Treatment of varicose veins

Varicose veins in the legs are not only a cosmetic problem that worries people for their attractiveness, but also a dangerous disease that requires proper treatment and observance of preventive measures.

The causes of varicose veins are numerous: from a sedentary lifestyle, physical overload and ending in hormonal disturbances, congenital weakness of the walls of blood vessels, pregnancy. What Happens During Varicose Veins? With varicose veins of the lower extremities, they lose their normal elasticity and stretch under high blood pressure.

The valves in the veins are normally locked and when blood passes through them, they close and allow blood to flow. If the valves are malfunctioning, blood can be released freely downwards, resulting in blood stasis.

Reasons

Why do varicose veins occur and what is it? The main risk factors for developing the disease are considered to be genetic predisposition and gender. Due to the love for high heels, hormonal changes during pregnancy, and taking birth control pills, women have varicose veins twice as often as men.

The development of the disease is favored by:

1. Heredity. It is not the disease itself that is inherited, but the genetically determined structure of the veins: weak connective tissues of the venous walls, congenital defective venous valves. That is why varicose veins can be seen in young, healthy and active people (regardless of gender) and even in children. According to scientists, genetic predisposition is the main factor behind varicose veins in the legs.
2. Hormonal changes. Due to the characteristics of the body in women, periods of hormonal disturbances become the causes of blood stagnation. For them, the most dangerous periods are puberty, pregnancy, the time after childbirth. The time of menopause is also dangerous. This gender category of patients sees doctors 2-3 times more often. There are not enough hormones in the female organs called estrogen. Instead, the so-called corpus luteum hormones prevail. It is believed that it is he who has a relaxing effect on the muscles. This promotes varicose veins.
3. A sedentary lifestyle, sedentary, or a job that requires many years, contributes to the development of varicose veins.
4. Age. Over time, the valves and venous walls become thinner, which leads to disruption of their work.
5. Obesity. Excess weight leads to increased stress on the veins in the legs.

Steps

There are 3 stages of symptom progression in the development of varicose veins.

1. Compensation step. There is no complaint. On examination, varicose veins on one or both legs are observed.
2. Subcompensation step. On examination, pronounced varicose veins are visible on the legs. Patients complain of a feeling of fullness, paresthesias ("chills") in the shins, night cramps. There is a slight swelling of the feet, ankles and lower legs in the evening. The swelling goes away in the morning.
3. Decompensation step. Dermatitis, eczema join the listed symptoms. Patients worry about the itching. The skin becomes dry, shiny, tightly adheres to the subcutaneous tissue. Minor bleeding and the resulting hemosiderin deposits cause hyperpigmentation.

By itself, varicose veins are not considered a very serious disease, but if they have already developed, they will never go away on their own, and more so, they will progress, leading to all kinds of complications that presentthe greatest danger.

Signs

The first signs indicating the beginning of the development of varicose veins:

• rapid leg fatigue;
• swelling of the lower extremities;
• feeling of heaviness in the legs.

In later stages, spider veins appear on the skin, protruding veins and various seals, indicating congestion in the vessels.

Symptoms of varicose veins in the legs

At different stages of varicose veins symptoms can be different - from small, almost asymptomatic spider veins to severe and painful manifestations.

You can suspect the development of the initial phase by the following symptoms:

• the appearance of pain in the legs, a feeling of heat and sometimes burning in the veins of the legs;
• heaviness in the legs;
• swelling of the legs appears in the evening;
• leg cramps start at night;
• dilated veins;
• the skin on the lower part of the leg acquires a dark color, seals appear, trophic ulcers are possible.

After discovering the primary signs, you should immediately start treating varicose veins - the symptoms will not go away on their own.

Diagnostics

In order to diagnose varicose veins of the lower extremities and prescribe the appropriate treatment, the specialist will offer the patient to undergo a comprehensive examination, which includes various methods.

1. Duplex scanning (ultrasound of the veins) is the most informative method for diagnosing varicose veins in the legs, which helps to get an idea of ​​the degree of varicose veins, the direction of blood flow in the veins, andof their permeability, as well as to detect the presence of blood clots (thrombi).
2. Contrast venography, which is a method of examination that allows you to detect dilated veins and find out the degree of their permeability to blood.

Only a highly qualified phlebologist can diagnose deep vein varicose veins.

Varicose veins in women

Many women suffer from varicose veins. This is due to the predisposition of women to the disease due to the peculiarities of the female hormonal system. In addition, pregnancy and childbirth in most cases become the cause of varicose veins, as there is an increased stress effect and increased blood flow to the pelvic organs.

In addition to varicose veins of the lower extremities, women often develop varicose veins in the perineal region, affecting the external genitalia, as a result of congenital or acquired weakness of the vessel wall and valve insufficiency. Exposure to external (prolonged static stress, heavy physical activity) or internal (excess body weight, diseases of the pelvic organs in chronic form) leads to the formation of varicose veins.

Important! The question of the influence of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy remains open.

Development of varicose veins during pregnancy

Achieving each subsequent pregnancy greatly increases the chances of a woman developing venous insufficiency and the formation of varicose veins. This is due to hormonal changes in the female body and a significant increase in the load on the veins.

Pregnancy greatly increases the risk of developing varicose veins of the lower extremities, this is facilitated by the following reasons:

1. Hormones circulating in the blood during pregnancy increase the elasticity of the venous wall and contribute to the congestion of venous blood in the legs.
2. The increased intra-abdominal pressure in late pregnancy makes it difficult for blood to flow through the veins in the legs.
3. Varicose veins that occur during pregnancy may go away completely after childbirth, or progress further, depending on individual factors (heredity, presence of other contributing factors).

Varicose veins in men

Varicose veins often occur in men in the form of varicocele - varicose veins of the spermatic cord. Symptoms of the disease:

• pain in the testicle and a feeling of heaviness, scrotum, along the spermatic cord, which increases with physical exertion and prolonged standing;
• When palpating the scrotum, convoluted veins of the spermatic cord are determined.

The development of varicocele becomes the cause of male infertility due to impaired blood circulation and concomitant pathological changes in the normal functioning of the testes:

• there is an increase in the temperature of the testes to body temperature. High temperature affects the course of spermatogenesis;
• testicular hypoxia (lack of oxygen, ischemia);
• accumulation of free radicals in testicular tissues, disrupting their activity.

The treatment of varicose veins in men consists of surgery if there are indications: pain in the testicle, infertility, cosmetic defect of the scrotum, lack of growth of the testicle reached during puberty. However, the disease can be asymptomatic and not cause significant discomfort in humans.

In adolescents and children, when diagnosing varicocele, surgery is necessary at any stage of the disease, this prevents the further development of infertility.

Operations are performed both openly and endoscopically. It is possible to perform surgery from a mini-access and microsurgical testicular revascularization.

Varicose veins in children

Children are also likely to develop varicose veins. For them, this phenomenon is extremely rare and in most cases is a consequence of congenital pathology - angiodysplasia, abnormalities of the peripheral vascular system. The disease mainly affects the lower limbs. As a result, pronounced anatomical functional disorders occur. This leads to irreversible changes and early disability.

Important! The effectiveness of treatment depends on the age of the child. Requires immediate hospitalization at the first signs of varicose veins. In this case, surgery is indicated.

In addition, the development of varicose veins in adolescence has become a fairly common occurrence. This disease mainly affects girls. It can be caused by:

• hormonal changes in the adolescent's body;
• hereditary predisposition.

Among the factors affecting the appearance of varicose veins in children are:

• strabismus, flat feet, hernias;
• bad posture;
• ill-fitting shoes;
• overweight.

For preventive purposes, in order to avoid the development of varicose veins, it is necessary to monitor the child's nutrition. The diet should be balanced, it is useful to include in the diet foods rich in routine. It is found in large quantities in hazelnuts, horse chestnuts, as well as berries - rose hips, sea buckthorn, black currant. Decoctions and juices from these berries can have a preventive and general strengthening effect on the body.

Pelvic varices

Varicose veins can also appear in the pelvic area. In this form, it is found in most cases in women, which is associated with the peculiarities of the blood supply to the female body. Enlarged veins cause a feeling of pain and heaviness in the pelvic area, which can be caused by venous congestion.

The development of varicose veins in the small pelvis occurs for several reasons:

• pregnancy and childbirth;
• change in the shape of the uterus;
• lifting and carrying weights;
• hereditary predisposition;
• lack of physical activity;
• sedentary work;
• taking oral contraceptives.

If there are risk factors and symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to undergo an examination. In the early stages, it is possible to detect varicose veins of the small pelvis with ultrasound diagnosis. A preliminary diagnosis is also possible with a pelvic examination during a standard procedure.

Treatment of the disease includes taking venotonic drugs, wearing special compression underwear, therapeutic and prophylactic gymnastics. It is also necessary to exclude risk factors and to be regularly monitored by a gynecologist. With the ineffectiveness of conservative treatment methods, surgical intervention is indicated.

Treatment of varicose veins in the legs

For varicose veins in the legs, treatment may not be a medical necessity unless the symptoms are problematic.

However, some people may want to be treated for varicose veins for cosmetic reasons because they are not satisfied with their appearance.

Let's look at the main methods that will help get rid of this problem.

1. Sclerotherapy. This method of treatment is used both independently and in combination with conservative procedures. Its essence is that a special preparation that fills it is injected into a vein with a thin needle or syringe, and then the vein completely disappears. The sessions take place once a week, 3 to 6 of these sessions are required. The method prevents scars and scars.
2. Non-surgical treatment. If varicose veins are in their early stages and are not causing too much discomfort, elastic compression stockings may be recommended. They are worn during daily activities. They help tighten the veins, preventing them from stretching and limiting any discomfort or pain.
3. Medical treatment for varicose veins relieves symptoms, reduces swelling and pain, slows down the development process, but fails to completely stop the disease and restore damaged veins.
4. Laser treatment for varicose veins in the legs can be used on the surface of the skin. With the help of a small flash of laser light, a sclerotic process develops in the venous wall and the varicose vein disappears as if it were removed.

Physical activity - brisk walking, gymnastics, swimming and exercise in water (excluding sports exercises with a strong load on the legs - tennis, weight lifting, jumping) play a roleimportant in treatment and prevention.

Venotonic preparations

The action of these drugs is aimed at increasing the tone of smooth muscles in the walls of blood vessels, which allows them to maintain their elasticity and normalize blood circulation in the affected areas.

Most venotonics are complex drugs. The effect obtained when using them extends not only to the veins, but also to all the vessels in our body.

How to treat varicose veins with folk remedies

There are a large number of methods of treating varicose veins on the legs with folk remedies, both for external and internal use. Here are the most common:

1. Horse chestnut flowers (50 grams), you need to pour 500 g of alcohol, then let it brew for 14 days, shaking the bottle every day. Pass the tincture through a net and consume a tablespoon with water, three times a day before meals. How to cure for a week - take a break for two weeks. Thereafter, processing can be restarted.
2. Infusion of dried nettle is used for varicose veins. The crushed dry leaves of the plant are poured into a thermos with 1/2 liter of boiling water, infused for 30-40 minutes, filtered and taken 1/3 cup 3 times a day 1 hour after meals.
3. Tomato compress. Finely chopped tomato, lying on a bandage, gauze and applied to the sore spot. For convenience, you can tie it with a rubber band or other bandage. Such a compress lasts in the vein for 2 hours, then passes to a new one, and so on for a total of 3 times. The advantage of this compress is that it can be repeated every day.
4. Walnut oil tincture: chop unripe nuts, pour into a glass container, add olive oil and steep for 40 days in a sunny place. Lubricate sensitive points with a ready-to-use stain. The course of treatment is long, as with the use of Kalanchoe.

In addition to folk remedies, many patients with varicose veins supplement therapy with special gymnastics - Mikulin exercises allow you to feel a significant improvement.

Varicose veins are predominantly female diseases associated with constant wearing of high heels, pregnancy, childbirth and a number of other circumstances. But the disease can also affect men, especially if they have a professional activity that requires more physical effort. Since varicose veins cause severe wear and tear on the veins, which can lead to their atrophy and thrombosis, it is important to diagnose the disease in time and treat it. It can be achieved by operational and conservative methods. Treatment can only be selected by the attending physician.

Traditional methods of treating varicose veins

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar may relieve pain from varicose veins

This home remedy is used in two ways. The first is to rub a small amount of apple cider vinegar into the affected areas 1-2 times a day. The last technique is best done before bed, so that you can calm sore limbs and improve sleep. If the varicose veins are localized, you can soak a clean gauze with vinegar and apply it to the sore spot for 5-10 minutes. Such manipulations are also repeated 1-2 times a day. The duration of treatment is 2 to 3 weeks. A mandatory monthly break is required between classes.

Honey ointment

To make an effective home remedy, you need to use beeswax, propolis, and olive oil. These ingredients should be taken in a ratio of 2: 1: 1, respectively. After shaking the components well, they should be stored in the refrigerator. Apply homemade ointment twice a day morning and night, you don't need to rinse the product off. Therapy can be carried out for 3-4 weeks, after which it is necessary to take a break for the same period.

Horse chestnut

Horse chestnut solution is an effective remedy for varicose veins

To prepare the solution, collect a half-liter jar of chestnuts and peel the fruit. After that, the plant should be poured with 200 ml of alcohol or vodka, the resulting solution is inserted only in a dark and cool place for 14 days, for this you can use the lower drawer of the refrigerator. After settling, it is necessary to take 30 drops of the resulting infusion three times after the main meals. The duration of such treatment is 20-30 days.

The tincture can also be used as a rub, in which case the product cannot be taken internally. They rub their feet before going to bed, it is recommended to wash them first. After the product is applied, you should immediately go to bed. Use the chestnut tincture in this way daily for a month. In both cases, a three-month break is necessary between treatments.

Potato juice

Potato juice for varicose veins is used in the form of compresses

This remedy can be used for the initial degree of varicose veins, as well as for ulcers in the affected area. To do this, you need to wipe the raw potatoes, and then saturate them with a clean gauze bandage. It is applied to the ulcerative lesion for five hours. After that, the compress should be changed. You can use potato applications 1-2 times a day for two weeks. Breaks between treatments should be at least three to four weeks.

Attention!The real effectiveness of folk remedies for varicose veins is still in doubt. Therefore, it is recommended to use such methods only with the permission of a doctor and in combination with traditional medicines.

When is it urgent to see a doctor?

In severe cases of exacerbation of varicose veins, conditions may develop that require immediate medical attention. These cases include the following processes:

• the pain in the affected area is so intense that it is impossible to move a limb and get out of bed;
• the skin on palpation is characterized by increased temperature, the wound is swollen and very dense;
• the skin has changed from normal to bluish or close to red and purple;
• there is sudden shortness of breath, it is difficult to take even short breaths;
• there is increased sweating and severe weakness of the whole body;
• there is bleeding from the affected vein or the whole area.

Attention!Similar conditions can occur not only in women, but also in men and children, if they suffer from varicose veins. Delay in this case may threaten the death of the patient if the necessary medical assistance is not provided.

Complications (consequences) of varicose veins

Varicose veins can cause serious complications. At the last stage of the development of varicose veins, extreme thinning of the walls of blood vessels is observed, in this regard, the risk of the appearance of trophic ulcers - poorly healing open wounds on the vessels, occurring even with minor trauma, increases.

Thrombophlebitis develops as a result of the rupture of the varicose node. During the onset, the formation of thrombosis occurs with inflammation of the venous wall and a thrombus is formed that closes its lumen.

With the development of acute thrombophlebitis, severe pain appears in the area of ​​thrombosed veins, body temperature rises, accompanied by chills. With thrombophlebitis of the superficial veins, painful seals with redness of the skin along the veins are characteristic. Deep vein thrombophlebitis is accompanied by edema of the extremities due to a sharp violation of venous outflow.

Disease prevention

Preventive measures play an important role in the presence of risk factors for the development of varicose veins. Therefore, you should not ignore their observance even with already diagnosed varicose veins. This will avoid its further development and the need for surgical intervention.

In order to reduce the risk of developing varicose veins it is necessary: ​​

• moderate physical activity, a visit to the swimming pool is particularly useful. Swimming has a massage effect, having a beneficial effect on the blood vessels without unnecessary stress;
• strengthen the walls of the blood vessels with a contrast shower. Complete hygiene procedures with a contrasting foot shower. To do this, water your feet for 10 minutes, alternating cold and hot water;
• change the diet - reduce the consumption of fatty foods, including in the routine rich diet;
• wear compression underwear, especially with increased physical strain on the legs;
• Provides vitamins and mineral complexes that improve immunity, strengthen vessel walls and reduce the risk of blood clots.

Exercises

The prevention and treatment of varicose veins also involves performing therapeutic and prophylactic gymnastic exercises aimed at improving blood circulation and getting rid of signs of blood stagnation.

Important! It is beneficial to do these exercises on a regular daily basis.

It is necessary to start classes with preliminary preparation of the legs: for this you need to lie on your back, placing your feet on the cushion or the back of the sofa. Stay in this position for 10 to 15 minutes.

Then, while lying down, start the exercises:

1. bicycle - bend the knees to imitate pedaling;
2. flexion-extension of the feet in the ankle joint - the legs are extended, alternately perform flexion and extension movements;
3. then work your toes in the same way;
4. raise your legs at an angle and turn your feet in and out;
5. while lying down, perform the scissors exercise: alternately cross your legs;
6. standing, perform the walk in place, while keeping the socks on;
7. While standing, we climb on our toes: inhaling, up, out, we go down.

Varicose veins disease develops for a long time, so when the first signs appear, there is a chance to stop its course. But the only method to get rid of varicose veins completely is by surgical removal of the veins.