a panacea. Again, these recommendations only help in combination with treatment. Without the help of a doctor you will not be able to cope with the disease.
By the way, do you remember that we talked about the symptoms of varicose veins? Let's say you found them. But only a phlebologist can make an accurate diagnosis. Remember that treatment begins with a correct diagnosis.
Where to diagnose varicose veins
The accuracy of the diagnosis of varicose veins of the lower extremities depends on the equipment of the clinic. During the examination of patients, doctors perform ultrasound duplex angioscanning. This is a quick and painless method for examining superficial and deep vessels.
The doctor clearly sees the problem area of the veins and the obstacles to blood flow. It quickly identifies weakened venous valves.
The study allows the phlebologist to obtain accurate information about the vessels and to prepare a detailed treatment plan.
But diagnosis is just the beginning. Every patient needs treatment first. It is important who will conduct it and on what equipment.