Today, the problem of varicose veins is relevant, since every fourth person faces this disease, which is accompanied by serious symptoms and often leads to a dangerous complication - thrombophlebitis.This article will introduce you to very effective methods of treating and preventing varicose veins.
Varicose veins: causes and symptoms
With varicose veins, the functioning of the vessels that carry blood to the heart is disrupted.The disease mainly occurs in women over 30 years old.Due to deformed venous vessels and closed valve flaps, blood cannot flow normally, leading to impaired blood flow to the heart.
The following factors may be prerequisites for the development of a pathological process in blood vessels:
- Genetic predisposition.If one of the parents suffers from varicose veins due to lower valves and weak vessel walls, in 70% of cases the child will inherit this disease.
- Obesity.Excess weight increases the risk of developing varicose veins by 35%, because a large load disrupts the normal blood circulation of the leg veins.
- Pregnancy.Compression of the retroperitoneal veins by the enlarged uterus and a large volume of circulating blood causes varicose veins.
- Hormonal changes.The risk of developing varicose veins increases due to hormonal disorders that weaken the muscular system and blood vessels.
- Lifestyle.Limiting physical activity (hypodynamia) or staying in static positions for a long time has a negative effect on blood circulation.
In addition, the development of varicose veins can be provoked by an unbalanced diet with a deficiency of coarse fiber, which leads to atypical changes in the structure of the vein walls.The possibility of developing this disease cannot be excluded due to wearing shapewear that compresses blood vessels, as well as against the background of frequent stressful situations, alcohol abuse, smoking and leg injuries.
Symptoms depend on the stage of the disease.Even before the appearance of visual signs, we feel a feeling of heaviness in the legs, attributed to normal fatigue.As varicose veins progress, a number of pronounced symptoms are observed: pain in the legs, swelling and cramps in the evening, darkening of the color of the skin of the legs, the appearance of compactions, telangiectasias (spider veins), local enlargement of the leg veins, itching of the skin, indicating the imminent development of trophic disorders.Severe cases of varicose veins are accompanied by dizziness, hyperthermia, bleeding from venous lymph nodes, thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers and phlebothrombosis.
Treatment of varicose veins on the legs
Before prescribing treatment for varicose veins, it is necessary to carry out the following diagnostic procedures: Ultrasound of the veins of the legs (ultrasound and Doppler examination), as well as duplex angiography, rheovasography.After confirming the diagnosis, depending on the stage of the pathological process, the phlebologist can prescribe:
- An operation using microsurgical techniques.In case of severe varicose veins, phlebectomy is performed - removal of the affected veins using a minimally invasive method.Laser or radiofrequency vein coagulation may also be used.At the initial stage, varicose veins are treated with photocoagulation, and spider veins are removed with a laser.
- Sclerotherapy involves injecting drugs into the dilated vein that glue the vein walls together.In this case, the patient wears a compression stocking for about 2 months to form tight adhesions.
- Conservative treatment, which includes taking phlebotonics, antiplatelet agents, antioxidants, anticoagulants and other drugs.This method is relevant in the preoperative period and when surgical removal of veins is impossible.
During treatment and after the procedures, for a month, doctors recommend not lifting heavy objects, wearing compression stockings and elastic bandages, as well as reducing static loads.At the first symptoms of varicose veins, you should contact a phlebologist to avoid the development of a pathological process leading to serious complications.
Disease prevention
To prevent the pathology in question and relieve the first symptoms, it is necessary to follow the basic rules of prevention:
- Exercise regularly, swim and move more.An active lifestyle helps strengthen vein walls and improve blood circulation.
- Do not overuse hot baths, sun exposure and saunas.Excessive exposure to heat reduces the tone of the leg veins and leads to blood stagnation.
- Giving up bad habits is an effective prevention of varicose veins.Many cardiovascular disorders are associated with unlimited alcohol consumption and smoking.
- Perform a warm-up during work involving constant static loads.For example, if your job requires you to constantly sit in front of a computer, you could walk in place, squat, and stretch your feet every hour for 10 minutes.
- Wear comfortable, loose clothing so as not to squeeze the veins in the legs, disrupting blood circulation.In addition, you should not wear shoes with heels higher than 5 cm daily.
- Try to maintain your normal weight or normalize it through diet.
- Take a contrast shower to improve blood circulation, massage your thighs, legs and feet.In a lying position, raise your legs 15 cm above your body more often.
A balanced diet is also an excellent prevention of varicose veins.To avoid disruptions in venous and vascular blood flow, it is necessary to include foods rich in fiber in the diet and limit salt consumption.For those who are at risk, experts recommend eating radishes, raspberries, carrots, rice, wheat and buckwheat porridge more often.In general, if you follow all the rules of prevention, you can avoid the development of varicose veins even with a hereditary predisposition.