Varicose veins in the legs

What is 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 children.

Experts advise treating 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.

Cause

There are factors that provoke the pathology of the veins of 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%.

Improper shoes or excessive physical activity can trigger the disease.

Varicose veins have developed on the legs in women who have given birth to children. This is due to the fact that the body is sharply exposed to additional stress. Another reason is hormonal failure, which can occur while taking birth control pills.

Indirect causes include the following factors:

1. Smoking. Toxic substances inhibit the process of hematopoiesis, as a result of which the work of blood vessels is disturbed.
2. Depression and prolonged stress. The nervous system is directly connected to the blood vessels. In the event of a violation of the central or autonomic nervous system, the walls of the vessels become thinner and less flexible.
3. Physical activity exceeds the normal value. Varicose veins of the lower limbs often occur in athletes who want to increase muscle mass. Excessive exercise contributes to the development of varicose veins.
4. Bad shoes. Walking in heels often provokes the development of varicose veins. This is the reason why the pathology is mostly characteristic of women. When walking in high heels, the entire load falls on the legs, in which case the veins suffer irreparably.

Another reason is hereditary predisposition. The risk of varicose veins increases in the presence of illness in relatives.

Symptoms of the disease

The symptoms of varicose veins in the legs develop gradually in women and men. Many men and women do not pay attention to the first signs of varicose veins, referring to other factors. Precisely because of premature treatment, neglected varicose veins are quite difficult to treat. Symptoms of the disease are as follows:

• Vascular network that occurs at the beginning of the disease either on the inner side of the thigh or on the calf.
• In the evening, the patient begins to worry about the tiredness and difficulties of the legs, and has a feeling of internal itching. The leg seems to itch all the time, although scratching does not help.
• At night, the patient often has cramps in the lower limbs.
• Swelling is observed after sleeping.

The above symptoms are typical of the initial stage of varicose vein development. If the treatment is started on time, it is possible to completely eliminate the disease without relapses or consequences. If a person did not pay attention to the first signs, varicose veins will continue to develop. In this case, the symptoms of varicose veins on the legs are as follows:

• Venous nodules protrude above the skin.
• When palpating the veins of the legs, pain is observed.
• Pain reminiscent of muscle pain is observed during any movement or walking.
• The legs get tired much faster, a feeling of heaviness appears.

Varicose veins of the lower limbs can lead to serious complications that affect the patient's quality of life. For this reason, experts recommend that you be vigilant about your own well-being and see a doctor immediately with the slightest symptoms of varicose veins on your legs.

Diagnostics

Only a vascular surgeon or phlebologist can reject or confirm this diagnosis. A qualified specialist can recognize this pathology at an early stage. First, the doctor examines the affected area of the skin and asks general questions: since when did the first signs of varicose veins appear, what symptoms are bothering the patient, was there any home treatment.

The following types of diagnostics are used to definitively check the diagnosis and determine the severity of the disease:

1. Ultrasonic procedure.
2. Phlebography with contrast material.

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 appropriate treatment. Depending on the severity of the disease, different treatments are used. Surgical intervention is used only in advanced stages of the disease, when drug therapy does not work. Comprehensive treatment for varicose veins includes:

• Tight gauze bandages, compression underwear, elastic bandage.
• Hirudin is a useful substance for varicose veins. Naturally, this item can be obtained by biting a leech.
• Endovasal laser coagulation is a method of closing subcutaneous veins with laser beams.
• Sclerotherapy is the removal of veins by injecting a substance through the finest needles.
• Massage – used to thin the blood and improve circulation.
• Taking anti-inflammatory tablets, using external ointments.

Treatment with folk remedies

How can varicose veins be cured? This question is asked by everyone who is faced with a diagnosis. As mentioned above, phlebologists advise to approach this problem comprehensively. In the background of the medicinal treatment of varicose veins, some traditional medicine recipes are successful and effective.

Consider how to treat varicose veins in women:

• Garden tomatoes help eliminate itching and relieve tension. Both ripe and green tomatoes are suitable for the recipes. Cut the tomato into slices and put it on the affected area. Secure with bandages. Every three hours, the vegetables should be replaced with fresh ones. The greatest benefit is obtained from home-grown tomatoes than from store-bought tomatoes. Tomatoes should be applied throughout the day. The next day you will feel lightness in your legs.
• Coat a cabbage leaf with olive oil and apply it to the swollen veins. Secure with bandages and leave for at least 7 hours. It is advisable to treat it at night. In case of severe pain, you can use the recipe daily and at night.
• The cotton fabric is liberally smeared with liquid flower honey. Wrap the leg, secure from above with an elastic band. Leave for 3 hours. The procedure is recommended to be done every three days.
• Cut the green walnuts in half and put them in a liter jar. Top it up with vodka or medical alcohol. Close the lid and put it in a dark place for a week. When the tincture is ready, rub your legs every night with massaging movements from heels to thighs.
• St. John's wort leaves and flowers are poured with water and brought 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 potion, wring it out a little, and fix the material on the affected leg. This recipe will help you 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 one tablespoon. Add five drops of almond oil and 3 drops of camphor oil. Heat in a water bath to approximately 40 degrees. Rub the swollen veins and skin about three times a week.
• We take purple flowers and place them in an enameled container. Pour 0. 5 liters of sunflower oil. Put it in a water bath and boil it. Cool to room temperature and rub into the damaged skin. Top with gauze. We're leaving for the night. The procedure should be carried out at least three times a week.

Possible complications

Varicose veins of the lower limbs require timely 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

Those who are most prone to developing varicose veins on the legs should follow preventive measures. First of all, this category includes those whose close relatives are prone to the disease. Special attention should be paid to the health of women who are expecting a baby and whose work requires regular sitting or standing. Consider the general recommendations:

• Lead an active lifestyle. Walk more often, exercise more, exercise several times a day. If your lifestyle and the hustle and bustle of your workplace do not allow you to do sports, in this case there is a rational solution: get out of work, get off the road a few stops earlier. A daily walk replaces sports.
• If the main working time requires a sitting position, try to move your legs more often, including your fingers. To make the position of the legs more varied, experts advise placing a stand about 30 cm from the floor, regularly raising the legs.
• Women should stop taking hormonal pills and see a doctor to prescribe another type of birth control.
• Don't wear high heels every day.
• Quit smoking and other bad habits.

If you notice heaviness, spider veins in the legs or pain in the lower limbs, consult a phlebologist. Therapy prescribed at an early stage helps to avoid serious complications and relapses.