Varicose veins in the legs in women - the scourge of the 21st century

Varicose veins of the lower extremities is a disease that affects beautiful women four times more often than the strong half of humanity. And if earlier this ailment was considered “age-related”, overtaking mainly women after 50 years, then nowadays phlebologists speak with regret about his sharply increased “youth”.

And the fears of doctors are understandable, because they are increasingly being approached by women whose age has barely reached 30 years. So, it is necessary to figure out what is the danger of varicose veins on the legs in women, what are the causes of its occurrence, symptoms, and what methods of getting rid of the disease are known at the present time.

Signs to sound the alarm

Doctors have long established general signs of varicose veins of the legs, upon detection of which it is necessary, without delay, to go to an appointment with a vascular surgeon.

The following factors eloquently trumpet the appearance of varicose veins:

• Swelling of the legs and feet, especially in the evening, after an eventful working day. At the initial stages of the disease, edema, as a rule, goes away completely after a restorative night's rest, but if the disease has passed into chronic stages, this symptom becomes a round-the-clock companion of the patient.
• Pain syndrome in the gastrocnemius region, a feeling of fullness, which does not release until the patient assumes the "lying" position.

• Varicose veins on the legs of women noticeably spoil the appearance of a beautiful leg. Often, the appearance on the surface of the skin, before such an even and smooth, reddish mesh of blood vessels, makes beautiful women urgently run to the doctor.
• In some places of the calves of the legs, especially in the popliteal region, prominent venous vessels are noted, often knotted, brightly colored. The color of the veins on the legs can range from deep blue to brownish purple.

If you have found one or several such unpleasant phenomena in yourself, then you should know that these are the symptoms of varicose veins of the legs, and making an appointment with a doctor is the most urgent need in this situation.

What can happen if you don't see a doctor in time

This disease is dangerous by no means only a deterioration in the appearance of slender female legs. In addition to the fact that now you have to give preference to trousers and dark tights, throwing your once favorite mini-skirts on the back shelf of the closet, the following can happen:

1. If urgent measures are not taken to treat blood stagnation in the venous vessels of the legs, the next stage in the development of the disease is thrombophlebitis. This is because the blood, thickening in the deformed veins, gradually forms blood clots, which clog the vessels. Getting into the cardiac or pulmonary artery, blood clots provoke death.
2. The appearance of dermatitis, and later - and trophic ulcer. The skin, on the surface of which the diseased vein has protruded, first darkens, becomes thinner, taut, due to which an unhealthy shine appears. Subsequently, thinning even more, such skin is easily exposed to external injuries, and the inflammatory process begins not only inside the vein, but also on the surface of the skin. This can result in a trophic (non-healing) ulcer, which is an open, weeping wound.
3. A venous vessel, when it is deformed and stretched, can simply "leak out", resulting in bleeding, which can be both internal and external.
4. If ulcers and other damage to the skin have already formed, then pathogenic bacteria and infections easily enter the bloodstream through them. This can lead to dire consequences in the form of gangrene and the need to amputate the affected limb.

Where does female varicose veins come from?

This unpleasant and intractable disease affects girls and women much more often than men, and here's why.

• The causes of varicose veins in women are often rooted in harmful heredity. If the grandmother, mother and older sisters suffer from venous insufficiency, then the risk of its occurrence in the younger generation is much higher than in those in whose female lineage this disease is absent.
• Professional factor. If by the nature of your activity you have to spend a long time standing (these are sellers, teachers, surgeons), then stagnation of blood in the lower extremities is a frequent occurrence. The same consequences occur for those whose work involves long sitting at the desk at the computer.
• Incorrect food. It's no secret that many ladies like to pamper themselves with sweets, high-calorie pastries, something spicy like marinades, sauces and spices. All these goodies, if eaten often, cause blood to thicken. As a result, blood flow is disrupted, congestion is formed, and the veins in the legs are deformed.
• Another factor in the appearance of varicose veins lies in the fact that a married lady, burdened with everyday life, children and work, simply has no time to devote time to her beloved. As a result of the lack of time for the gym or just for physical exercises at home, the calf muscles lose their tone, ceasing to maintain normal pressure inside the vessels of the legs. Further, the deformation of the venous walls occurs, and blood stagnation does not take long.
• Changes in hormonal levels. It can be both climacteric syndrome and gestation. In the latter case, varicose veins can be provoked not only by hormones, but also by increasing pressure on the legs, for which it becomes increasingly difficult to carry a growing tummy. In addition, the intensity of blood flow in pregnant women doubles, and the venous vessels may simply not be able to cope with such a powerful load. Therefore, all women "in an interesting position", especially in the last trimester, need regular preventive examination by a phlebologist.
• Preference for high heels in everyday life. Although this shoe makes a lady attractive in the eyes of a male, it is very harmful to the health of your legs! A constant load on the lower leg is a harbinger of blood congestion and pathological deformation of the vessels of the gastrocnemius region.

How female varicose veins can be cured

The set of measures how to treat varicose veins on the legs in women is usually the following:

1. Stopping the further development of the disease.
2. Removal of symptoms of the disease.
3. Preventive measures.

Before treatment is prescribed, a phlebologist conducts the necessary examination and determines the degree of development of the disease.

If the disease has not gone too far, as evidenced by the absence of blood clots and other serious consequences, then varicose veins can be cured.

Medication therapy

Usually prescribed for this disease:

• Ointments and gels that tone the venous walls, strengthen them, and also normalize intravenous blood flow (venotonics). In addition, horse chestnut-based products are very effective.
• Tablet preparations with blood thinning and anti-thrombotic action.
• Tablets that help eliminate and prevent inflammation inside the veins. And also these funds perfectly help relieve pain.
• Anti-edema drugs.

Hardware treatment

In addition, there is hardware therapy, which is also very effective in the treatment of varicose veins.

1. The device, invented by South Korean specialists, perfectly helps tired legs, relieving pain and eliminating swelling.
2. A device that helps to restore the damaged structure of blood vessels and soft tissues in the painful area of ​​the calves.
3. A device that normalizes venous circulation due to its vibrations.
4. A device with a complex effect that restores tissues affected by varicose veins, relieving swelling, pain and inflammation.
5. A device that heals sore veins with a laser, accelerating blood flow and relieving pain in the veins.

Traditional methods

And there are also many folk remedies on how to treat varicose veins on the legs of women. These are ointments, compresses, rubbing and various tinctures for oral administration.

• For example, you can make such a tincture. Take 1 large spoonful of calamus roots, thyme, coltsfoot, string, birch buds. Put everything in a saucepan, pour 1 liter of boiling water there. Warm up in a water bath for about half an hour. Then cool, drain and drink 1/2 cup before meals three times a day. The course of treatment is 1 month.
• Compresses for varicose veins based on fermented milk products are also very good. You can use only kefir, or you can pour finely chopped leaves and flowers of bitter wormwood into it (or into yogurt). Having wrapped the compress on top with a film and warmed with a blanket, lie down for about half an hour. Then the feet should be rinsed and smeared with ointment for varicose veins, recommended by the doctor.

Radical Measures

In the later stages of varicose veins, the following are commonly practiced:

1. Minimally invasive methods of treatment: laser and radiofrequency correction, microflebectomy, sclerotherapy.
2. Classic surgery, when the diseased part of the vein (and sometimes the entire venous vessel) is completely removed.

Preventive measures

Read them and try to heed the advice that will help you defeat varicose veins.

• Correction of the daily ration. All fatty foods rich in cholesterol, spicy marinades, salinity, smoked meats, as well as strong teas, coffee and alcohol are prohibited.
• If a lady smokes, it will significantly complicate the treatment of varicose veins. Therefore, it is necessary to pull yourself together and abandon the addiction.
• Wearing corrective tights and leg warmers. This is a special underwear that must be worn by venous patients so that the intravenous pressure normalizes and the further development of vein deformity stops. For the prevention of venous disease, class 1 underwear is recommended, if the capillary mesh is already visible and the edema has become more pronounced, then you need to purchase tights of the 2nd compression class. And in the case of significant deformation of the vessels, the 3rd compression class of such underwear is used.
• Revitalizing fitness complex. There are many physical exercises recommended to combat varicose veins. This can be jogging for short distances, lifting the lower limbs, swinging legs.

In addition, yoga can be an excellent help only if its postures (asanas) do not involve prolonged static tension of the calf muscles. For the same reason, team sports are excluded: volleyball, football, basketball, weight lifting, long intense speed runs.

Finally

In order for the development of venous disease to stop as early as possible, you need to adhere to these principles:

1. Put aside high-heeled shoes, purchasing high-quality and comfortable shoes made of natural materials instead.
2. Avoid baths, saunas and solariums.
3. Replace intense sports loads with more gentle ones, not forgetting to discuss the exercises with your doctor.
4. If you do not exercise, then you need to pull yourself together and set aside half an hour a day to perform a therapeutic complex of exercises.
5. Tidy up your diet by including as many vegetables, cereals, and seafood as possible in your diet. For example, the secrets of Japanese women, who are famous for their long youth and good health, lie precisely in the abundance of "seafood" and rice on the everyday table.

All these measures are also excellent as a prevention of varicose veins for those who do not wish to face this harmful disease.

After all, any ailment is much easier to foresee and prevent than to deal with its unpleasant manifestations. Love yourself! And be healthy!