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 to treat varicose veins comprehensively. Therapy includes medications and traditional medicine. In severe cases, surgery is required. 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 often in the same position, such as standing or sitting, then the risk of occurrence increases by 70%.

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

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

Indirect reasons include the following factors:

1. Tobacco smoking. Toxic substances impede the process of hematopoiesis, as a result of which the work of blood vessels is disrupted.
2. Depression and prolonged stress. The nervous system is directly connected with blood vessels. With any violations of the central or autonomic nervous system, the walls of the vessels become thinned and not elastic.
3. Physical activity is above normal. Varicose veins of the lower extremities often occur in athletes who wish to gain muscle mass. Excessive exercise contributes to the development of varicose veins.
4. Wrong shoes. Walking in heels often provokes 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 suffer inexorably.

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

Symptoms of the disease

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 the 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 occurs either on the inside of the thigh or on the calves.
• Toward evening, the patient begins to worry about fatigue in the legs, heaviness, there is a feeling of internal itching. It seems that the leg constantly itches, 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 or consequences. If a person did 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:

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

Varicose veins of the lower extremities can lead to serious complications that affect the quality of life of the patient. For this reason, experts recommend being vigilant about your own well-being, and with the slightest symptoms of varicose veins in the legs, immediately consult a doctor.

Diagnostics

This diagnosis can be rejected or confirmed only by a vascular surgeon or a 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 any treatment at home.

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

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

Today, phlebography is more often used as a diagnosis, 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 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. In a natural way, this element can be obtained through the bite of a leech.
• Endovasal laser coagulation is a method of closing the 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.
• Taking 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 to approach this problem comprehensively. Against the background of drug treatment of varicose veins, some traditional medicine recipes 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 tomatoes and green ones are suitable. Cut the tomato into slices, put them on the affected area. Fix with bandages. Every three hours, vegetables should be replaced with fresh ones. The greatest benefit is found in home-made 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. Fix 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 leave for 3 hours. The procedure is recommended to be carried out every three days.
• Cut 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 one week. When the tincture is ready, rub your legs from heels to thighs every evening with massage movements.
• Pour the leaves and flowers of St. John's wort with water and bring to a boil. Turn off the fire and cover with a lid. After 6 hours - the broth is ready. We put the cotton fabric in the decoction, wring it out 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 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 around three times a week.
• We take lilac flowers and place them in an enameled container. Pour 0. 5 liters of sunflower oil. Put in a water bath and bring to a boil. Cool to room temperature and rub on damaged skin. Top with a gauze bandage. We leave for the night. The procedure must be carried out at least three times a week.

Possible Complications

Varicose veins of the lower extremities 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 on their legs should follow preventive measures. First of all, this category of persons includes those whose close relatives are prone to the disease. You should also be especially attentive to your health for women who are expecting a baby, and people whose work requires regular sitting or standing. Consider general recommendations:

• To live an active lifestyle. Walk more often, move more, exercise several times a day. If the lifestyle and bustle of work does not allow you to engage in any kind of sport, in this case there is a rational solution: moving out of work, get out of the transport a couple of stops earlier. A daily walk will replace sports.
• If the main work time requires a sitting position, try to move your legs more often, including your fingers. To diversify the position of the legs, experts advise to start 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 shoes with too high heels everyday.
• Give up smoking and other bad habits.

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