Varicose veins in the legs

What are varicose veins? The disease is characterized by swelling of the peripheral veins under the skin. This disease has no age limit, that is, the disease can occur even in a child.

Experts advise to treat varicose veins comprehensively. Therapy includes drugs and traditional medicine. In severe cases, surgery is required. Symptoms and treatment of varicose veins in the legs are different.

causes

There are factors that provoke the pathology of the veins in the legs. Lifestyle is one of the main factors. If a person is often in the same position, such as standing or sitting, the risk of occurrence increases by 70%.

Inappropriate shoes or physical activity above the norm can develop the disease.

Varicose veins formed on the legs in women bearing a child. This is due to the fact that the body is highly exposed to additional stress. Another reason is hormonal failure, which can occur when taking birth control pills.

Indirect reasons include the following factors:

1. Smoking. Toxic substances interfere with the process of hematopoiesis, which disrupts the work of blood vessels.
2. Depression and prolonged stress. The nervous system is directly connected to the blood vessels. With any violation of the central or autonomic nervous system, the walls of the vessels become thinned and inelastic.
3. Physical activity is higher than normal. Varicose veins in the lower limbs often occur in athletes who want to gain muscle mass. Excessive exercise contributes to the development of varicose veins.
4. Bad shoes. Walking in heels often causes varicose veins. It is for this reason that pathology is most characteristic of women. When walking in high heels, the entire load falls on the legs, in which case the veins inexorably suffer.

Another reason is hereditary predisposition. In the presence of the disease in relatives, the risk of varicose veins increases.

Disease symptoms

Signs of varicose veins in the legs in women and men develop gradually. Many men and women do not pay attention to the first signs of varicose veins, referring to other factors. It is precisely because of untimely treatment that neglected varicose veins are rather difficult to treat. Symptoms of the disease include the following:

• A vascular network, which at the beginning of the disease is located either on the inside of the thigh or on the calves.
• Towards evening, the patient begins to worry about fatigue in the legs, heaviness, there is a feeling of internal itching. It seems that the leg is constantly itching, although scratching does not bring results.
• At night, the patient often has cramps in the lower extremities.
• After sleep, swelling is observed.

The above symptoms are typical for the initial stage of development of varicose veins. In the event that treatment is started in a timely manner, it is possible to completely eliminate the disease without any relapses and consequences. If a person does not pay attention to the first signs, varicose veins develop further. In this case, the symptoms of varicose veins in the legs are as follows:

• The vein nodes appear protruding above the skin.
• When palpating the veins in the legs, pain is observed.
• During any movement or walking, there is a pain resembling muscle pain.
• The legs get tired much faster, there is a feeling of heaviness.

Varicose veins in the lower limbs can lead to serious complications that affect the patient's quality of life. For this reason, experts recommend being vigilant about your own well-being and, at the slightest symptom of varicose veins in the legs, seek immediate medical attention.

Diagnostic

This diagnosis can only be rejected or confirmed by a vascular surgeon or phlebologist. A qualified specialist can recognize this pathology even at the initial stage. First, the doctor examines the affected area of the skin, asks general questions: how long ago did the first signs of varicose veins appear, what symptoms bother the patient, was there home treatment.

To finally verify the diagnosis and establish the severity of the disease, the following diagnostic types are used:

1. Ultrasound procedure.
2. Phlebography with contrast product.

Today, venography is more often used as a diagnostic, this is due to the fact that this method is the most accurate and informative.

Treatment of varicose veins

How to treat varicose veins in the legs in women? Only a phlebologist can prescribe the right treatment. Depending on the severity of the disease, various treatments are used. Surgical intervention is used only in advanced stages of the disease, when drug treatment does not work. Comprehensive treatment for varicose veins includes the following:

• Tight gauze bandages, compression underwear, elastic bandage.
• A useful substance for varicose veins is hirudin. In a natural way, this element can be obtained by the bite of a leech.
• Endovascular laser coagulation is a method of closing subcutaneous veins using laser beams.
• Sclerotherapy is the removal of veins by injecting a substance through the finest needles.
• Massage - used to thin the blood and improve blood circulation.
• Take anti-inflammatory pills, using external ointments.

Treatment with folk remedies

How to treat varicose veins? This question is asked by everyone who is faced with a diagnosis. As mentioned above, phlebologists advise approaching this problem comprehensively. Against the background of drug treatment of varicose veins, some recipes of traditional medicine are successful and effective.

Consider how to treat varicose veins in the legs in women:

• Garden tomatoes will help eliminate itching and relieve tension. For recipes, both ripe and green tomatoes are suitable. Cut the tomato into slices, place them on the affected area. Secure with bandages. Every three hours, vegetables should be replaced with fresh vegetables. The biggest advantage is in homemade tomatoes than in store ones. You need to apply tomatoes throughout the day. The next day, you will feel lightness in your legs.
• Lubricate a cabbage leaf with olive oil and apply to swollen veins. Secure with dressings and leave for at least 7 hours. It is advisable to treat at night. In case of severe pain, you can apply the recipe daily, at night.
• We generously grease the cotton fabric with liquid flower honey. We wrap the leg, fix it with an elastic bandage from above. We leave for 3 hours. It is recommended to carry out the procedure every three days.
• Cut the green walnuts in half and place them in a liter jar. Fill with vodka or medical alcohol. Close the lid and send it to a dark place for a week. When the tincture is ready, rub your legs from the heels to the thighs every evening with massaging movements.
• Pour the leaves and flowers of St. John's wort with water and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and cover with a lid. After 6 hours - the broth is ready. We put the cotton cloth in the decoction, slightly wring it out and fix the cloth on the affected leg. This recipe helps to get rid of itching and pain. You can use the recipe daily.
• Squeeze the aloe juice into a glass bowl. In total you should get at least a tablespoon. Add five drops of almond oil and 3 drops of camphor oil. We heat in a water bath, up to about 40 degrees. We rub the swollen veins and the skin about three times a week.
• We take lilac flowers and place them in an enamel container. Pour 0. 5 liters of sunflower oil. Place in a bain-marie and bring to a boil. Cool to room temperature and rub into damaged skin. Cover with a gauze bandage. We leave for the night. The procedure should be performed at least three times a week.

Possible complications

Varicose veins of the lower limbs require prompt treatment. If you do not take any therapeutic measures, the following complications may occur:

• Pulmonary embolism.
• Thrombosis.
• Thrombophlebitis.
• Phlebitis.
• Rupture of a vein.
• Dermatitis.

Preventive measures

People most at risk of developing varicose veins in the legs should follow preventive measures. First of all, this category of people includes those whose relatives are prone to the disease. You should also be especially mindful of your health for women who are expecting a baby and people whose jobs require regular sitting or standing. Consider the general recommendations:

• To lead an active life. Walk more often, move more, exercise several times a day. If the lifestyle and bustle of work do not allow you to engage in any kind of sport, then in this case there is a rational solution - to leave work, get out of transport a few stops earlier. A daily walk will replace sport.
• If the main work time requires sitting, try to move your legs more often, including your fingers. To diversify the position of the legs, experts advise starting a stand, about 30 cm from the floor, periodically raising the legs.
• Women should stop taking hormonal pills and consult a doctor to prescribe another type of contraceptive.
• Do not wear excessively high-heeled shoes every day.
• Quit smoking and other bad habits.

If you notice heaviness, varicosities on the legs or pain in the lower limbs, contact a phlebologist. The therapy prescribed in the early stages will help to avoid serious complications and relapses.