Varicose veins in the legs

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

Experts advise treating varicose veins comprehensively. Therapy includes medicines and traditional medicine. In severe cases, surgery is necessary. The 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 frequently in the same position, such as standing or sitting, the risk of occurrence increases by 70%.

Incorrect footwear or physical activity above the norm can develop the disease.

Varicose veins formed on the legs in pregnant women. This is due to the fact that the body is heavily 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 impede the process of hematopoiesis, as a result of which the work of blood vessels is interrupted.
2. Depression and prolonged stress. The nervous system is directly connected with the blood vessels. With any violation of the central or autonomic nervous system, the vessel walls become thin and inelastic.
3. Physical activity is above normal. Lower extremity varicose veins often occur in athletes who want to gain muscle mass. Excessive exercise contributes to the development of varicose veins.
4. Wrong shoes. Walking in heels often causes varicose veins. It is for this reason that the pathology is more characteristic of women. When walking in high heels, the entire load falls on the legs, in which case the veins suffer inexorably.

Another reason is hereditary predisposition. In the presence of the disease in relatives, the risk of getting 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 premature treatment that neglected varicose veins are quite difficult to treat. Symptoms of the disease include the following:

• A vascular network, which early in the disease occurs in the inner thigh or calves.
• At night, the patient begins to worry about leg fatigue, heaviness, there is an internal itching sensation. It seems that the leg itches constantly, 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 early stage of varicose veins development. If treatment is started in a timely manner, it is possible to completely eliminate the disease without relapses or consequences. If a person did not pay attention to the first signs, then varicose veins develop further. In this case, the symptoms of varicose veins in the legs are as follows:

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

Lower extremity varicose veins can lead to serious complications that affect the patient's quality of life. For this reason, experts recommend being mindful of your own well-being and at the slightest symptoms of varicose veins in your legs, immediately consult a doctor.

Diagnosis

This diagnosis can be rejected or confirmed only by a vascular surgeon or a phlebologist. A qualified specialist can recognize this pathology even at an early 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, has there been any treatment at home.

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

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

Today, phlebography is most often used as a diagnosis, due to the fact that this method is the most accurate and informative.

varicose veins treatment

How to treat varicose veins in the legs in women? Only a phlebologist can prescribe the correct treatment. Depending on the severity of the disease, various treatments are used. Surgical intervention is used only in the advanced stages of the disease, when drug therapy 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. Naturally, this element can be obtained through the bite of a leech.
• Endovasal 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 cure varicose veins? This question is asked by everyone who is faced with a diagnosis. As mentioned above, phlebologists advise approaching this problem comprehensively. In the context of drug treatment of varicose veins, some traditional medicine recipes are successful and effective.

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

• Garden tomatoes will help eliminate itching and relieve tension. For recipes, both ripe and unripe 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 ones. The biggest benefit is found 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 bandages and leave for at least 7 hours. It is advisable to treat at night. With 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 left for 3 hours. It is recommended that the procedure be performed every three days.
• Cut the green walnuts in half and place in a liter jar. Fill with vodka or medical alcohol. Close the lid and send to a dark place for a week. When the tincture is ready, rub your legs from heels to thighs every night with massaging motions.
• 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 fabric in the decoction, twist it slightly and fix the fabric 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 one 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 skin about three times a week.
• We take lilac flowers and put them in an enameled container. Pour 0. 5 liters of sunflower oil. Place in a bain-marie and let it boil. Cool to room temperature and rub onto damaged skin. Cover with a gauze bandage. We left for the night. The procedure should be performed at least three times a week.

Possible complications

Lower extremity varicose veins require timely treatment. If you do not take any therapeutic action, the following complications may occur:

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

Preventive measures

Those who are most at risk of developing varicose veins in their legs should take preventative measures. Firstly, this category of people includes those whose close 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 job requires regular sitting or standing. Consider the general recommendations:

• To live an active lifestyle. Walk more often, move more, exercise several times a day. If the lifestyle and the hustle of work do not allow you to practice any kind of sport, in this case there is a rational solution: get out of work, get off the transport a few stops early. A daily walk will replace sports.
• If your main work schedule calls for a sitting position, try moving your legs more often, including your toes. To diversify the position of the legs, experts advise starting a stand, about 30 cm from the floor, periodically lifting the legs.
• Women should stop taking hormonal pills and see a doctor to prescribe another type of contraceptive.
• Don't wear shoes with very high heels every day.
• Quit smoking and other bad habits.

If you notice heaviness, spider veins in your legs, or pain in your lower extremities, contact a phlebologist. Therapy prescribed in the early stages will help prevent serious complications and relapses.