Varicose veins are a serious disease that significantly worsens the quality of life and simply becomes unbearable without timely treatment.
Therefore, it is important for everyone facing such a problem to know the causes and manifestations of varicose veins and, most importantly, to learn the best ways to treat this disease.
General Information
Varicose veins are a chronic vascular disease that develops as a result of blood stasis (usually in the lower extremities). This is usually caused by the failure of the vascular valves that carry blood only upwards and from the lower extremities to the heart. Stagnant blood puts pressure on the walls of blood vessels, resulting in thinning, loss of elasticity and deformation, significantly dilated. With the naked eye, curly "snakes" of blood vessels can be seen in the legs of such a patient, protruding from the skin and forming varicose "knots" in some places.
Causes of varicose veins
There are many reasons for the development of this disease. In particular, varicose veins can cause:
- "Bad" heredity. Varicose veins are encountered by people with congenital weakness of the valve apparatus or venous walls.
- Increased venous pressure. Factors that increase blood pressure often cause such diseases, such as pregnancy, obesity, constant vertical loads (when a person gets up one day), sedentary lifestyle (sedentary work).
- To take hormonal drugs. Some hormonal medications, such as high-estrogen birth control pills, cause blood clots and can cause varicose veins.
- Circulatory disorders. These disorders can be caused by 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 see that the complications of varicose veins are not as terrible as they are dangerous. Indeed, dilation of the saphenous veins in the early stages of the disease is an aesthetic problem for a person (especially women). First, vascular networks appear on the skin - "spider webs". At the same time, a person begins to feel heaviness in his legs, sees swelling of the limbs, and feels pain while walking. These are the symptoms of varicose veins and should not be ignored under any circumstances. If a person does not hurry to see a doctor and find out the cause of the disease, there is a risk of varicose veins leaking and a problem that cannot be solved without surgery.
With the development of varicose veins, the skin in the lower leg thickens and becomes bluish. The patient's legs begin to "cry" even with a short walk, and you can see the swollen veins under the skin. In addition, 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 occur in the skin surrounding the affected blood vessels, resulting in the development of lipodermatosclerosis and subsequent trophic ulcers. In addition, without treatment, the inner walls of blood vessels become inflamed and cause blood clots. This is how thrombophlebitis develops. As they increase in size, blood clots close the lumen of the vessel, and a clot can form at any time. And this situation is full of death.
Thus, it is clear that varicose veins need treatment. And you should start treatment as early as possible. Next, we will look at ways to treat this serious disease.
Drug treatment
In the complex treatment of varicose veins, drugs are definitely used. Many of these are capsules or tablets that have a multifaceted effect on the body. In particular:
- Phlebotonics. These drugs increase blood flow, prevent the development of thrombosis and at the same time increase the tone of the vascular walls. It will not be possible to eliminate varicose veins with such drugs, but they have the ability to eliminate swelling of the legs, relieve burning and pain.
- Blood thinners. Such drugs dilute the blood and improve blood circulation, prevent the development of thrombosis. Medications are prescribed only individually and the time of application is determined by a doctor.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. These include pills, ointments, and gels that relieve pain, reduce swelling, and prevent platelets from sticking together. More importantly, these drugs prevent inflammation of the blood vessels that cause thrombophlebitis.
Socks and tights from varicose veins
Fair sex is more prone to varicose veins than men. This is mainly due to hormonal changes in the female body (menopause, pregnancy). For this reason, the best way for them to prevent varicose veins is to wear special tight socks or tights. Such compression underwear compresses the legs and prevents varicose veins, which is an excellent prevention of varicose veins. And in the case of an already advanced disease, such underwear protects the legs from pain, swelling and fatigue.
Hydrotherapy
Water treatment of varicose veins has been known since ancient times. At different temperatures, the arteries constrict and dilate, which helps to increase their elasticity. Knowing this, modern doctors use hydrotherapy in the early stages of the development of varicose veins, when the vascular network begins to appear fresh on the skin. In addition, baths can be local (for the feet only) or general (for the whole body), depending on the problem at hand. The temperature of the water in such a bath varies between 20 and 40 ° C.
Non-traditional treatment
Non-traditional methods can also be used in the complex treatment of varicose veins. Here are some examples.
Potato juice
Affected veins should be lubricated in the morning, afternoon and evening with freshly squeezed potato juice, and bandages soaked in this juice should be applied at night. In addition, 100 ml of potato juice should be drunk 3 times a day. Varicose veins should be treated with such a tool for 3-4 months.
Apple cider vinegar
Varicose veins are called "remedy number 1" and all because apple cider vinegar improves blood circulation, strengthens the walls of blood vessels and improves skin tone. It is very simple to use: 2-3 r / day to lubricate the skin in the affected area with vinegar. And in parallel, you should drink a glass of water diluted with 1 teaspoon. vinegar. The duration of therapy is 2 months.
Kalanchoe leaves
It is another effective tool to fight varicose veins. Fill a half-liter bottle with chopped Kalanchoe leaves and fill the bottle with 40% alcohol to fill the raw material. After infusing the product in the dark for a week, filter and rub the affected areas twice a day using tincture. Treatment should be completed with a light massage of swollen veins. This treatment lasts 4 months.
Willow bark
Baths with white willow bark will be a good help in the fight against this disease. For such a procedure you need to grind the bark, then 2 tbsp. l. Pour such raw materials with 400 ml of water and boil on low heat for 15 minutes. Add the finished product to a bowl of water, then lower your legs and hold for 30 minutes. And immediately after the procedure, wear compression stockings and relax your feet. Procedures should be performed every day for 3 months. By the way, a solution of willow bark can be diluted with a solution of oak bark to increase the effect.
All these methods are an excellent tool for the prevention of this disease and help in the treatment of varicose veins in the early stages of the disease. However, experience shows that in 80% of cases, people affected by varicose veins go to doctors with a developed disease. In such a situation, neither compression underwear, nor creams and ointments, nor folk remedies can in any way affect the development of the disease. There is a need for drastic measures. Fortunately, modern medicine is ready to offer effective ways to solve this complex problem.
Sclerotherapy
This is a non-surgical method to combat varicose veins in which the doctor injects a special substance into the affected vein - sclerosant, using a thin needle. Such a substance sticks to the blood vessels from the inside, as a result of which it dissolves and blood flow begins through the healthy blood vessels. The number of sclerosant sessions may vary depending on the severity of the lesion. And during treatment, the patient should wear compression underwear.
As a result of such therapy, a person forgets about boring varicose veins almost forever. Relapses occur in only 25% of cases and are generally associated with an advanced disease. However, it should be understood that sclerotherapy is not performed for pregnant women and obese people.
Laser treatment
This is one of the modern developments in medicine that allows you to get rid of varicose veins without surgery. The radiation generated by the laser "solder" the affected vessel from the inside, thereby closing the lumen and blocking the blood flow that begins to pass through the deeper vessels. Over time, connective tissue forms from the sticky vein and then melts.
This method of solving the problem is more effective than sclerotherapy. It is less traumatic, the operation does not take more than 40 minutes, and the patient can leave the clinic 2 hours after the operation. Laser treatment of varicose veins is called "office surgery". In this case, the incisions in the skin are removed only when large veins are removed, and small varicose veins are removed without damaging the tissues. Just remember that the cost of such an operation is very high.
Radio frequency ablation
Recently, in our country, began to apply the most modern method of removal of affected vessels, called radiofrequency ablation. It is used to treat the main large veins affected by varicose veins. In this case, a radiofrequency catheter is inserted into a vein affected by a hole in the skin, using a microwave oven to "infuse" the vein from the inside. In addition, the catheter has sensors that allow you to monitor the effectiveness of the procedure.
This method can compete with laser treatment, because it does not require incisions in the skin, does not leave hematomas and is performed in just 30 minutes. On the day of surgery, the patient can return to their positions. However, the cost of such a procedure is even higher compared to laser coagulation.
Surgical removal
It is important to understand that eczema, thrombophlebitis and trophic ulcers are not treated by the above methods. Neglected varicose veins can be removed only with sclerotherapy and surgical removal of the veins. But not everything is so critical here. In the arsenal of modern surgeons are low-traumatic microsurgery techniques that allow a patient to remove a vein with a small incision, and no scars will remain after the procedure. In addition, new technologies allow you to eliminate painful veins in just 30-40 minutes.
There is no need to be afraid of varicose veins. On the contrary, the disease requires close attention, and the sooner the better. Timely diagnosis and properly selected treatment will allow you to eliminate the disease without problems and live a full life.
Cheers to you!