Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a chronic disease, accompanied by vasodilation of the legs that look like clusters. The main causes of varicose veins are hereditary predisposition, excessive exercise or sedentary lifestyle. Women are more prone to this disease, especially after childbirth. In males, varicose veins in 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 the blood vessels, pain and swelling of the 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 each case.
Conservative therapy
Conservative treatment for varicose veins is quite different and can only reduce the manifestations of this disease, but not cure the cause.
Nutrition and compression
Special exercises for varicose veins that everyone can do at home. They aim to strengthen the leg muscles, which helps keep the veins in good condition. Among the most effective are:
- Bicycle: lying on your back, alternately move your legs in a circular motion.
- Throw a tennis or baseball on the floor with your feet. If you use a special massage ball, you can improve microcirculation.
- When standing aside, the calf muscle is well trained, which compresses the varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will help you get all the muscles of the legs in excellent natural shape with minimal stress on them.
An overweight diet rich in fiber reduces the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, reduces stress on the legs and can be used successfully to treat varicose veins at home.
Knitted clothes (knees, socks) for the treatment of varicose veins differ in the degree of compression. To put it properly at home, you often need to use special devices. It is necessary to wear underwear all day, removing only at night. The principle of action is based on the external compression of the varicose veins of the legs and the improvement of blood flow. Instead of a medical jersey, for the treatment of varicose veins, you can use a regular elastic bandage, which is wrapped in a spiral from your toes to the middle of the thigh with a heel handle. It is important that the new series overlaps the previous one by at least half.
A pneumatic massage, which is a series of cuffs in which air is suppressed under pressure, can be effective in treating varicose veins in the early stages of the disease. In this case, the compression method is used, due to which the blood circulation is improved and the swelling is reduced. You can use this device at home.
Medicines
It is recommended to treat varicose veins in the legs with ointments and tablets only at the beginning of the disease or with the appearance of complications.
The main categories of drugs include:
- Berotonics increase the tone of the veins, relieve swelling and improve the outflow of peripheral blood.
- Drugs that improve microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in the form of drops.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent blood clots.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling in varicose veins.
The use of all medications should be agreed with the doctor, as there is a possibility of side effects.
It is impossible to cure varicose veins using traditional methods. You can only slow down the process and delay the onset of serious complications, for example, thrombophlebitis.
When surgery is indicated
Varicose vein surgery does not always involve open surgery. Thanks to modern developments, there is the possibility of removing varicose veins on the legs from outpatients. The following methods of radical treatment are most commonly used:
- Sclerotherapy is based on the introduction of a substance into the lumen of the affected vein, which sticks it and deactivates it from the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for small diameter vessels in the early stages of the disease. The recurrence 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 - immediate removal of a vein, performed through small incisions. This method allows you to cure varicose veins, but gradually weakens in the background, as the operation is quite traumatic and the recovery period is long.
How traditional medicine can help
Varicose veins of the legs are a fairly common problem, including in pregnant women, for whom conventional treatment is contraindicated. That is why so many recipes for folk remedies have been created to alleviate 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 tablespoon of crushed cones and pour boiling water over it.
- When treating with apple cider vinegar, you should rub your feet daily 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 hardened buds 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 St. John's wort. John's, coltsfoot, chamomile, sweet and chicory meadow, pour 100 ml of water, bring to a boil and mix with greasy lime. Apply three times a day for a week with a plastic bandage.
Our grandmothers' recipes are not always effective, but they allow the treatment of varicose veins at home, when there is no other option. Do not abuse this, 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 inappropriate lifestyle and excessive stress on the legs. Exercise and diet can reduce the chance of this condition and slow down the onset of symptoms. But varicose veins can only be treated with surgery after a thorough examination.