Varicose veins of the lower extremities is a chronic disease, accompanied by cluster vasodilation of the legs. 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 representatives of the male gender, varicose veins on the legs may be due to the presence of arteriovenous messages.
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 consult a doctor. After an examination and an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will determine how to treat varicose veins in the legs in each case.
Conservative therapy
Conservative therapy for varicose veins is quite diverse and can only reduce the manifestations of this disease, but not cure the cause.
Diet and compression
Special exercises for varicose veins that anyone can do at home. They are intended to strengthen the muscles of the legs, which helps to keep the veins in good shape. Among the most effective are:
- Bicycle: lying on your back, alternately move your legs in a circular fashion.
- Roll a tennis or baseball ball on the ground with your feet. If you use a special massage ball, it can improve microcirculation.
- When standing on tiptoe, the calf muscle is well trained, which compresses the varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will help keep all your leg muscles in excellent physical shape with minimal stress.
A diet for the overweight, high in fiber and that limits the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, reduces stress on the legs and can be used successfully to treat varicose veins at home.
Knitwear (knee length, stockings) for the treatment of varicose veins differ in the degree of compression. To put it on correctly at home, it is often necessary to use special devices. It is necessary to wear underwear throughout the day, taking off only at night. The principle of action is based on the external compression of the varicose vessels of the legs and the improvement of blood flow. Instead of a medical t-shirt, to treat varicose veins, you can use a normal elastic bandage, which is wound in a spiral from the fingertips to the middle of the thigh with a grip on the heel. It is important that the new twist overlaps the old one by at least half.
A pneumatic massager, which is a series of cuffs to which air is supplied 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 blood circulation is improved and edema is reduced. You can use this device at home.
Medicines
It is advisable to treat varicose veins on the legs with ointments and tablets only at the beginning of the disease or with the development of complications.
The main classes of drugs include:
- Verotonics increase the tone of the veins, relieve edema and improve the outflow of peripheral blood.
- Medications that improve microcirculation are effective when taken by mouth or as droppers.
- Antiplatelet agents that prevent blood clots.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling in varicose veins.
The use of all medications must be agreed with the doctor, as there is the possibility of side effects.
It is impossible to cure varicose veins with traditional methods; it can only slow down the process and delay the onset of serious complications, for example, thrombophlebitis.
When is surgery indicated
Surgical treatment of varicose veins does not always involve open surgery. Thanks to modern advances, there is the possibility of outpatient removal of varicose veins in the legs. The following radical treatment methods are the most used:
- Sclerotherapy is based on the introduction of a substance into the lumen of the affected vein, which sticks it and turns it off from systemic circulation. This method is suitable for vessels of small diameter in the initial stages of the disease. The relapse 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 does not leave marks on the skin.
- Phlebectomy: direct removal of a vein, performed through small incisions. This method allows you to cure varicose veins, but gradually fades into the background, since the operation is quite traumatic, and the rehabilitation period is long.
How Traditional Medicine Can Help
Varicose veins in the legs are a fairly common problem, even among pregnant women, for whom conventional treatment is contraindicated. That is why so many recipes for home 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 need to rub your feet with them 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 dried St. John's wort, colt's foot, 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.
The recipes of our grandmothers 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 better to contact a vascular surgeon for examination and treatment.
In the development of varicose veins, a hereditary factor plays an important role, an improper lifestyle and excessive stress on the legs. Exercise and diet can help reduce the likelihood of this condition and delay the onset of symptoms. But varicose veins can only be cured by surgery after a thorough examination.