Varicose veins are a serious disease that significantly impairs quality of life and, without prompt treatment, makes it simply unbearable.
That is why it is important for all people who face such a problem to know the causes of varicose veins, their manifestations and, most importantly, study the best methods of treating this disease.
General information
Varicose veins are a chronic vascular disease that develops as a result of stagnation of the blood (usually in the lower extremities). This is due to the failure of the vascular valves, which normally pass blood exclusively upward, from the lower extremities 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. On the legs of such a patient, with the naked eye, "snakes" of the blood vessels can be seen twisting above the skin and, in some places, forming varicose "nodules".
Causes of varicose veins
There are quite a few reasons for the development of this disease. In particular, varicose veins can cause:
- "Bad" inheritance. Varicose veins are found in people with congenital weakness of the valve apparatus or vein walls.
- Increased venous pressure. Most often, factors that increase blood pressure lead to such a disease, namely pregnancy, obesity, constant vertical loads (when a person stands up for a day), a sedentary lifestyle (sedentary work ).
- Taking hormonal medications. Certain hormonal medications, such as the high estrogen birth control pill, cause blood clots and can lead to varicose veins.
- Violation of blood circulation. These alterations can appear due to poor physical activity, smoking, wearing too tight shoes or chronic constipation.
- Hormonal alterations associated with age-related changes in the body.
Manifestations and complications of the disease.
Doctors note that varicose veins are not so terrible in themselves, since their complications are dangerous. In fact, in the early stages of the development of the disease, the expansion of the saphenous veins is an aesthetic problem for a person (especially women suffer). First, vascular networks appear on the skin, the so-called "cobwebs". At the same time, a person begins to feel heaviness in the legs, notice swelling of the limbs, and feel pain when walking. These are important symptoms of varicose veins, which in no case should be ignored. If a person is not in a hurry to see a doctor and find out the cause of the ailment, he runs the risk of varicose veins and encountering a problem that cannot be solved without surgery.
With the development of varicose veins, the skin in the lower leg area becomes more dense and bluish. The calves of the patient begin to "moan" even with a short walk, and swollen veins can be seen under the skin. Also, over time, these veins become very painful.
But this is only 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 then trophic ulcers appear. Also, without treatment, the inner walls of the veins become inflamed and cause blood clots. This is how thrombophlebitis develops. By increasing in size, blood clots block the lumen of the vein, and at any time the clot can dislodge. And this condition is fraught with death.
Therefore, it is quite clear that varicose veins need to be treated. And you should start therapy as soon as possible. Next, we will consider the treatment methods for this serious disease.
Drug treatment
In complex therapy of varicose veins, drugs are necessarily used. Most of these are capsules or tablets, which have a versatile effect on the body. In particular:
- Phlebotonic. 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 remove varicose veins with such drugs, but they are quite capable of relieving swelling of the legs, eliminating the burning sensation and pain.
- Anticoagulant medications. These drugs thin the blood and promote better blood circulation, preventing the development of thrombosis. Medicines are prescribed only individually, and the time of application is determined by the doctor.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. These include pills, ointments, and gels that relieve pain, relieve swelling, and prevent platelets from sticking together. More importantly, these medications prevent inflammation of the veins that leads to thrombophlebitis.
Varicose leggings and tights.
The fair sex faces varicose veins much more often than men. This is largely due to hormonal changes that occur in the female body (menopause, pregnancy). That is why the most optimal way to prevent varicose veins for them is to wear tight special tights or tights. This 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 legs from pain, swelling and fatigue.
Hydrotherapy
The treatment of varicose veins with water has been known since time immemorial. At different temperatures, the veins narrow and widen, which helps to increase their elasticity. Knowing this, modern physicians use hydrotherapy in the early stages of varicose vein development, when vascular networks are just beginning to appear on the skin. In addition, depending on the existing problem, the baths can be local (only for the feet) or general (for the whole body). The temperature of the water 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
The affected veins should be lubricated with freshly squeezed potato juice in the morning, afternoon and evening, and bandages with a bandage moistened in this juice should be applied at night. In addition, 100 ml of potato juice should be drunk 3 r / day. Varicose veins should be treated with such a remedy for 3-4 months.
Apple vinager
It's called "remedy number 1" for varicose veins, and all because apple cider vinegar improves blood circulation, strengthens vascular walls, and improves skin tone. It is very simple to use: 2-3 r / day you need to lubricate the skin in the area of the affected veins with vinegar. And in parallel, you need to drink a glass of water in which 1 tsp was diluted. vinegar. The duration of therapy is 2 months.
Kalanchoe leaves
This is another effective remedy to treat varicose veins. Fill a half liter bottle with Kalanchoe leaves chopped halfway and fill the raw material with 40% alcohol to fill the bottle. After letting the product infuse in a dark place for a week, strain and use the tincture to rub the affected areas 2 r / day. The treatment should be complemented with a light massage of the swollen veins. This treatment lasts for 4 months.
willow bark
Baths with white willow bark will be of great help in the fight against this disease. For such a procedure, it is necessary to grind the bark, after which 2 tbsp. l. pour such raw materials with 400 ml of water and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the finished product to buckets of water, where then lower your feet and hold for 30 minutes. And immediately after the procedure, put on compression stockings and rest your legs. Procedures should be done 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 means of preventing this disease and provide 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 turn to doctors with advanced 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. Drastic measures are needed. Fortunately, modern medicine is ready to offer effective methods to solve this complex problem.
Sclerotherapy
This is a non-surgical method of treating varicose veins, in which the doctor, using a fine 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 dissolves and blood flow begins to flow through healthy veins. The number of sclerosant administration sessions may vary depending on the severity of the injury. And throughout the treatment, the patient must wear compression underwear.
As a result of such therapy, a person almost always forgets about annoying varicose veins. Relapses appear in only 25% of cases and 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 advancements in medicine that allows you to get rid of varicose veins without surgery. The radiation generated by the laser "welds" the affected vein from the inside, thus closing its light and cutting off the passage of blood flow, which begins to travel through the deeper veins. Over time, connective tissue forms from the glued vessel, which subsequently dissolves.
This method of solving the problem is more effective than sclerotherapy. It is little traumatic, the operation lasts no more than 40 minutes and the patient can leave the clinic literally 2 hours after the operation. Not surprisingly, laser varicose vein treatment is called "office surgery. "In this case, skin incisions need to be made only when large veins are removed, while small varicose veins are removed without damaging the tissues. You just have to remember that the cost of such an operation is quite high.
Radiofrequency ablation
More recently, in our country, they began to practice the most modern method of removing affected veins, which is called radiofrequency ablation. It is used to treat the main large veins affected by varicose veins. In this case, a radiofrequency catheter is inserted through a puncture in the skin in the affected vein, which, using microwaves, "works" 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 also does not require skin incisions, does not leave bruises and is done in as little as 30 minutes. On the day of the operation, the patient can return to his functions. However, the cost of such a procedure is high even compared to laser coagulation.
Surgical removal
It is important to understand that in the case of eczema, thrombophlebitis, and trophic ulcers, treatment with the above methods is not performed. It is possible to remove neglected varicose veins only by surgical removal of the veins in conjunction with sclerotherapy. However, here not everything is so critical. In the arsenal of modern surgeons there are minimally traumatic microsurgical methods that allow you to remove a diseased vein through a small incision, and there will simply be no scarring after the procedure. In addition, new technologies make it possible to remove painful veins in just 30-40 minutes.
There is no reason to be afraid of varicose veins. On the contrary, the disease requires a lot of attention to itself, and the sooner the better. Timely identification and a properly selected treatment method will allow you to smoothly eliminate the disease and live a full life.
Good health to you!