Varicose veins of the lower limbs are a chronic disease, accompanied by clustered 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 giving birth. In representatives of the male gender, varicose veins on 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 blood vessels, pain and swelling in the legs and feet, it is advisable to see 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 meant to strengthen the leg muscles, which helps keep the veins in good shape. Among the most effective are:
- Bicycle: Lie on your back, alternately move your legs in a circular fashion.
- Roll a tennis or baseball ball across 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 keep all of your leg muscles in top shape with minimal stress on them.
An overweight diet that is 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 wear it correctly at home, you often have to use special devices. It is necessary to wear underwear during the day, removing it only at night. The principle of action is based on the external compression of the varicose vessels of the legs and the improvement of blood outflow. Instead of medical mesh, to treat varicose veins, you can use an ordinary elastic bandage, which is wound in a spiral from the fingertips to mid-thigh with a grip on the heel. It is important that the new turn overlaps the previous one by at least half.
A pneumatic massager, which is a series of cuffs in which air under pressure is supplied, can be effective in treating varicose veins in the early stages of the disease. In this case, the compression method is used, thanks to which blood circulation is improved and edema is reduced. You can use this device at home.
medications
It is recommended to treat varicose veins on the legs with ointments and compresses only at the very beginning of the disease or with the development of complications.
The main classes of drugs include:
- Verotonics increase the tone of the veins, relieve edema and improve peripheral blood outflow.
- Drugs that improve microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in the form of a dropper.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent the formation of blood clots.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the pain and swelling of varicose veins.
The use of all drugs must be agreed with the doctor, as there is a possibility of side effects.
It is impossible to cure varicose veins by 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 radical treatment methods are most commonly used:
- Sclerotherapy is based on the introduction of a substance into the lumen of the affected vein, which unites it and excludes it from the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for small diameter vessels in the early 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 leaves no marks on the skin.
- Phlebectomy - direct removal of a vein, performed through small incisions. This method allows you to cure varicose veins, but gradually 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, even among pregnant women, for whom conventional treatment is contraindicated. That is why so many recipes of folk remedies have been created to relieve 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 spoonful of crushed cones and pour boiling water over them.
- When dealing with apple cider vinegar, you need to rub your feet with them every day for a month and at the same time drink a teaspoon dissolved in water.
- Sliced green tomatoes or grated raw potatoes can be applied to the sprouts that have hardened 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 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 the treatment of varicose veins at home, when there is no other option. Do not abuse it, it is best 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 incorrect 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 surgically after a full examination.