Thanks to the veins, the blood in the human body flows to the heart. Varicose veins of the lower extremities cause dilation and elongation of the veins. This disease is widespread nowadays. Women between the ages of thirty and forty suffer the most from it. Let's take a closer look at 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. It is facilitated by various unfavorable factors for the veins, which over time are felt in the form of the formation of knots and networks.
Reasons why varicose veins develop in the legs:
- Overweight;
- 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 excess weight, the legs experience great stress, which leads to stagnation of blood in the veins. Also, if the intestines function poorly, the functioning of all organs and systems of the human body is disrupted. 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 again, which leads to its stagnation in the legs.
In addition to the factors described above, the development of the disease is also facilitated by diseases of the pelvic organs, as well as hormonal imbalances with pregnancy, stress, antibiotics, alcoholic beverages and smoking.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities are inherited at the genetic level. Since 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 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 feet at the end of the working day;
- A feeling of fullness and heaviness in the calf area after sitting or staying in one place for a long time;
- Dry needling in the legs;
- The appearance of cyanosis of the legs;
- The formation of webs and standing stars.
If these symptoms appear, it is important to see a phlebologist or vascular surgeon urgently. If you start treatment at the right 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 undergo the necessary examination. In order to accurately diagnose and prescribe the appropriate and effective treatment, the doctor prescribes the following studies:
- 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 much they have expanded. In addition, such a study will tell you 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 study, a substance is injected into the leg area that colors the blood blue, which makes it possible to create an impression of the patient's veins on an X-ray.
Most often, examination of the veins is performed using a duplex scan.
When to see a doctor urgently
Since varicose veins are dangerous for the human body, it is important to urgently seek medical help when the following situations occur:
- If strong and sharp pains in the legs appear with any movement;
- If in the morning, when you want to get out of bed, you feel a strong pain in your leg. In this case, the leg has a swollen, dense appearance and the skin burns;
- If, in addition to pain, there is weakness throughout the body, shortness of breath and a constant feeling of lack of oxygen;
- If the leg affected by varicose veins begins to bleed.
The above symptoms compel a person to consult a doctor immediately to prevent adverse side effects.
Proper treatment of varicose veins
Taking into account the advanced state of the disease, the emerging complications associated with varicose veins, as well as the patient's age, the doctor prescribes conservative or surgical treatment.
Varicose veins are treated using the following methods:
- Treatment of the disease without surgery. This method of treatment is effective only in the first symptoms of varicose veins. Conservative treatment methods include wearing special compression garments, following a special diet and regularly performing a variety of physical activities.
With the doctor's advice, you can choose special knee socks or socks for your feet, with a certain compression. You can also wrap your legs with elastic compression bandages. Such underwear should be worn throughout the day and removed only before bedtime.
Also useful is a special massage, which is performed with special cuffs filled with air. Thanks to pneumomassage, blood circulation improves, tissues breathe better, pain and discomfort associated with varicose veins disappear;
- The treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities also occurs with the help of medications, which in turn are divided into venotonics, anticoagulants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Anticoagulants prevent the formation of blood clots in the veins.
Thanks to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, inflammation and pain are eliminated.
- Varicose veins are also treated with leeches. Leeches bite the skin, burrow into it and release hirudin, which thins the blood and prevents the formation of blood clots;
- Sclerotherapy treatment, in which the affected veins are completely removed. The procedure goes like this. The doctor injects a special medicine into the vein, which clogs the veins and prevents blood flow. Due to this, the degradation of the veins occurs. The vein resolves completely within a year. This procedure does not interfere with blood circulation. To completely cure varicose veins using sclerotherapy, you need to undergo three to six such sessions;
- Varicose veins are also treated with lasers. 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 turns to surgical treatment. On the second day after the operation, the patient can already walk independently.
Which method to treat varicose veins in your case should be determined by the doctor individually. There is no need to self-medicate such a serious illness.
Expert advice
Doctors advise all their patients who come to them with varicose veins as follows:
- Try to drink more than two liters of purified water every day. Water will help you lose excess weight and also prevent the development of varicose veins;
- It is important to do a fasting day once a week. On this day you must fast. 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 provokes 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 a long time;
- Sudden climate change is not recommended. Therefore, it is better to relax in your climate zone.
The simple tips listed will help prevent varicose veins and also make it easier to bear if the disease has already affected your legs.
Varicose veins and traditional medicine
It is necessary to start the treatment of varicose veins with folk recipes only after consulting a doctor and in parallel with a conservative method of treatment. Recipes of traditional medicine that will help to get rid of the disease:
- Mix one part minced white garlic with two parts butter cream. Apply the resulting product to the damaged veins, wrap the leg with parchment paper and a warm bandage or scarf. This compress is done at night. In the morning, wash 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 will decrease in size. And after a while they will disappear altogether;
- Mix sour milk with wormwood. Put the resulting mixture on a bandage and wrap it around your feet. The procedure is performed at night;
- In order not to hurt your legs from varicose veins at night, you should eat the following apple porridge. Pour three Antonovka apples with a liter of boiling water and let it brew for three hours. Then take out 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 it and drink a quarter of a glass three times a day. Drink for 1 month, then take a break for two weeks and repeat the course. Nettle treatment should be carried out for six months;
- Pour boiling water over the hop cones and let them steep for 15 minutes. Drink the solution half an hour before meals. For faster results, wet the bandages in the intoxicating infusion and apply to the affected veins;
- Pour boiling water over 5 grams of ground nutmeg. Add 5 grams of honey and mix. Let it bake for 30 minutes. Drink 60 minutes before breakfast and two hours after it. Nutmegs are poisonous, so you can drink no more than five grams per day. Failure to follow this warning could result in death;
- Place Kalanchoe leaves in a liter jar. Half leaf and half alcohol. Fill for two weeks in the dark. Shake the jar daily. Lubricate your feet with the resulting product every day;
- You need to peel five potatoes. Grind them and wash your feet with the resulting puree. After four hours, wash the potatoes with warm water;
- Pour 50 grams of horse chestnut with alcohol (500 milliliters). Let it ripen for two weeks. After a while, strain it 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 only three such courses, your legs will improve.
It is important to remember that the prescribed methods of treatment of traditional medicine can be used only after consulting a doctor, so as not to worsen the situation and not harm your health.
Diet rules for varicose veins
Try to eat foods that contain fiber every day. Thanks to fibers, excess and unnecessary substances 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 different grains and peels of vegetables and fruits.
If you eat only pearl barley porridge for several days, you can get rid of extra pounds, remove swelling, improve the condition of the skin and hair.
To lose excess weight and improve blood circulation in the legs, try to consume less animal fats. They can be replaced with vegetable oils, which improve blood circulation and are therefore considered beneficial for varicose veins of the legs. To prevent obesity, increase cholesterol and sludge in the body, exclude fast food and fast food products from your diet.
It is very useful to eat foods rich in vitamin C, which strengthens the vein walls and improves immunity. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, sea buckthorn, rose hips, black currants, onions and garlic.
Now you know why varicose veins of the lower extremities develop, how it can be correctly diagnosed and what treatment is offered for this disease. Only by strictly following all the recommendations of an experienced doctor can you overcome this disease in a short period of time and continue to live and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.