Thanks to the veins, the blood in the human body flows to the heart. Varicose veins of the lower extremities cause dilation and lengthening of the veins. This disease is widespread today. Women between the ages of thirty and forty suffer the most from it. Let's take a closer look at why varicose veins develop on 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 the veins, which over time are felt in the form of knots and networks.
Causes of the appearance of varicose veins on the legs:
- Overweight;
- The intestines cannot cope with their work, which is why constipation often occurs;
- Flat steps;
- High blood pressure;
- Passive lifestyle;
- Great physical activity;
- Prolonged tension in the legs.
Due to excess weight, the legs are subjected to great stress, which leads to stagnation of blood in the veins. Also, if the intestines do not function properly, the functioning of all organs and systems of the human body is impaired. Because blood travels a long way before returning back to the heart from the lower extremities. And if the intestines work intermittently, 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, the development of the disease is also facilitated by diseases of the pelvic organs and hormonal imbalance during pregnancy, stress, antibiotics, alcoholic beverages and smoking.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities are inherited at the genetic level. Because it is passed down from parents, children can begin to suffer from varicose veins from an early 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 in the legs are the following:
- Swelling of the legs at the end of the working day;
- A feeling of fullness and heaviness in the calf area after prolonged sitting or standing in one place;
- Numbness in the legs;
- The appearance of cyanosis on the legs;
- 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 the 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 pass the necessary examination. For an accurate diagnosis and prescription of correct and effective treatment, the doctor prescribes the following tests:
- An ultrasound examination of veins called a duplex vein scan. Thanks to the ultrasound, an experienced specialist will see the state of patency of the veins, as well as how much they are dilated. In addition, such a study will tell you if there are blood clots in the veins and in which direction the blood flows;
- With the help of 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 is injected into the leg area that stains the blood blue, which allows an impression of the patient's veins to be made on an X-ray.
Most often, the examination of the 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 urgently when the following situations occur:
- If there is a strong and sharp pain in the legs with every 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, dense appearance and the skin burns;
- If, in addition to pain, there is weakness in the whole 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 force 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, 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 by the following methods:
- Treatment of the disease without surgery. This method of treatment is effective only at the first symptoms of varicose veins. Conservative treatment methods include wearing a special compression garment, 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 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 going to bed.
A special massage, which is 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;
- The 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 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 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 that clogs the veins and prevents blood from leaking out. Because of this, vein breakdown occurs. The vein disappears completely within a year. This procedure does not interfere with blood circulation. To completely cure varicose veins with the help of sclerotherapy, you need to go through 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 after such treatment;
- If the conservative methods described above do not give results, the doctor resorts to surgical treatment. On the second day after the operation, the patient can already walk independently.
What method of treatment of varicose veins in your case should be determined by the doctor individually. It is not necessary to self-medicate such a serious illness.
Expert advice
Doctors advise all their patients who come to them with varicose veins the following:
- Try to drink more than two liters of purified water every day. Water will help you get rid of excess weight and also prevent the development of varicose veins;
- It is important to do a fasting day once a week. You must fast on this day. 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. Don't sit in a hot tub or sauna for too long;
- A sudden change of climate is not recommended. That's why it's best to relax in your own 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
It is necessary to start 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 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 your leg with parchment paper and a bandage or a warm 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 the vegetable, varicose veins will become soft and reduce in size. And after a while they will disappear completely;
- Mix yogurt with wormwood. Put the resulting mixture on a bandage and wrap it around your legs. The procedure is carried out at night;
- So that your legs do not hurt from varicose veins at night, you should eat the following apple porridge. Pour three Antonovka apples with one liter of boiling water and let it brew for three hours. Then take out the apples and make a puree out of them, which should be consumed twice a day, 30 grams each;
- Pour 30 grams of nettle with boiling water 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 two-week break and repeat the course. Treatment with nettles should be carried out for six months;
- Hop cones are poured with boiling water and left to soak for 15 minutes. Drink the tincture half an hour before meals. For a faster result, wet the bandages in the anesthetic 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 boil for 30 minutes. Drink 60 minutes before the morning meal 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 the kalanchoe leaves in a quart jar. Half leaf and half alcohol. Insist two weeks in the dark. Shake the jar daily. Daily anoint your feet with the resulting product;
- You need to peel five potatoes. Grate them and apply the puree to your feet. After four hours, rinse the potatoes with warm water;
- Pour 50 grams of horse chestnut with alcohol (500 milliliters). Let it brew 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 traditional medicine treatment methods can only be used after consulting a doctor so as not to worsen the situation and harm your health.
Dietary rules 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. Fibers deal with toxins, waste, pus and even radionuclides. It is sometimes also called a bowel cleanser. That is why it is useful to eat a variety of cereals 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 your legs, try to consume less animal fat. They can be replaced with vegetable oils that improve blood flow and are therefore considered useful for varicose veins in the legs. To prevent obesity, high cholesterol and sediment 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, rose hips, black currants, onions and garlic.
Now you know why varicose veins of the lower extremities develop, how they can be correctly diagnosed and what treatment is used 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.