Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a chronic disease, accompanied by a cluster-shaped expansion of the vessels of the legs. The main causes of varicose veins are hereditary predisposition, excessive load or sedentary lifestyle. Women are more prone to this disease, especially after childbirth. In men, varicose veins of the legs can be due to the presence of arteriovenous communications.
When the first signs of varicose veins appear, which include visible nodular changes in the blood vessels, pain and swelling in the legs and feet, it is advisable to consult a doctor. After an accurate examination and diagnosis, the doctor will determine how to treat varicose veins in each case.
Conservative therapy
Conservative treatment of varicose veins is quite diverse and can only reduce the manifestations of this disease, but not cure its cause.
RPM 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. Some of the most effective include:
Training bike"
- Bike: Lying on your back, alternately move your legs in a circular fashion.
- Roll a tennis or baseball on the ground with your feet. If you use a special massage ball, you can improve microcirculation.
- When standing on the toes, the calf muscle is well trained, which compresses the varicose veins.
- Swimming with a kickboard will help bring all the leg muscles into excellent physical shape with minimal stress on them.
A diet designed to reduce excess weight, rich in vegetable fiber and limiting the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, helps reduce the load on the legs and can be successfully used to treat varicose veins at home.
Knitwear (socks, stockings) for the treatment of varicose veins differ in the degree of compression. To properly put it at home, you often have to use special devices. It is necessary to wear underwear throughout the day, removing them 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 outflow. Instead of medical knitwear, to treat varicose veins, you can use a regular elastic bandage, which is wound in a spiral from the fingertips to the middle of the thigh with a heel grip. It is important that the new round overlaps the previous one by at least half.
A pneumatic massager, consisting of several cuffs in 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, due to which blood circulation improves and swelling decreases. 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 onset of the disease or with the development of complications.
Major drug classes include:
- Verotonics increase the tone of the veins, relieve swelling and improve peripheral blood flow.
- Drugs that improve microcirculation are effective when taken orally or in the form of droppers.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent blood clots. These include ointments with heparin.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling of varicose veins.
The use of all drugs should be agreed with the doctor, as there is a possibility of side effects.
It is impossible to cure varicose veins using folk methods, you can only slow down the process and delay the onset of serious complications, such as thrombophlebitis.
When is surgery indicated?
Surgical treatment for varicose veins does not always involve open surgery. Thanks to modern advances, it is possible to remove varicose veins from the legs on an outpatient basis. The following methods of radical treatment are most often used:
- Sclerotherapy is based on the introduction into the lumen of the affected vein of a substance that sticks it together and cuts off the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for vessels of small diameter in the early stages of the disease. The recidivism rate is 30%.
- Radiofrequency ablation and laser ablation are modern and effective treatment methods that lead to the destruction of the inner wall of the vein. It is performed under local anesthesia and leaves no marks on the skin.
- Phlebectomy is the direct removal of a vein through small incisions. This method allows you to cure varicose veins, but it gradually fades, since the operation is quite traumatic and the rehabilitation period is long.
How traditional medicine can help
Varicose veins of the legs are a fairly common problem, including in pregnant women, for which treatment with conventional methods is contraindicated. That is why so many folk remedy recipes have been created to alleviate the manifestations of this disease at home:
- A decoction of common 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 them.
- When treating with apple cider vinegar, it is necessary to rub your feet daily for a month and at the same time drink a teaspoon of it dissolved in water.
- Sliced green tomatoes or grated raw potatoes can be applied to compacted bumps 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 dry St. John's wort, 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.
Recipes from our grandmothers are not always effective, but they make it possible to treat varicose veins at home when there is no other possibility. Do not overdo it, it is better to contact a vascular surgeon for examination and treatment.
In the development of varicose veins, a hereditary factor, an unhealthy lifestyle and excessive stress on the legs play an important role. To reduce the likelihood of this disease and slow down the development of symptoms, you can perform special exercises and diet. But it is possible to cure varicose veins only surgically after a full examination.