Varicose veins in the lower part of the leg are a chronic disease, accompanied by a bunch -like expansion of the canal of the legs. The main causes of varicose veins are hereditary predisposition, excessive load or inactive lifestyle. Women are more susceptible to this disease, especially after childbirth. In men, varicose veins in the legs may be due to the presence of arterio-venous communication.
When the first signs of varicose veins appear, including visible nodular changes in the blood vessels, pain and swelling of the legs and feet, it is advisable to see a doctor. After proper examination and diagnosis, the doctor will determine how to treat varicose veins in each case.
Conservative therapy
Conservative therapy for varicose veins is quite diverse, and can only reduce the manifestations of the disease, but does not cure the cause.
Diet and compression
Special exercises for varicose veins that can be done by anyone at home. They are intended to strengthen the leg muscles, which helps keep the veins in good shape. Among the most effective are:
Exercise bike "
- Bicycle: lie on your back, move your legs in turns.
- Roll a tennis or baseball on the floor with your feet. If you use a special massage ball, you can improve microcirculation.
- When standing on the toes, the calf muscles are well trained, which compresses the varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will help bring all the leg muscles into excellent physical shape with minimal pressure on them.
A diet designed to reduce excess weight, high in plant fiber and limiting the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, allows you to reduce the load on the legs and can be successfully used to treat varicose veins at home.
Knitwear (knee socks, stockings) for the treatment of varicose veins differ in the degree of compression. To install it properly at home, you often need to use special devices. It is necessary to wear underwear all day, remove only at night. The principle of action is based on external compression of the varicose veins of the legs and increased blood outflow. Instead of medical knitwear, to treat varicose veins, you can use a regular elastic bandage, which is wrapped in a circle from the fingertips to the middle of the thigh with a heel grip. It is important that the new round overlaps the previous round by at least half.
Pneumatic massagers, consisting of several cuffs through which air is supplied under pressure, can be effective in the treatment of varicose veins in the early stages of the disease. In this case, the compression method is used, as blood circulation is improved and swelling is reduced. You can use this device at home.
Medications
It is advisable to treat varicose veins on the legs with the help of ointments and tablets only at the beginning of the disease, or with the development of complications.
The main drug classes include:
- Verotonics improve vein tone, relieve swelling and improve peripheral blood outflow.
- Drugs that increase microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in the form of drops.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent blood clotting. This includes ointments with heparin.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling in varicose veins.
The use of all drugs must be agreed with the doctor, as there is a possibility of side effects.
It is not possible to cure varicose veins using traditional methods, you can only slow down the process and delay the appearance of serious complications, such as thrombophlebitis.
When is surgery indicated?
Surgical treatment of varicose veins does not always involve open surgery. Thanks to modern advances, there is a 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 into the lumen of the affected vein of material that sticks together and shuts it off from systemic circulation. This method is suitable for small -diameter vessels in the early stages of the disease. The repetition rate reaches 30%.
- Ablation and removal of radio frequency with laser is a modern and effective method of treatment that leads to the destruction of the inner lining of the vein. It is performed under local anesthesia and leaves no trace on the skin.
- Phlebectomy is the direct removal of a vein through a small incision. This method allows you to cure varicose veins, but gradually it fades into the background, because the operation is quite traumatic, and the recovery period is long.
How traditional medicine can help
Varicose veins on the legs are a fairly common problem, including in pregnant women, for which treatment with conventional methods is contraindicated. That is why many recipes for folk remedies have been created to reduce the manifestations of this disease at home:
- A decoction of hops is usually taken in a glass three times a day. To prepare it, you need to take a tablespoon of the crushed cone and pour boiling water over it.
- When treating with apple cider vinegar, it is necessary to rub their feet every day for a month and at the same time drink a teaspoon dissolved in water.
- Slices of green tomatoes or grated raw potatoes can be rubbed on the compacted lumps overnight.
- The ingredients that make up horse chestnuts have a tonic effect on the veins. To prepare one 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 St. John's wort. Dried John, 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.
Our grandmother’s recipes are not always effective, but they allow you to treat varicose veins at home when there is no other possibility. Do not abuse it, it is better to contact a vascular surgeon for examination and treatment.
In the development of varicose veins, hereditary factors, unhealthy lifestyle and excessive stress on the legs play an important role. To reduce the likelihood of this disease and slow the progression of symptoms, you can do special exercise and diet. But it is possible to cure varicose veins only through surgery after a complete examination.