Thanks to the veins, the blood in the human body flows to the heart. Varicose veins of the lower extremities cause widening and lengthening of the veins. This disease is widespread today. Women between the ages of thirty and forty suffer the most. Let's take a closer look at why varicose veins develop on the legs, how they are diagnosed and treated.
Why does disease develop?
Varicose veins of the lower extremities develop gradually. It is promoted by various unfavorable factors for veins, which are felt over time in the form of the formation of knots and networks.
Causes of varicose veins on the legs:
- Excessive weight;
- The intestines cannot cope with their work, which is why constipation often occurs;
- Flat feet;
- High blood pressure;
- Passive lifestyle;
- Great physical activity;
- Prolonged tension in the legs.
Due to the extra weight, the legs are subjected to great stress, which leads to stagnation of blood in the veins. Also, if the intestines do not function, the functioning of all organs and systems of the human body is impaired. Since blood travels a long way before returning to the heart from the lower extremities. And if the intestines work intermittently, the venous blood will not be able to return to the top, which leads to its stagnation in the legs.
In addition to the factors described above, diseases of the pelvic organs, as well as hormonal imbalance along with pregnancy, stress, antibiotics, alcoholic beverages, and smoking contribute to the development of the disease.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities are inherited at the genetic level. Because it is passed down from parents, children can start suffering from varicose veins from a young age. Therefore, it is important to carry out disease prevention, which will help prevent diseases and prevent the development of serious complications.
Symptoms and diagnosis of the disease
The main symptoms of varicose veins in the legs are as follows:
- Swelling of the legs at the end of the working day;
- Feeling of fullness and heaviness in the lower leg area after sitting or standing for a long time in one place;
- Tingling in the legs;
- Appearance of cyanosis of the legs;
- Formation of webs and stars on legs.
If these symptoms appear, it is important to see a phlebologist or vascular surgeon immediately. If you start treatment in time, you can prevent the development of complications.
The specialist will carefully examine the patient and listen to complaints. They will also prescribe all the tests and undergo the necessary examinations. For accurate diagnosis and prescription of correct and effective treatment, the doctor prescribes the following studies:
- An ultrasound examination of the veins, called a duplex vein scan. Thanks to the ultrasound, an experienced specialist will see the condition of the patency of the veins, as well as how wide they are. In addition, such a study will tell you if there are blood clots in the veins and in which direction the blood flows;
- By using contrast venography, it is possible to accurately diagnose varicose veins of the lower extremities. Thanks to venography, the condition of the veins is assessed, the presence of blood clots and tumors is determined. During this study, a substance that dyes the blood blue is injected into the leg area, which allows an impression of the patient's veins to be made on the X-ray.
Most often, examination of veins is carried out by duplex scanning.
When to see a doctor urgently
Since varicose veins are dangerous for the human body, it is important to seek medical help immediately in the following situations:
- If a strong and sharp pain occurs in the legs during any movement;
- If in the morning, when you want to get out of bed, you feel a sharp pain in your leg. In this case, the leg has a swollen, thick appearance, and the skin burns;
- If, in addition to pain, there is weakness in the whole body, difficulty breathing and a constant feeling of lack of oxygen;
- If the leg affected by varicose veins begins to leak blood.
The above symptoms make a person to consult a doctor immediately to prevent unwanted bad consequences.
Proper treatment of varicose veins
Taking into account the advanced state of the disease, emerging complications associated with varicose veins, as well as the patient's age, the doctor prescribes conservative or surgical treatment.
Varicose veins are treated with the following methods:
- Treatment of diseases without surgery. This method of treatment is effective only at the first symptoms of varicose veins. Conservative treatment methods include wearing special compression garments, following a special diet and regularly performing a range of physical activities.
On the advice of a doctor, you can choose special knee socks or foot socks, with a certain compression. You can also wrap your legs with elastic compression bandages. Such underwear should be worn all day and removed only before going to bed.
A special massage, performed with special cuffs filled with air, is also useful. Thanks to pneumomassage, blood circulation improves, tissues breathe better, pain and discomfort associated with varicose veins disappear;
- Treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities is also carried out with the help of drugs, which are divided into venotonics, anticoagulants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Anticoagulants prevent the formation of blood clots in the veins.
Thanks to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, inflammation and pain are removed.
- Varicose veins are also treated with leeches. Leeches bite the skin, dig it and release hirudin, which thins the blood and prevents the formation of blood clots;
- Treatment with sclerotherapy, in which the affected veins are completely removed. The procedure goes like this. The doctor injects a special medicine into the vein that connects the veins and prevents blood flow. Because of this, the veins are degraded. The vein completely recedes within a year. This procedure does not interfere with blood circulation. To completely cure varicose veins with sclerotherapy, it is necessary to undergo three to six such sessions;
- Varicose veins are also treated with a laser. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. The first results will be visible within three weeks of such treatment;
- If the conservative methods described above do not give results, the doctor resorts to surgical treatment. On the second day after surgery, the patient can already walk independently.
Which method of treating varicose veins in your case should be determined by the doctor individually. There is no need to self-medicate such a serious disease.
Expert advice
Doctors advise the following to all their patients who come to them with varicose veins:
- Try to drink more than two liters of purified water every day. Water will help you lose extra pounds and prevent the development of varicose veins;
- It is important that you do a fasting day once a week. One should fast on this day. A one-day fast will help cleanse the body of waste and toxins;
- Try to stop smoking. After all, nicotine has a bad effect on blood vessels and causes the development of varicose veins;
- Try not to overheat and strengthen your immune system so you don't get sick. Do not sit in a hot bath or sauna for too long;
- A sudden change in climate is not recommended. Therefore, it is best to relax in your climate zone.
The above simple tips will help prevent varicose veins, and will also make it easier to bear if the disease has already affected your legs.
Varicose veins and traditional medicine
Treatment of varicose veins with folk recipes should be started only after consultation with a doctor and in parallel with the conservative method of treatment. Recipes of traditional medicine that will help you get rid of the disease:
- Mix one part minced garlic with two parts cream butter. Apply the resulting product to the damaged veins, wrap the leg with parchment paper and a bandage or a warm scarf. This compression is done at night. Wash in the morning and put on warm pants;
- For a year, before going to bed, tie slices of green tomato to the affected veins. Thanks to vegetables, varicose veins will become soft and decrease in size. And after a while they will completely disappear;
- Mix sour milk with wormwood. Put the resulting mixture on a bandage and wrap it around your legs. The procedure is performed overnight;
- So that your legs do not hurt from varicose veins at night, you must eat the following apple porridge. Pour a liter of boiling water over three Antonovka apples and let it stand for three hours. Then take out the apples and make a puree from them that should be consumed twice a day, 30 grams each;
- Pour boiling water over 30 grams of nettle and let it stand for an hour. Then strain and drink a quarter of a glass three times a day. Drink for 1 month, then take a two-week break and repeat the course. Nettle treatment should be carried out for six months;
- Pour boiling water over the hop cones and let them stand for 15 minutes. Drink the tincture half an hour before meals. For faster results, moisten the bandages in the intoxicating infusion and apply them to the affected veins;
- Pour boiling water over 5 grams of chopped nutmeg. Add 5 grams of honey and mix. Let it cook for 30 minutes. Drink 60 minutes before the morning meal and two hours after it. Nutmegs are poisonous, so you can't drink more than five grams a day. Failure to follow this warning may result in death;
- Place Kalanchoe leaves in a liter jar. Half leaves and half alcohol. Infuse for two weeks in the dark. Shake the jar every day. Massage your feet daily with the resulting product;
- Five potatoes need to be peeled. Grate them and coat your feet with the resulting puree. After four hours, rinse the potatoes with warm water;
- Cover 50 grams of wild chestnut with alcohol (500 milliliters). Let it cook for two weeks. After some time, strain and drink 15 grams three times a day with water. The course of treatment is 7 days. Then a break of 14 days. After completing just three such courses, your legs will improve.
It is important to remember that the described methods of traditional medicine treatment can only be used after consultation with a doctor, so as not to worsen the situation and harm your health.
Nutritional rules for varicose veins
Try to eat foods that contain fiber every day. Thanks to fibers, excess and unnecessary substances for the body are removed from the body. Fibers deal with toxins, waste, manure and even radionuclides. It is sometimes called a bowel cleanser. Therefore, it is beneficial to eat a variety of grains and peels of vegetables and fruits.
If you eat only pearl barley porridge for a few days, you can get rid of excess weight, remove swelling, and improve the condition of your skin and hair.
To lose extra pounds and improve blood circulation in your legs, try to consume less animal fat. They can be replaced with vegetable oils, which improve blood flow and are therefore considered beneficial for varicose veins in the legs. To prevent obesity, increased cholesterol and sludge in the body, exclude fast food and fast food products from your diet.
It is very useful to eat foods enriched with vitamin C, which strengthens the vein walls and improves immunity. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, sea buckthorn, pomegranate, black currant, onion and garlic.
Now you know why varicose veins of the lower extremities develop, how it can be correctly diagnosed and what treatment is provided for this disease. Only by strictly following all the recommendations of an experienced doctor can you get over this disease in a short time and continue to live and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.