Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a chronic disease, accompanied by accumulated vasodilation of the legs. The main causes of varicose veins are hereditary predispositions, excessive exercise or a 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 noticeable nodular changes in 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 leg 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 leg muscles, which helps keep the veins in good shape. Among the most effective are:
- Bicycle: lying on your back, move your legs in a circular motion.
- Roll a tennis or baseball ball on the floor. If you use a special massage ball, you can improve microcirculation.
- When you stand on your toes, the calf muscles are well trained, which compresses the varicose veins.
- Swimming with a board will help to get all the leg muscles in great physical shape with minimal stress on them.
An overweight diet, rich in fiber and limits the intake of animal fats and carbohydrates, reduces stress on the legs and can be used successfully to treat varicose veins at home.
Knitted garments (knee braces, socks) for the treatment of varicose veins vary in the degree of oppression. To wear it correctly at home, you often need to use special equipment. It is necessary to wear underwear all day, removing only at night. The principle of action is based on the external pressure of the vessels with varicose veins of the legs and the improvement of blood flow. Instead of medical sweater, to treat varicose veins, you can use a regular elastic bandage, which is wound into a spiral from the fingertips in the middle of the thigh with a heel grip. It is important that the new turn matches at least the previous half.
A pneumatic massager, which is a series of cuffs in which pressurized air is supplied, 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 edema is reduced. You can use this device at home.
medications
It is usually advisable to treat varicose veins on the legs with oils and tablets only at the beginning of the disease, or with the development of complications.
The main classes of medicines include:
- Verotonics increases the tone of the veins, relieves edema and improves 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 clotting.
- 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
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 methods of radical treatment are most commonly used:
- Scleotherapy is based on the introduction of a substance into the lumen of the affected vein, which joins it and returns it from the systemic circulation. This method is suitable for small diameter vessels in the early stages of the disease. The rate of return 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 - direct removal of a vein, performed through small incisions. This method allows you to cure varicose veins, but gradually fades into the background, as 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 whom conventional treatment is contraindicated. This is why so many recipes for folk remedies have been created to alleviate the manifestations of this disease at home:
- An ordinary stalk decoction 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.
- When treating with apple cider vinegar, you should rub your feet with them every day for a month and at the same time drink a teaspoon of it dissolved in water.
- Chopped green tomatoes or raw mashed potatoes can be applied to hardened buds overnight.
- The substances that make up horse chestnut have a tonic effect on the veins. To prepare a liter of solution, you need to pour 50 g of bouquet of vodka for two weeks. Drink 2 tablespoons three times a day.
- To make an effective oil, you need to take a teaspoon of dried apricots, mushrooms, chamomile, floral and chicory dessert, pour 100 ml of water, boil and mix with badger fat. Apply three times a day for a week under a plastic bandage.
Our grandmothers ’recipes are not always effective, but they allow treating 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.
An inherited factor, an unhealthy lifestyle and excessive stress on the legs play an important role in the development of varicose veins. Exercise and diet can help reduce the likelihood of this condition and slow the onset of symptoms. But varicose veins can only be cured by surgery after a thorough examination.