Varicose veins are a common disease characterized by an increase in the lumen of blood vessels, a malfunction of the valve apparatus and the occurrence of reverse blood flow. The pathological process can be localized in different places, therefore there are several types of disease:
- expansion of the veins of the esophagus;
- rectal veins (hemorrhoids);
- veins of the small pelvis;
- veins of the spermatic cord (varicocele);
- veins of the lower extremities.
Varicose veins of the legs are considered the most common. According to some estimates, more than 30% of the population suffers from it, with the majority being women. Varicose veins on the legs are not only ugly protruding veins, but also many unpleasant sensations and inconveniences. The pathological process is accompanied by severity, pain, edema, and often leads to dangerous complications: thrombophlebitis, thrombosis, trophic ulcers. Many would like to know how to get rid of varicose veins forever, since it significantly impairs the quality of life. But, unfortunately, this phenomenon is irreversible, and the only thing that can be achieved is to stop or slow down the development of the disease.
Causes
The causes of varicose veins are still not clearly understood. It is understood that the disease is associated with thinning, weakness and loss of elasticity of the vascular wall, as well as valve incompetence. As a result, the veins become unevenly dilated, stretched, long, convoluted, nodular. It is believed that a genetic predisposition plays a decisive role in the onset of the disease, that is, from birth, weak vessels and defective valves.
There are a number of factors that contribute to the development of varicose veins, although they are not its causes:
- Heredity (according to experts, the risk of the disease in people whose parents suffer from it is up to 70%).
- Belonging to the female sex. This is due to hormonal changes during puberty, during pregnancy and during menopause, as well as taking hormonal contraceptives and wearing high-heeled shoes.
- Labor activity associated with a long stay on legs or in a sitting position (hairdressers, salesmen, surgeons, waiters, drivers, accountants, programmers, and others).
- Old age, in which the weakening of the walls of blood vessels and wear of the valve apparatus is a natural phenomenon.
- Operational interventions.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Increased intra-abdominal pressure due to overweight, pregnancy, heavy lifting (loaders, weightlifters), frequent straining with chronic constipation and coughing.
Treatment methods
Varicose veins are a chronic process that begins gradually and only progresses over time. To date, it is impossible to completely defeat the disease, but it is possible to slow down the development and reduce the symptoms if a complex treatment is applied, which includes:
- lifestyle change;
- diet;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- compression therapy;
- medications (for internal use and local administration);
- surgical intervention;
- thermal procedures;
- folk methods.
You will have to fight varicose veins all your life. Self-medication should not be done. It is necessary to be examined by a phlebologist or vascular surgeon who will diagnose, determine the stage of the disease and the severity of the lesion, and prescribe the appropriate treatment. The main task is to remove or reduce clinical manifestations, stop progression, prevent relapses and the development of complications.
The effectiveness of treatment will depend on the patient's compliance with all the doctor's recommendations. It is important to seek help at an early stage, when there is still no pain, but evening edema, heaviness and fatigue of the legs, small spider veins on the skin have appeared.
Lifestyle correction
Without changing your lifestyle, it is impossible to effectively deal with varicose veins. The rules to be followed are completely banal, and failure to follow them is usually associated with a lack of willpower or an irresponsible attitude towards one's health.
- Maintaining normal body weight.
- Parting with bad habits: alcohol and smoking.
- Refusal of sunbathing, visiting steam rooms and saunas, taking hot baths (including foot baths).
- Refusal from high heels (no higher than 4-5 cm).
- Wearing special stretch jersey.
- Providing physical activity. This can be walking, swimming, physiotherapy exercises, some sports. The main thing is to exclude squats, lifting weights, running long distances, jumping, martial arts.
- Proper nutrition. The diet should contain more fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, whole grains, seafood. It is recommended to reduce the amount of meat. It is necessary to give up smoked, fried, salty, fatty. From drinks, give preference to green tea, clean water, fruit drinks, natural fresh juices and limit coffee.
- Use every opportunity during the day to lift your legs up at an angle of about 20 degrees.
- Purchase a special pillow for the legs so that they are above the level of the heart during sleep.
- Try to rinse your feet with cool water as often as possible.
Compression therapy
Special stretch jersey is available today in a large assortment. These are knee-highs, stockings, tights of different colors and density, which practically do not differ from ordinary ones. They have become a good alternative to elastic bandaging, inconvenient in use and outwardly unaesthetic.
Special jersey cannot treat varicose veins, but it improves microcirculation, reduces stress on the veins, prevents blood from stagnating, reduces the diameter of blood vessels, and enhances the outflow of venous blood and lymph. A person feels lightness in his legs, by the evening he gets less tired, there are no swelling.
At first, without the habit of putting on compression hosiery by hand, it will be difficult. To make things easier for yourself, you can purchase a special device.
There are four classes of medical knitwear, depending on the pressure applied. You can independently wear only products of the 1st compression class, which are considered prophylactic and are intended rather for healthy people. The rest should be prescribed by a doctor, depending on the diagnosis and severity of varicose veins. You should be aware that compression products may be contraindicated for certain diseases. Pantyhose or stockings are selected by the physician strictly according to the size, otherwise the desired effect will not be.
Drug treatment
For the treatment of varicose veins, tablets and external agents in the form of gels, creams and ointments of various spectrum of action are used. They increase vascular tone, improve microcirculation, promote blood outflow, and prevent skin changes. Medicines are designed to relieve fatigue, heaviness, discomfort, swelling, itching, cramps, and pain in the legs. They are assigned strictly individually.
The main means of treating varicose veins are venotonics. They are made on the basis of horse chestnut, rutin, grape leaves and are almost always well tolerated by patients. Available in the form of tablets, capsules, gels.
It is necessary to apply a gel or cream to the legs with varicose veins daily and rub with light movements.
Anticoagulants are used to reduce blood viscosity and reduce the likelihood of thrombophlebitis. These are heparin-based ointments with cooling additives in the form of menthol, camphor, eucalyptus. In addition to thinning the blood, they prevent the development of thrombophlebitis.
For skin changes that cause itching, antihistamines may be prescribed. For inflammation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pills are prescribed.
Surgical intervention
To get rid of varicose veins, operations are performed to remove the affected part of the vessel in order to stop the discharge of blood from the superficial vein into the deep one. The operation is called phlebectomy. In its classical form, it is used less and less today in connection with the emergence of new, less traumatic ways of dealing with varicose veins. Such treatment, as a rule, is indicated for large vein diameters and advanced cases of the disease.
A more gentle method is microflebectomy, in which a section of a vein is removed in parts and not through an incision, but through a puncture.
Thermal methods
Radiofrequency ablation is considered the safest and least traumatic method of treating varicose veins, although it has some contraindications. The method consists in the thermal effect of microwaves, as a result of which the venous lumen is closed. Main advantages:
- outpatient treatment;
- no need for anesthesia and incision;
- recovery does not take long;
- the procedure is easily tolerated;
- can be done in summer;
- there are no bruises after treatment, swelling and pain are insignificant.
Radiofrequency ablation is a low-traumatic method of treating varicose veins.
Laser coagulation is another method of treating varicose veins. During the procedure, a laser is applied to the vessel wall. Radiation leads to adhesion of the vein walls and the complete closure of the lumen. It is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia without incisions. A catheter is inserted into the lumen of the vein, through which an LED is inserted and radiation is supplied. The procedure is low-traumatic, complications are very rare.
Sclerotherapy
This non-surgical method is one of the most common. It is used on small veins and as part of a complex treatment along with surgery. The bottom line is that a special medicine with a sclerosing effect is injected into a vein using a thin needle. As a result, the walls of the vessel stick together, close and stop blood flow. The affected vein turns into a fibrous cord. The main advantages of the method:
- outpatient treatment;
- low invasiveness;
- ease of execution;
- the duration of the procedure is about 20 minutes;
- good cosmetic effect.
If the disease is started, a complication such as deep vein thrombosis can develop.
Traditional methods
Walnut tincture
Pour chopped unripe walnuts into a glass dish and pour olive oil over. Put in the sun for 40 days. Apply as needed, lubricating the affected area. Continue treatment for about four months.
Cabbage leaf
Beat off a cabbage leaf, apply a layer of olive oil on one side, apply this side to the diseased area, bandage and leave for a day. Continue treatment for a month.
Horse chestnut
This is one of the most effective folk remedies. For the treatment of varicose veins, a tincture is prepared from the fruits of the plant, which must be crushed, half filled in a glass container (three-liter) and filled with vodka. Remove in a dark place for a month, stir from time to time. When ready, rub over sore spots overnight. Alcohol tincture of chestnut for external and internal use with varicose veins can be bought at the pharmacy.
Physiotherapy is an integral part of complex treatment for varicose veins.
Exercises
When varicose veins appear, the question may arise about whether it is possible to engage in physical education and sports and what exercises are useful. Most doctors agree that physical activity in such a disease is very important, since dynamics is beneficial for veins and static is harmful. But it is equally important to consult with your doctor about what kinds of sports you can do and what kind of loads will be optimal. In addition, the patient can be shown special therapeutic exercises, which are carried out directly in a medical institution. At home, you can also do simple but effective exercises that, with regular exercise, will help reduce the symptoms of varicose veins.
- Lie on your back, put pillows under your feet so that they rise at an angle of 20 degrees. Close your eyes, completely relax, breathe deeply.
- In the supine position, raise your legs vertically and rotate your feet alternately in and out.
- Lie on your back and move your legs like riding a bicycle.
- Lying on your back, raise your legs and cross them (scissors).
- Stand up straight, lower your arms, legs together. Slowly rise on your toes, then descend just as slowly.
- Walk in place, do not tear off the socks from the floor.
- Sitting on a chair, bend your ankle legs towards yourself and away from you, then bend your toes in the same way.
- Pouring over the legs with an elastic stream of water (alternately cool and warm).
Conclusion
Varicose veins is an irreversible process, but it must be treated without fail, especially since there are quite a few modern methods that must be used in combination. Without treatment, there is a high risk of developing complications such as chronic venous insufficiency, phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, thrombosis, trophic ulcers, and even such a dangerous condition that can result in death, such as pulmonary embolism.