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 varying degrees of severity.
The disease is more typical for women; every fifth representative of the fair sex is susceptible to varicose veins. Men suffer from this disease to a lesser extent and only 10% face this problem.
In the initial stages, the disease is of little concern and is not something life-threatening for the patient, but later dangerous diseases can develop, for example, thrombophlebitis. The resulting blood clots already pose a serious threat to life.
Depending on the etiology, two forms of varicose veins are distinguished; they are shown in the table:
| Primary | Secondary | |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Weakening, disruption of the structure of the venous wall | Impaired outflow of venous blood due to improper functioning of vascular valves |
| Aggravating factors | Excess weight, pregnancy, standing work, squeezing of veins by clothing elements, congenital weakness of the venous walls | Development of various types of tumors, disruption as a result of trauma |
Causes of the disease
The essence of the disease lies in an abnormal increase in pressure in the superficial vessels due to disruption of the valves, which normally facilitate the flow of venous blood in one direction (towards the heart). When disturbed, the valves weaken and blood begins to stagnate in the veins, leading to their stretching, the formation of nodes, etc. In this case, a slowdown in blood flow is observed, which leads to a disturbance in the trophism of cells and tissues, and the formation of ulcerative processes.
Main causes of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- long stay in an upright position;
- limited movement throughout the day;
- endocrine system disorders, both due to disease and due to taking hormonal drugs;
- pregnancy;
- physical activity of various kinds (at work, in the gym, at the dacha, etc. );
- lower limb injuries;
- bad habits, especially smoking.
Note.The risk group includes people who spend all day on their feet, sitting and moving little, for example, salespeople, teachers, drivers, people sitting at a computer, etc.
The thing 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 a constant pressure on the vessels, and as a result they begin to deform, which leads to the development of the disease.
Also at risk are:
- women wearing high-heeled shoes;
- persons involved in sports with loads on the legs (strength sports, tennis);
- all people who work standing;
- people, out of habit, cross one leg over the other when sitting;
- persons who drink a lot of coffee and alcohol-containing drinks, which contribute to blood thickening, thereby impairing 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. Infrequent cramps and pain in the calf muscles are also possible.
You can visually notice the manifestation of the disease by the so-called stars, consisting of modified inflamed blood vessels. As varicose veins progress, irreversible pathologies arise in vessels of larger diameter, and they begin to appear under the skin. The knotty appearance of the latter is due to the refinement of the walls in certain places.
Main features
But in order to more accurately understand whether it is varicose veins or not, we list the main signs of the disease specifically:
- pain and heaviness in the legs;
- unpleasant warm, burning pain running along the veins;
- after a working day, swelling of the legs is clearly visible;
- night cramps in the calves;
- veins become wider, more tortuous, dense to the touch;
- the epithelium of the legs 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 medical institutions.
Only a doctor, after determining the exact diagnosis, should determine therapy and eliminate the causes. There are a number of simple rules, the observance of 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 exercises, and fitness strengthen veins especially well.
- Overweight. For a number of reasons, the condition of the blood and blood vessels worsens in obese people. A larger volume creates greater pressure, the heart has to work much 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 don’t want to have varicose veins and feel cheerful, carefully monitor your weight and prevent the development of obesity.
- Tight constrictive clothing interferes with blood circulation. Get rid of tight-fitting stockings, socks and tights with tight elastic bands, do not 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 inhibit the development of varicose veins. - Distribute the load when working, change your position, do not be static for a long time.
- When sitting, do not put one leg on 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 in the legs and a slowdown in the outflow of venous blood. Therefore, the more movements, the better. Take breaks, change positions, etc.
- Normalization of stool. Both constipation and diarrhea negatively affect the vascular system. Therefore, make sure that your diet includes foods rich in fiber. Avoid legumes, beer, and yeast products if you are prone to flatulence.
- Eat less salt. Salt and then drinking fluids causes swelling.
- Do limb exercises. Before going to bed and after waking up in the morning, it is good to do rotational movements of your fingers and toes for several minutes, this will improve blood circulation.
- Avoid tight shoes, and the one with high heels.
- After a working day, at home, make it a rule to wash or rinse your feet in cold water.
Note that it is useful to prevent varicose veins by walking barefoot through dew or along the shore at the surf line, wetting your feet.
In the case where there are no manifestations of varicose veins, but there is a predisposition to this disease, it will be useful to massage the legs every day. It's very easy to do. The technique consists of stroking the legs and kneading.
Note.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 place your feet on a hill; to do this, use all available means, you can place a pillow or cushion.
A contrast shower for your feet helps, or after taking a warm shower, rinse your feet with cool or cold 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 that you can do without being distracted from work or household chores:
- Calf raise. The instructions to follow are simple. To do this, you need to stand straight, legs together, feet next to each other. Do lifts about 30 times, rising on your toes and returning to the starting position. There are three types of exercise:
- toes next to each other, heels next to each other;
- toes next to each other, heels apart;
- heels close, toes apart.
It is advisable to perform all variations 20-30 times for each position;
- Rolling on your feet. Stand straight with your feet together. Roll from toes to heels. Also repeat on the inside and back of the feet. The number of repetitions is arbitrary; spend 2-3 minutes on the exercises.
- Bike. Can be performed both lying down and sitting in a chair. Use your feet to imitate riding a bicycle, as shown in the photo. The legs should be fully straightened when performing. 30-40 repetitions will be enough.
Nutrition and diet
Proper nutrition and adherence to diet not only helps to cope with varicose veins, but also has 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 clots.
Vegetarian diets are preferable, but since this is not suitable for everyone, try to give preference to lean meats, fish and animal proteins of marine 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 strengthen the epithelial vascular walls, and also increase the overall immunity of the body. Regular intake of vitamin C and E helps strengthen the collagen fibers of blood vessels and their 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 mechanisms and helps in the prevention of colds.
It is important to note that you should not overuse garlic. Eating a couple of cloves a day is enough. If you are too addicted to this seasoning, you may end up with stomach and heart problems.
Some basic nutrition rules:
- lean meat is recommended, stewed or boiled;
- lactic acid products such as yogurt, kefir and cheeses are very healthy, especially when their fat content is low;
- increase your consumption of vegetables, wholemeal products, and legumes. They are high in fiber and potassium compounds. The first helps in the fight against slagging in the body and constipation; potassium regulates channels during water-salt metabolism in the tissues of the body. 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 (sweet) carbohydrates and salt to minimum values;
- For cooking, use dishes with a special coating that allows you to cook food without the use of grease that heats up on the surface;
- replace animal fats with vegetable fats, 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 much easier to prevent their occurrence or control the development 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 stagnant processes in them. In case of serious vascular lesions, they require surgical treatment by ear removal to avoid further spread of the disease to healthy veins.
Today there are many methods for treating the disease. In most cases, these are minimally invasive techniques, and only in an advanced state does the patient end up on the operating table.
Among the most frequently used we highlight the following:
- Sclerotherapy.In simple words, removal of a vein without direct surgical intervention. The bottom line is that a special drug is injected into the damaged blood vessel using a needle, which glues the walls of the veins and after about a week it resolves 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 the sticking of its walls and its subsequent resorption.
Basic treatment techniques
Early detection of the disease contributes to successful treatment if it is started in a timely manner. The more developed varicose veins, the more difficult the disease is to treat.
Among the main techniques, therapeutic massage has proven itself well, but on condition that it is done by a specialist. Thanks to proper manipulations in the legs, blood circulation increases and congestion in the blood vessels decreases.
Treatment often involves wrapping the limbs with elastic bandages or wearing special compression stockings. This helps to avoid the development of the disease and the occurrence of complications such as thrombophlebitis.
The additional compression created compresses the veins, their lumens narrow, which creates increased 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, close attention should be paid to diets, the fight against 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 an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, and also help thin the blood and strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
The cream for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins gives the same result. The price of such drugs is affordable, they are available without a prescription. Their use does not cause complications, but it is still advisable to obtain professional advice from a doctor.
Traditional methods of treatment
Treatment and prevention of varicose veins using traditional medicine is not a panacea for the disease, but it can improve the results of basic treatment and alleviate symptoms, especially since it is convenient to use at home.
The most popular methods are the following:
- taking baths with a decoction of medicinal herbs (St. John's wort, chamomile, plantain, etc. ), which help 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 applications can also be used for this purpose);
- the use of decoctions or tinctures of herbs 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 are not taken seriously, then stagnant processes will progress, causing the development of the disease and giving rise to a number of concomitant pathologies, which significantly worsens the general condition and reduces life comfort. The nutrition of the epithelial layers 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 bulge greatly.
Lime begins to deposit in them and so-called "vein stones" appear. Nodules that appear may rupture and bleed. Swelling of the legs becomes permanent and "elephantiasis" appears.