Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a chronic disease with dilated clusters of blood vessels in the legs. The main causes of varicose veins are genetic predisposition, excessive exercise or a sedentary lifestyle. Women are more susceptible to this disease, especially after childbirth. Among the representatives of the male genus, varicose veins in the legs may be due to the presence of arteriovenous information.
When the first signs of varicose veins appear, including visible nodular changes in blood vessels, pain and swelling of legs and feet, it is recommended to consult a doctor. After examination and accurate diagnosis, the doctor will determine how to treat varicose veins in the legs in each case.
Conservative treatment
There are various conservative treatment methods for varicose veins, which can only reduce the manifestations of the disease, but cannot cure the cause.
Diet and compression
Anyone can do special exercises for varicose veins at home. They are designed to strengthen the leg muscles, which helps keep the veins in good condition. The most effective of these are:
- Bicycle: Lie on your back with your legs alternately doing circular movements.
- Roll a tennis ball or baseball on the floor with your feet. If a special massage ball is used, the microcirculation can be improved.
- When you stand on your toes, your calf muscles are well trained to compress varicose veins.
- Swimming with a skateboard will help keep all the leg muscles in good physical condition while minimizing the stress on them.
An overweight diet, high fiber, and restriction of animal fat and carbohydrate intake can reduce pressure on the legs and can be successfully used to treat varicose veins at home.
Knitwear (knee socks, silk stockings) used to treat varicose veins differ in degree of compression. To wear it properly at home, you usually have to use special equipment. It is necessary to wear underwear throughout the day and only take it off at night. The principle of action is to apply external pressure to the blood vessels of the varicose veins of the legs to improve blood outflow. When treating varicose veins, you can use a normal elastic bandage instead of a medical sweatshirt, and use a heel clip to spirally wrap it from your fingertips to the middle of your thigh. It is important that the new turn overlaps at least half of the previous turn.
Pneumatic massager is a series of cuffs that provide air to it under pressure, which can effectively treat varicose veins in the early stage of the disease. In this case, a compression method is used to improve blood circulation and reduce edema. You can use this device at home.
drug
It is recommended to use ointments and tablets to treat varicose veins in the legs only at the beginning of the disease or when complications occur.
The main drug categories include:
- Verotonics increase the tension of the veins, reduce edema and improve the outflow of peripheral blood.
- Drugs that improve microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in the form of a dropper.
- Antiplatelet drugs to prevent thrombosis.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce the pain and swelling of varicose veins.
The use of all drugs must be approved by a doctor because of the possibility of side effects.
There is no cure for varicose veins using traditional methods; you can only slow down the process and delay the onset of serious complications, such as thrombophlebitis.
When surgery is needed
Surgical treatment of varicose veins does not always involve open surgery. Due to modern progress, it is possible to remove varicose veins in the legs in an outpatient clinic. The following are the most commonly used radical treatments:
- Sclerotherapy is based on introducing a substance into the lumen of the affected vein, sticking it together and closing it from the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for small diameter blood vessels in the early stage of the disease. The recurrence rate reached 30%.
- Radiofrequency ablation and laser ablation are modern and effective treatment methods that can destroy the inner wall of the vein. It is performed under local anesthesia and will not leave marks on the skin.
- Phlebectomy-The vein is removed directly through a small incision. This method can cure varicose veins, but it gradually fades because of the large surgical trauma and the long recovery period.
How traditional medicine can help
Varicose veins in the legs are a fairly common problem, including pregnant women, and conventional treatment is contraindicated. This is why people have created so many folk remedies to alleviate the manifestation of this disease at home:
- Pour the decoction of ordinary hops into the glass 3 times a day. To prepare it, you need to take a tablespoon of crushed cones and pour boiling water on it.
- When using apple cider vinegar for treatment, you need to wipe your feet with them every day for a month and drink one teaspoon of water-soluble ones.
- You can apply chopped green tomatoes or grated raw potatoes to the hardened buds overnight.
- The substances that make up the horse chestnut tree have a tonic effect on the veins. To prepare one liter of tincture, you need to pour 50 grams of inflorescence with vodka for two weeks. Drink 2 tablespoons 3 times a day.
- To make an effective ointment, you need to take a teaspoon of dried St. John’s wort, coltsfoot, chamomile, spiraea, and chicory, pour 100 ml of water, boil and mix with the badger fat. Apply under the plastic bandage 3 times a day for a week.
Our grandmother’s recipes are not always effective, but when there are no other options, they allow the treatment of varicose veins at home. Do not abuse this, it is best to contact a vascular surgeon for examination and treatment.
In the development of varicose veins, genetic factors, inappropriate lifestyle and excessive pressure on the legs play an important role. Exercise and diet can help reduce the likelihood of this condition and slow the onset of symptoms. However, varicose veins can only be cured by surgery after a thorough examination.