Thanks to the veins, the blood in the human body flows to the heart. Varicose veins of the lower extremities cause the veins to expand and stretch. This disease is currently widespread. Thirty-forty-year-old women suffer from it the most. Let's consider in more detail why varicose veins develop in the legs, how they are diagnosed and treated.
Why does the disease develop?
Varicose veins of the lower extremities develop gradually. This is facilitated by various unfavorable factors for veins, which over time make themselves felt in the form of knots and meshes.
Causes of the development of varicose veins in the legs:
- Excess weight;
- The intestines cannot cope with their work, so constipation often occurs;
- straight legs;
- High blood pressure;
- passive lifestyle;
- Great physical activity;
- Long-term tension in the legs.
Due to excessive weight, the legs are under great stress, which causes stagnation of blood in the veins. Also, if there is a malfunction in the intestines, the activity of all organs and systems of the human body is disturbed. Because blood has to travel a long way before returning to the heart from the lower extremities. If the intestines work intermittently, venous blood will not be able to return to the top, which causes its stagnation in the legs.
In addition to the above factors, hormonal imbalance with pelvic diseases and pregnancy, stress, antibiotics, alcohol and smoking also contribute to the development of the disease.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities are inherited at the genetic level. As it is passed down from parents, children can start suffering from varicose veins from a young age. Therefore, it is important to prevent diseases that will help prevent the disease and prevent the development of serious complications.
Symptoms and diagnosis of the disease
The main symptoms of varicose veins of the legs are as follows:
- Swelling of the legs at the end of the working day;
- A feeling of fullness and heaviness in the lower leg after sitting or standing for a long time;
- Tingling in the legs;
- The appearance of cyanosis of the legs;
- The formation of nets and stars on the legs.
If these symptoms appear, it is important to urgently visit a phlebologist or vascular surgeon. If you start treatment in time, you can prevent the development of complications.
The specialist will carefully examine the patient and listen to complaints. He will also prescribe all the tests and perform the necessary examination. In order to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct and effective treatment, the doctor prescribes the following studies:
- Ultrasound examination of veins is called duplex vascular 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 if there are blood clots in the veins and in which direction the blood flows;
- Using contrast venography, varicose veins of the lower extremities can be accurately diagnosed. Thanks to venography, the condition of the veins is evaluated, the presence of blood clots and tumors is determined. During this examination, a substance that dyes the blood blue is injected into the leg area, which makes it possible to create an impression of the patient's veins on the X-ray.
Vein examination is often performed using a duplex scan.
When to consult a doctor urgently
Since varicose veins are dangerous for the human body, it is important to seek emergency medical help when the following situations occur:
- If severe and sharp pains in the legs occur with any movement;
- If you feel a sharp pain in your leg when you want to get out of bed in the morning. In this case, the leg has a swollen, dense appearance and the skin burns;
- In addition to pain, if there is a feeling of weakness, shortness of breath and a constant lack of oxygen in the whole body;
- If the leg affected by varicose veins begins to bleed.
The above symptoms compel a person to consult a doctor immediately to avoid unwanted bad consequences.
Proper treatment of varicose veins
Taking into account the advanced state of the disease, complications associated with varicose veins, as well as the age of the patient, the doctor prescribes conservative or surgical treatment.
Varicose veins are treated with the following methods:
- Treatment of the disease without surgical intervention. This method of treatment is effective only in the first symptoms of varicose veins. Conservative treatments include wearing special compression garments, following a special diet, and doing some regular physical activity.
With the doctor's advice, you can choose special knee socks or stockings for your feet with a certain compression. You can also wrap your legs with elastic compression bandages. Such underwear should be worn during the 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 in turn are divided into venotonics, anticoagulants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Anticoagulants prevent blood clotting in the veins.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve inflammation and pain.
- Varicose veins are also treated with leech. Leeches bite the skin, burrow inside, and release hirudin, which thins the blood and prevents blood clots;
- Treatment with sclerotherapy, where the affected vessels are completely removed. The procedure goes like this. The doctor injects a special medicine into the vein that sticks the veins together and prevents the blood from flowing. Therefore, the degradation of vessels occurs. The vein is completely dissolved within a year. This procedure does not interfere with blood circulation. Three to six such sessions are necessary to completely treat varicose veins using sclerotherapy;
- Varicose veins are also treated with laser. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. The first results will appear within three weeks after such treatment;
- If the conservative methods described above do not work, the doctor turns to surgical treatment. On the second day after the operation, the patient can already walk independently.
In your case, which method to treat varicose veins should be determined individually by the doctor. There is no need to self-medicate such a serious disease.
Expert advice
Doctors recommend the following to all patients presenting with varicose veins:
- Try to drink more than two liters of purified water every day. Water will help to get rid of excess weight and also prevent the development of varicose veins;
- It is important to fast once a week. It is necessary to fast today. A one-day fast will help cleanse the body of waste and toxins;
- Try to quit smoking. After all, nicotine has a bad effect on blood vessels and causes the development of varicose veins;
- In order not to get sick, try not to overheat and strengthen your immune system. Do not sit in a hot tub or sauna for too long;
- It is not recommended to change the climate suddenly. Therefore, it is best to rest in your climate zone.
The listed simple tips will help prevent varicose veins and make it easier to bear if the disease has already affected your legs.
Varicose veins and traditional medicine
The treatment of varicose veins with folk recipes should be started only after consultation with the doctor and in parallel with the conservative treatment method. Traditional medicine recipes that will help you get rid of the disease:
- Mix one part minced white garlic with two parts cream oil. Apply the resulting product to the damaged veins, wrap your leg with parchment paper and a bandage or a warm scarf. This compress is done at night. Wash in the morning and put on warm pants;
- For a year, before going to bed, tie green tomato slices to the affected veins. Thanks to vegetables, varicose veins will be soft and their size will decrease. And after a while they will disappear completely;
- Mix sour milk with wormwood. Put the resulting mixture on a bandage and wrap it on your feet. The procedure is carried out overnight;
- You should eat the following apple porridge so that your legs do not suffer from varicose veins at night. Pour three Antonovka apples with a liter of boiling water and infuse for three hours. Then remove the apples and make a puree from them, which should be consumed twice a day, 30 grams;
- Pour boiling water over 30 grams of nettle and let it brew for an hour. Then strain and drink a quarter cup three times a day. Drink for 1 month, then take a break for two weeks and repeat the course. Nettle treatment should be done within six months;
- Pour boiling water over the sherbet cones and steep for 15 minutes. Drink tincture half an hour before meals. To get a faster result, soak the bandages in an intoxicating infusion and apply to the affected veins;
- Pour boiling water over 5 grams of chopped nutmeg. Add 5 grams of honey and mix. Allow to steep for 30 minutes. Drink in the morning 60 minutes before eating and two hours after it. Nutmegs are poisonous, so you can't drink more than five grams a day. Failure to follow this warning could result in death;
- Put the Kalanchoe leaves in a liter jar. Half leaf and half alcohol. Infuse in the dark for two weeks. Shake the jar daily. Lubricate your feet daily with the resulting product;
- Five potatoes need to be peeled. Grate them and brush your feet with the resulting puree. After four hours, wash the potatoes with hot water;
- Pour 50 grams of horse chestnut with alcohol (500 milliliters). Let it brew for two weeks. After some time, it is filtered and drunk three times a day with 15 grams of water. The course of treatment is 7 days. Then a 14-day break. After completing only three such courses, your legs will improve.
It is important to remember that the described traditional medical treatment methods can only be used after consulting a doctor in order not to aggravate the condition and harm your health.
Dietary guidelines for varicose veins
Try to eat foods that contain fiber every day. Thanks to fiber, excess and unnecessary substances for the body are removed from the body. Fiber fights toxins, waste, pus and even radionuclides. It is sometimes called a bowel cleanser. Therefore, it is useful to eat various cereals and peels of vegetables and fruits.
If you eat only pearl barley porridge for a few days, you can get rid of extra pounds, eliminate swelling, and improve the condition of the skin and hair.
To get rid of excess weight 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 of the legs. Eliminate fast food and fast food products from your diet to prevent obesity, cholesterol and sludge in the body.
It is very useful to eat foods rich in vitamin C, which strengthens the walls of blood vessels and improves immunity. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, tea tree, rose hip, black currant, onion and garlic.
Now you know why varicose veins of the lower extremities develop, how to correctly diagnose them and what treatment is indicated for this disease. Only by strictly following all the recommendations of an experienced doctor, you can overcome this disease in a short time and continue to live and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.