Varicose veins are a fairly common disease in the adult population. According to the World Health Organization, about 40% of people are affected by this disease to varying degrees of severity.
The disease occurs more often in women; every fifth representative of the fair sex is prone to varicose veins. Men suffer from this disease to a lesser extent and only 10% struggle with this problem.
In the initial stages, the disease is harmless and not life-threatening for the patient, but later dangerous diseases can develop, for example thrombophlebitis. The resulting blood clots pose a serious threat to life.
Depending on the etiology, two forms of varicose veins are distinguished, they are shown in the table:
| Primary | Secondary | |
|---|---|---|
| Caused | Weakening, disruption of the structure of the venous wall | Impaired outflow of venous blood due to malfunction of vascular valves |
| Complicating factors | Obesity, pregnancy, standing work, pinching of the veins by clothing, congenital weakness of the vein walls | Development of various types of tumors, disruption caused by trauma |
Causes of the disease
The essence of the disease lies in an abnormal increase in pressure in the superficial vessels due to disruption of the valves that normally facilitate the flow of venous blood in one direction (toward the heart). When disrupted, the valves become weaker and blood begins to stagnate in the veins, which leads to their stretching, the formation of knots, etc. In this case, a slowdown in blood flow is observed, which leads to disruption of the trophism of cells and tissues and the formation of ulcerative processes.
Main causes of the disease:
- genetic predisposition;
- long stay in an upright position;
- limited movement throughout the day;
- Disturbances in the endocrine system, both due to illness and due to taking hormonal drugs;
- Pregnancy;
- physical activity of various types (at work, in the gym, at the dacha, etc. );
- lower limb injuries;
- bad habits, especially smoking.
Note.The risk group includes people who are on their feet all day, sit and move little, for example salespeople, teachers, drivers, people who sit at the computer, etc.
The thing is that people who sit for a long time squeeze the blood vessels, which slows down blood circulation. Therefore, in this case, varicose veins develop regardless of age, and in people who stand for a long time, the blood, according to physical laws, exerts constant pressure on the vessels, as a result of which they begin to deform, which leads to the development of the disease.
Also at risk are:
- Women wear high-heeled shoes;
- People who participate in sports that place strain on the legs (weight training, tennis);
- all people who work while standing;
- When sitting, people cross one leg over the other out of habit;
- People who drink a lot of coffee and alcoholic beverages, which contribute to thickening of the blood and thereby impair drainage.
How do you recognize the disease?
The first sign of varicose veins is the appearance of fatigue in the legs at the end of the day, the appearance of swelling, which is why shoes become tight. In some cases, cramps and pain in the calf muscles are also possible.
You can visually recognize the manifestation of the disease by the so-called stars, which consist of changed inflamed blood vessels. As varicose vein formation progresses, irreversible pathologies arise in larger diameter vessels that appear under the skin. The gnarled appearance of the latter is due to the finishing of the walls in certain places.
Main features
In order to understand more precisely whether it is varicose veins or not, we list the most important signs of the disease:
- pain and heaviness in the legs;
- unpleasant warm, burning pain along the veins;
- after a day of work, swelling of the legs is clearly visible;
- nighttime leg cramps;
- The veins become wider, more tortuous, and feel denser.
- the epithelium of the legs becomes denser and darker;
- Trophic ulcers are possible.
Prevention and treatment
If you notice symptoms of varicose veins, you should consult a specialist. Treatment and prevention of varicose veins requires contacting medical institutions.
Only a doctor, after establishing the exact diagnosis, should determine therapy and eliminate the causes. There are a number of simple rules, compliance with which can stop the development of the disease or, in some cases, even help prevent the development of the disease.
The most important ones are listed below:
- Avoid temperature effects on the veins. Hot baths, saunas and prolonged exposure to the sun lead to a decrease in vascular tone, which leads to stagnation of blood, especially in the legs;
- Physical activity. All sports, except those involving high stress, are beneficial for the cardiovascular system. Light running, aerobics, morning exercises and fitness strengthen the veins particularly well.
- Overweight. For various reasons, the condition of the blood and blood vessels deteriorates in obese people. A larger volume creates a larger pressure, the heart has to work much harder to pump all the blood, excess cholesterol leads to clogging of blood vessels, the development of atherosclerosis, thrombosis and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Advice.If you do not have varicose veins and want to feel cheerful, carefully monitor your weight and prevent the development of obesity.
- Tight, restrictive clothing hinders blood circulation. Avoid tight-fitting stockings, socks and tights with tight elastic bands, do not pull the belt too tight and generally avoid any compression of the veins.
It should be noted that there are special support stockings and tights to prevent the development of varicose veins. - Distribute the load when working, change your position, do not remain static for a long time.
- When sitting, do not put one leg on top of the other. This impairs the passage of venous blood through the vessels.
- More movement. A static position while sitting and especially in an upright position for a long period of time provokes the development of the disease due to increased pressure in the legs and a slowdown in the outflow of venous blood. Therefore: the more movements, the better. Take breaks, change positions, etc.
- Normalization of bowel movements. Both constipation and diarrhea have a negative effect on the vascular system. Therefore, make sure your diet includes foods rich in fiber. Avoid legumes, beer and yeast products if you are prone to bloating.
- Eat less salt. Salt and then drinking fluids cause swelling.
- Do limb exercises. Before going to bed and after waking up in the morning, it is useful to make twisting movements with your fingers and toes for several minutes, this improves blood circulation.
- Avoid tight shoes, and the one with high heels.
- After a day of work at home, make it a rule to wash or rinse your feet with cold water.
Note that it is useful to prevent varicose veins by walking barefoot through the dew or along the shore at the surf line and getting your feet wet.
If there are no manifestations of varicose veins, but there is a predisposition to this disease, it makes sense to massage the legs every day. It is very easy to do. The technique consists of stroking the legs and kneading.
Note.Massage is contraindicated if the doctor has diagnosed varicose veins!
Patients are advised to elevate their lower limbs when resting or sleeping. To do this, it is recommended to place your feet on a hill; To do this, use all available means, you can put a pillow or cushion.
A contrast shower for your feet helps, or rinsing your feet with cool or cold water after a warm shower.
Swimming is indicated for varicose veins, as it not only makes all muscle groups work, but also perfectly strengthens the blood vessels. Morning jogging, hiking, cycling and skiing are also good options.
physical therapy
The treatment and prevention of varicose veins will be successful if you do gymnastics.
Below are simple exercises that you can do without being distracted from work or household chores:
- Calf raises. The instructions to follow are simple. To do this, you need to stand straight, legs together, feet next to each other. Do about 30 lifts, standing on your toes and returning to the starting position. There are three types of exercises:
- Toes next to each other, heels next to each other;
- Toes side by side, heels apart;
- Heels closed, toes apart.
It is recommended to perform all variations 20-30 times for each position;
- Roll on your feet. Stand up straight, feet together. Roll from toes to heels. Repeat this on the inside and back of the feet as well. The number of repetitions is arbitrary; spend 2-3 minutes doing the exercises.
- Bicycle. Can be performed both lying down and sitting on a chair. Use your feet to mimic riding a bike, as shown in the photo. When performing the exercise, the legs should be fully extended. 30-40 repetitions are enough.
Nutrition and diet
Proper nutrition and adherence to a diet not only help to cope with varicose veins, but also have a positive effect on the entire body. Enrich your diet with plant foods, especially fruits, and avoid fatty, spicy, salty and smoked foods, which lead to blood thickening and blood clots.
Vegetarian diet is preferable, but since it is not suitable for everyone, try to give preference to lean meat, fish and animal proteins of marine origin. Reduce alcohol consumption as much as possible, eat more fortified foods, especially rich in vitamins A, B, C and E.
The former and latter contribute to strengthening the epithelial vascular walls, and also increase the body's overall immunity. Regular intake of vitamins C and E helps strengthen the collagen fibers of blood vessels and their valves.
Scientists have proven that eating fresh garlic has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system thanks to its unique chemical composition. Let's just focus on the impact.
Garlic prevents the formation of blood clots and promotes the dissolution of existing blood clots, thereby preventing the development of atherosclerosis and varicose veins. In addition, it stimulates the body's defense mechanisms and helps prevent colds.
It is important to note that you should not overuse garlic. It is enough to eat a few cloves a day. If you depend too much on this spice, you may experience stomach and heart problems.
Some basic nutritional rules:
- Lean meat, steamed or boiled, is recommended;
- Lactic acid products such as yogurt, kefir and cheese are very healthy, especially if their fat content is low;
- Increase your consumption of vegetables, whole grains and legumes. They are rich in fiber and potassium compounds. The former helps combat toxins in the body and constipation; Potassium regulates the channels during water-salt metabolism in the tissues of the body. Please note that industrial processing reduces the amount of useful microelements and eliminates the beneficial properties of fiber;
- it is advisable to reduce the amount of fast (sweet) carbohydrates and salt to a minimum;
- For cooking, use dishes with a special coating that allows cooking food without the use of fat that heats up on the surface.
- Replace animal fats with vegetable fats. Do not cook in the same oil twice.
- For salad dressing, use olive oil, low-calorie sour cream, kefir or yogurt.
Treatment of varicose veins
Varicose veins are quite difficult to treat and it is much easier to prevent their occurrence or control the development of the disease by slowing down its progression. When the disease is diagnosed, according to statistics, about 15-20% of patients are completely cured, but you should not despair.
Damaged veins have a stretched structure, which leads to stagnant processes in them. For severe vascular lesions, surgical treatment by ear removal is necessary to prevent further spread of the disease to healthy veins.
Today there are many methods of treating the disease. In most cases, these are minimally invasive techniques and the patient only ends up on the operating table when the condition is advanced.
Among the most used we highlight the following:
- Sclerotherapy.In simple words: removal of a vein without direct surgical intervention. The bottom line is that a special drug is injected into the damaged blood vessel using a needle, which glues the walls of the veins and dissolves on its own after about a week.
- Laser therapy.A special probe connected to a laser is inserted into the vein through a microincision. The vein is burned from the inside, which leads to sticking of its walls and subsequent resorption.
Basic treatment techniques
Early detection of the disease contributes to successful treatment if it is started on time. The more severe the varicose veins are, the more difficult it is to treat the disease.
Among the main techniques, therapeutic massage has proven itself well, but on the condition that it is carried out by a specialist. Proper manipulation of the legs increases blood flow and reduces clogging of blood vessels.
Treatment often includes wrapping the limbs with elastic bandages or wearing special compression stockings. This helps to avoid the development of the disease and the occurrence of complications such as thrombophlebitis.
Due to the additional compression, the veins are compressed, their lumens narrow, which leads to increased blood flow and reduces clogging of the vessels. This prevents the blood from thickening and blood clots from forming.
Treatment also includes compliance with all the basic preventive measures described above. Particular attention should be paid to diets, the fight against excess weight, regular rest and therapeutic exercises.
After consultation with the attending physician, drug therapy and the use of various creams and ointments are prescribed. Medicines taken orally have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect and also help to thin the blood and strengthen the vascular walls.
The cream for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins leads to the same result. The price of such drugs is affordable, they are available without a prescription. Their use does not cause complications, but it is still advisable to seek professional advice from a doctor.
Traditional treatment methods
Treating and preventing varicose veins with traditional medicine is not a panacea against the disease, but it can improve the results of basic treatment and relieve symptoms, especially since it can be conveniently used at home.
The most popular methods are the following:
- taking baths with a decoction of medicinal herbs (St. John's wort, chamomile, plantain, etc. ), which help strengthen blood vessels and increase blood circulation;
- Compresses with sea buckthorn oil or aloe juice have an excellent wound-healing effect and are used to treat eczema and trophic ulcers (honey applications can also be used for this purpose);
- the use of decoctions or tinctures of herbs that contribute to blood thinning (hawthorn, licorice or angelica root, sweet clover herb and others).
Complications of varicose veins
If varicose veins are not treated or not taken seriously, stagnant processes occur, leading to the development of the disease and a number of concomitant diseases that significantly worsen the general condition and reduce the comfort of life. The nutrition of the epithelial layers of the skin deteriorates.
This leads to the appearance of eczema, necrosis or trophic ulcers, which become chronic. The formation of blood clots causes the veins to become unusually tortuous and bulge greatly.
Limescale begins to deposit in them and so-called "vein stones" form. Nodules that appear can burst and bleed. The swelling of the legs becomes permanent and "elephantiasis" occurs.