Varicose veins are a serious disease that significantly impairs the quality of life and without timely treatment makes it simply unbearable.
That is why it is important for all those who faced such a problem to know the causes of varicose veins, its manifestations and most importantly, to study the best methods of treating this disease.
General information
Varicose veins are a chronic vascular disease that develops as a result of blood stagnation (usually in the lower extremities). This is due to the failure of the vascular valves, which normally pass blood exclusively upwards, from the lower limbs to the heart. Stagnant blood puts pressure on the walls of blood vessels, as a result of which they become thinner, lose elasticity and deform, expanding significantly. At the feet of such a patient with the naked eye, you can observe the "snakes" of blood vessels rising above the skin, and in some places forming "knots" with varicose veins.
Causes of varicose veins
There are many reasons for the development of this disease. In particular, varicose veins can lead to:
- The "bad" legacy. Varicose veins are encountered by persons with congenital weakness of the valvular apparatus or venous walls.
- Increased venous pressure. Very often, factors that increase blood pressure lead to such a disease, namely pregnancy, obesity, constant vertical loads (when a person stands for a day), a sedentary lifestyle (sedentary work).
- Taking hormonal medications. Some hormonal medications, such as the high estrogen birth control pill, cause blood to clot and can lead to varicose veins.
- Violation of blood circulation. These interruptions can occur due to poor physical activity, smoking, wearing too tight shoes or chronic constipation.
- Hormonal disorders associated with age-related changes in the body.
Manifestations and complications of the disease
Doctors note that varicose veins are not as terrible in themselves as its complications are dangerous. Indeed, in the early stages of disease development, dilation of the saphenous veins is an aesthetic problem for a person (from whom women in particular suffer). First, vascular networks appear on the skin - the so-called "mesh networks". At the same time, a person begins to feel heaviness in the legs, notices swelling of the limbs and feels pain when walking. These are important symptoms of varicose veins, which in no case should be ignored. If a person does not rush to visit a doctor and find out the cause of the disease, he risks directing varicose veins and encountering a problem that cannot be solved without surgery.
With the development of varicose veins, the skin on the lower leg becomes denser and becomes bluish. Patient calves begin to "complain" even with a short walk, and under the skin you can see swollen veins. Moreover, over time, such veins become very painful.
But this is just the beginning of serious health problems. If a person does not begin to fight the existing disease, irreversible changes begin to occur in the skin surrounding the affected veins, as a result of which lipodermatosclerosis develops, and later trophic ulcers appear. Moreover, without treatment, the inner walls of the veins become inflamed and provoke blood clots. This is how thrombophlebitis develops. Increasing in size, blood clots block the lumen of the vein and at any time the clot can come out. And this condition is fraught with death.
Thus, it is quite clear that varicose veins need to be treated. And you need to start therapy as soon as possible. Next, we will review treatment methods for this serious disease.
Drug treatment
In the complex therapy of varicose veins, medications are necessarily used. Most of them are capsules or tablets, which have a versatile effect on the body. In particular:
- Phlebotonics. These drugs increase blood flow, preventing the development of thrombosis and at the same time increase the tone of the walls of blood vessels. It will not be possible to eliminate varicose veins with such medications, but they are quite capable of relieving swelling of the feet, eliminating the burning sensation and pain.
- Blood thinners. Such drugs dilute the blood and promote better blood circulation, preventing the development of thrombosis. Medications are prescribed only on an individual basis, and the timing of application is determined by the physician.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. These include pills, ointments and gels that relieve pain, relieve swelling and prevent platelets from sticking together. Most importantly, these medications prevent inflammation of the veins leading to thrombophlebitis.
Socks and tights from varicose veins
The fair sex face varicose veins much more often than men. This is mainly due to hormonal changes that occur in the female body (menopause, pregnancy). This is why the most optimal way to prevent varicose veins for them is to wear special tight socks or tights. Such compression underwear compresses the legs and prevents varicose veins, which means that it is an excellent prevention of varicose veins. And in the case of an already developed disease, such underwear protects the feet from pain, swelling and fatigue.
Hydrotherapy
The treatment of varicose veins with water has been known since ancient times. At different temperatures, the veins narrow and widen, which helps increase their elasticity. Knowing this, modern physicians use hydrotherapy in the early stages of varicose vein development, when vascular networks have just begun to appear on the skin. Moreover, depending on the existing problem, the baths can be local (only for the feet), or general (for the whole body). The water temperature in such a bath varies from 20 to 40 ° C.
Unconventional treatments
In the complex treatment of varicose veins, non-traditional methods can also be used. Here are some examples.
Potato juice
Affected veins should be smeared with freshly squeezed potato juice in the morning, afternoon and evening, and bandages with a bandage dipped in this juice should be applied overnight. In addition, 100 ml of potato juice should be drunk 3 r / day. Varicose veins should be treated with such a drug for 3-4 months.
Uthull molle
It is called "medicine number 1" for varicose veins, and all because apple cider vinegar improves blood circulation, strengthens vascular walls and improves skin tone. Summer very simple to use: 2-3 r / day you need to lubricate the skin in the area of veins affected by vinegar. And in parallel, you should drink a glass of water in which 1 teaspoon is diluted. uthull. The duration of therapy is 2 months.
Kalanchoe leaves
This is another effective remedy for treating varicose veins. Fill a half-liter bottle with chopped Kalanchoe leaves halfway and fill the raw material with 40% alcohol to make the bottle complete. After leaving the product to inject in a dark place for a week, drain and use the solution to rub the affected areas 2 r / day. The treatment should be supplemented with a light massage of the swollen veins. This treatment lasts 4 months.
Leh shelgu
Baths with white willow bark will be a good help in the fight against this disease. For such a procedure, it is necessary to grind the bark, after which 2 tablespoons. pour such raw materials with 400 ml of water and boil on low heat for 15 minutes. Add the finished product to buckets of water, then lower the legs and hold for 30 minutes. And immediately after the procedure, wear tight socks and let your feet rest. Procedures should be performed every other day for 3 months. By the way, to enhance the effect, a decoction of willow bark can be diluted with a decoction of oak bark.
All of these methods are excellent tools for preventing this disease and offer good help in treating varicose veins at an early stage of the disease. However, practice shows that in 80% of cases, people with affected veins go to doctors with an advanced disease. In such a situation, neither compression underwear, nor creams and ointments, nor folk remedies are able to affect in any way the development of the disease. Drastic measures are needed. Fortunately, modern medicine is ready to offer effective methods for resolving this complex issue.
Sclerotherapy
This is a non-surgical method of treating varicose veins, in which the doctor, using a thin needle, injects a special substance into the affected vein - a sclerosant. Such a substance sticks to the vein from the inside, as a result of which it dissipates and blood flow begins to flow through the healthy veins. The number of sclerosing administration sessions may vary depending on the severity of the lesion. And throughout the treatment, the patient should wear compression underwear.
As a result of such therapy, a person almost forever forgets the veins with annoying varicose veins. Relapses occur in only 25% of cases, and they are usually associated with advanced disease. True, it should be understood that sclerotherapy is not performed for pregnant women and obese people.
Laser treatment
This is one of the modern advances in medicine that allows you to get rid of varicose veins without surgery. The radiation generated by the laser "connects" the affected vein from the inside, thus closing its lumen and interrupting the blood flow path, which begins to travel through the deepest veins. Over time, connective tissue is formed by the adjacent vessel, which then disperses.
This method of problem solving is more effective than sclerotherapy. Low traumatic issue, the operation lasts no more than 40 minutes, and the patient can leave the clinic literally 2 hours after the operation. It is no wonder that the treatment of varicose veins with laser is called "surgery in the office". In this case, incisions in the skin should be made only when the large veins are eliminated, while the small varicose veins are eliminated without damaging the tissues. You just have to remember that the cost of such an operation is quite high.
Radiofrequency ablation
Recently, in our country, they began to practice the most modern method of eliminating the affected veins, which is called radiofrequency ablation. Used to treat major major veins affected by varicose veins. In this case, a radiofrequency catheter is inserted through a puncture into the skin into the affected vein, which, using the microwave, "creates" the vein from the inside. Furthermore, the catheter has sensors that allow you to monitor the effectiveness of the procedure.
This method can compete with laser treatment because it also requires no incisions in the skin, leaves no hematomas and is performed in just 30 minutes. On the day of surgery, the patient can return to his duties. However, the cost of such a procedure is high even compared to laser coagulation.
Surgical removal
Importers It is important to understand that in the case of eczema, thrombophlebitis, as well as trophic ulcers, treatment with the above methods is not performed. It is especially possible to eliminate neglected varicose veins only with surgical removal of the veins in connection with sclerotherapy. However, here everything is not so critical. In the arsenal of modern surgeons there are low-trauma microsurgical methods that allow you to remove a diseased vein through a small incision, and there will simply be no scars after the procedure. Moreover, new technologies make it possible to remove painful veins in just 30-40 minutes.
There is no need to be afraid of varicose veins. Quite the contrary, the disease requires great attention to itself, and the sooner the better. Timely identification and a chosen method of treatment will allow you to eliminate the disease without problems and live a full life.
Health for you!