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 representatives of the male genus, varicose veins on the legs may be due to the presence of arterio-venous messages.
When the first signs of varicose veins appear, which include visible nodular changes in blood vessels, pain and swelling of the legs and feet, it is advisable to consult a doctor. After an examination and an accurate 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 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 to keep the veins in good shape. Among the most effective are:
- Bicycle: lying on your back, alternately move your legs 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 also improve microcirculation.
- When standing on tiptoes, the calf muscle is well trained, which compresses the varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will help to get all the leg muscles in excellent physical shape with minimal stress on them.
An overweight diet, high in fiber and limiting 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-highs, stockings) for the treatment of varicose veins differs in the degree of compression. To put it on correctly at home, you often have to use special devices. It is necessary to wear underwear throughout the day, removing only at night. The principle of action is based on external compression of the varicose vessels of the legs and an improvement in the outflow of blood. Instead of medical jersey, to treat varicose veins, you can use a regular elastic bandage, which is wound in a spiral from the tips of the toes 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, which is a series of cuffs into which air is supplied under pressure, can be effective in treating varicose veins in the early stages of the disease. In this case, a compression method is used, due to which blood circulation is improved and swelling is reduced. You can use this device at home.
Medications
It is advisable to treat varicose veins on the legs with ointments and tablets only at the beginning of the disease, or with the development of complications.
Major drug classes include:
- Verotonics increase the tone of the veins, relieve edema and improve the outflow 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 medications 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 appearance 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, there is the possibility of outpatient removal of varicose veins in the legs. The following methods of radical treatment are most commonly used:
- Sclerotherapy is based on the introduction of a substance into the lumen of the affected vein, which sticks it together and turns it off from the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for small-diameter vessels in the initial stages of the disease. The relapse 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 does not leave marks on the skin.
- Phlebectomy - direct removal of a vein, performed through small incisions. This method allows you to cure varicose veins, but gradually it 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, including among pregnant women, for whom conventional treatment is contraindicated. That is why so many recipes for folk remedies have been created to alleviate the manifestations of this disease at home:
- A decoction of ordinary hops is taken in a glass three times a day. To prepare it, you need to take a tablespoon of chopped cones and pour boiling water over it.
- When treating with apple cider vinegar, you need to rub your feet with them daily for a month and at the same time drink one 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 the 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 for 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.
In the development of varicose veins, an important role is played by a hereditary factor, an improper lifestyle and excessive stress 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 by surgery after a full examination.