It is necessary to begin the prevention of varicose veins in the legs when the first signs of stretching of the vascular walls are detected. If therapy is neglected, the disease will continue to develop and lead to serious complications. Lifestyle changes are essential to prevent the development of varicose veins. The patient must balance the daily routine, review his wardrobe and nutritional system. We will inform you about all the methods to further prevent varicose veins.
The causes of varicose veins.
The prevention of varicose veins affects all people, because each person is exposed to negative factors that provoke the development of the disease. First, among them is physical inactivity. Most modern people spend 80% of their time in the office. Sitting negatively affects the work of the muscular apparatus. Therefore, people who are thinking about how to protect their legs from varicose veins are obliged to introduce daily gymnastics into their schedule. The reasons for the development of the disease include:
- abuse of fatty and sweet foods;
- significant excess body weight;
- serious leg injuries;
- bad habits;
- taking hormonal medications;
- excessive loads on the legs.
Before you start preventing varicose veins on the legs, you need to determine the degree of risk of developing the disease. There are certain groups of people who are more likely to suffer from this disease. They need to visit a phlebologist 1-2 times a year to prevent the appearance of varicose veins.
Most vulnerable groups of people
The prevention of varicose veins begins by determining if you are a person with a tendency to develop this pathology or not. Only a phlebologist can answer this question exactly after assessing the condition of the veins, but you can try to classify yourself. The following people are at high risk of developing varicose veins:
- with hereditary predisposition to vascular diseases;
- women who have given birth and are pregnant;
- people who do heavy physical labor and stand most of the day;
- women who constantly walk in high heels;
- lovers of spicy and too salty foods;
- alcohol abusers;
- people who like to take very hot baths, go to the sauna;
- women with dyshormonal disorders;
- people who suffer from increased swelling of the legs.
How to prevent varicose veins
How to avoid varicose veins 100%, doctors will not be able to tell, tk. there is no such way. You can follow all the recommendations of doctors, but still cope with this ailment. On the other hand, the implementation of preventive measures contributes to the normalization of body functions and blood flow, which significantly slows down the development of the disease. The most effective means of preventing the progression of varicose veins are:
- physical education;
- wear comfortable shoes;
- balance diet;
- normalization of body weight;
- gymnastics;
- wear compression stockings;
- perform a foot massage;
- job choice with more normal working conditions.
Of course, not all the recommendations can be immediately implemented in practice, but everyone can eat less fatty foods and exercise for 20 minutes a day. Do not be too fanatical about the prevention of the disease, because in the pursuit of improving the condition of the blood vessels, you can seriously injure yourself.
Moderate activity
Working with free weights and very intense physical activity will not help in the fight against varicose veins. On the contrary, they cause the destruction of the valves and the stretching of the vascular walls. Prevention of varicose veins involves performing specialized exercises that normalize blood flow. Classes should be held at a strong pace and not cause you pain. Sports methods for preventing varicose veins include:
- water aerobics and swimming;
- walking race;
- easy operation;
- extension.
Quality footwear
To prevent varicose veins, many doctors recommend wearing orthotics. They contribute to an even distribution of the load when walking. An important aspect is the shoes themselves. To prevent varicose veins in the legs at home, you can wear shoes with supports on the instep. The type of template and the height of the rise must be selected by the physician. The footwear purchased must meet the following characteristics:
- It does not have a flat sole and a heel that is more than 6 cm high.
- Sit well on the leg. Loose shoes on your feet increase the likelihood of injuring your ankle, and pressing down will cause poor circulation.
- The sole / heel must be stable. Even summer shoes should have a non-slip coating.
Proper work
When it comes to the prevention of varicose veins in the legs, doctors recommend normalizing work and rest. For many patients, this is due to a change in job or specialization. Not everyone agrees to take such a radical step, but if you are now involved in a job, when choosing a new job, try to take into account the following recommendations:
- Work should not be associated with hard physical work.
- You cannot stay in one position for 7-8 hours. Look for companies where employees can get up every 2-3 hours and can do light warm-ups.
In general, any job can be adapted by warming up every hour. If you do not want to change the field of activity or specialty, you can simply participate in physical education in the workplace. The main thing is not to allow an increase in blood in the lower legs, caused by immobility of the lower leg.
Proper nutrition
If you have thoughts on how to avoid varicose veins on your legs, pay attention to your diet. People who abuse fatty, salty and very sweet foods are more likely to suffer from this disease, because they are more likely to experience high cholesterol and be overweight. To normalize bowel function, you need to eat a lot of vegetables with fiber. If you have practically not eaten raw carrots or cabbage up to this point, you should not immediately consume them in kilograms. It is enough to eat 300 grams of such vegetables per day.
People with a tendency to varicose veins should be careful to maintain water balance. At least 1. 5 liters of clean water should be consumed per day. Juices, soups, teas are not included in this standard. The body perceives them as food, so the kidneys and intestines excrete them quickly. It is undesirable to use still water. If you are prone to varicose veins, you will need to exclude carbonated and sugary drinks. A similar rule applies to beverages that are high in caffeine.
Weight normalization
Maintaining a normal body mass index is important for the prevention of varicose veins. Simple physics works here. The more weight a person has, the stronger the pressure on the vessels. Of course, you need to compare body weight with muscle volume, height, and your own physique. With the same height, the difference in the weight of the mesomorph and ectomorph can reach 15 kg.
If you decide that the amount of fat in your body predominates over that of muscle, reduce the calories in your daily diet. This approach will allow you to lose weight without experiencing strong food cravings. If you drastically change your diet, you will break down and regain mass. To reduce calories in your daily diet, you must introduce more vegetables that contain fiber. Not only will they help you lose weight, but they will also help normalize digestion.
Rejection of bad habits
The prevention of varicose veins in the legs affects all areas of human life. Bad habits are also on this list. Smoking, alcohol, and a tendency to overeat have a damaging effect on blood vessels. This also includes a constant state of stress. While it is relatively easy to deal with overeating, a strong addiction to alcohol and smoking requires medical attention. A hobby or group therapy session can help relieve stress.
Download gymnastics
In the prevention of varicose veins of the legs, it is imperative to perform exercises that help relieve excessive tension in the muscles of the lower extremities. The maximum duration of these workouts is 5 to 10 minutes. Doctors recommend doing them at least once a day, but preferably 2 times a day. The following physical activities are considered helpful:
- Exercise bike. Lying on a firm surface, raise your legs and then begin to perform movements similar to riding a bicycle. If you can't immediately interact with your legs one by one, then take turns pulling them toward the body.
- Flexion / extension of the foot. The exercise is done in a sitting position. It is necessary to perform 20 movements with each foot.
- Rolls from heel to toe. They contribute well to the dispersion of blood if a person has been sitting for a long time.
- Get up to your toes. First, the actions are performed simultaneously with two legs, and then alternately. At the highest point, you need to stay for 10-15 seconds, and then lower to the starting position.
Foot massage
If you are not sure how to prevent varicose veins in your legs, try a gentle massage. By itself, the reflex effect on the skin and blood vessels has a tonic effect on the entire body. Due to short manipulations, the flow of blood and lymph increases, the nutrition of the epithelium is normalized. Foot massage can be performed independently or entrusted to a specialist. With predisposition to varicose veins, pressure and pinching movements should be avoided during procedures. Self-massage is performed as follows:
- The patient should sit on the floor or on a bed / sofa, slightly flexing the knee.
- Rubbing movements should be done from the toes to the lower leg.
- The foot should be wrapped around the toes so that the thumb is on the back of the foot and the rest is on the inside.
- The segment wrapped around your hands should be squeezed slightly, moving slowly towards the upper leg.
- The lateral surface of the heel should be wrapped with the fingers on both sides, and then squeezed for a couple of seconds. Next, you need to move from the Achilles tendon to the knee.
- The procedure ends by stroking the feet.
Compression clothing
The means for the prevention of varicose veins are different. Compression therapy is also one of them. If you wish, you can attend specialized physiotherapy procedures, when the pressure impact is performed by specialized devices, but it is easier to acquire medical tights and pantyhose.
Compression stockings must be selected individually. In the absence of predisposition, it is enough to wear underwear with an initial degree of compression. If you have symptoms of varicose veins, the doctor should take care of the selection of the shirt. Recommendations for choosing medical clothing are as follows:
- It should be comfortable. If you feel uncomfortable at the first adjustment, then this underwear is not suitable for you.
- The compression class must be in accordance with the doctor's recommendations. If you have been told to wear first grade compression stockings then you cannot buy zero grade knee high stockings.
- Products must be of high quality. It is better to buy compression stockings in specialized stores, and not on the market or in any sale, because there is a high probability of coming across a fake, which will stretch over time and cease to have a therapeutic effect on the legs.
Additional Recommendations
Measures for the prevention of varicose veins include the use of specialized external cosmetic products (gels, creams, etc. ). They cool the surface of the legs, which contributes to the natural contraction of blood vessels. People with a tendency to varicose veins of the legs should avoid overloading the muscles of the lower extremities. Hygiene is important to prevent the appearance of diseases. It is recommended not only to thoroughly clean the skin on the legs, but also to take a contrast shower. It also has a local irritant effect on blood vessels, which improves skin tone.
How to stop varicose veins
The prevention and treatment of varicose veins are closely related. The spread of the disease can be stopped in the early stages with the help of medications and alternative therapies, but with a rapidly progressing disease, only surgery can help. A phlebologist must develop a treatment plan for a patient with varicose veins. It is impossible to independently select drugs and participate in oriental practices. Any rash action can worsen the condition of the blood vessels.
Drug therapy
Medications are able to stop the development of varicose veins in the initial stage. As a general rule, the disease begins to form because the vessels do not have enough nutrients to maintain the elastic walls. In this case, an increased accumulation of blood in the extremities is often observed. Venotonics / Phlebotonics: Medications that improve the flow of fluid from the legs. They also help restore the vascular walls. Are:
- natural;
- set;
- synthetic;
- based on rutoside.
With high viscosity of the blood, patients are prescribed drugs with heparin. They help improve blood flow, but are contraindicated in people with a tendency to bleed.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce pain in the second stage of varicose veins. They also help relieve the itching and burning sensation that often accompanies this disease. External remedies promote skin healing. The doctor must determine the duration of use of the drugs, but often the standard course of treatment is 6 to 8 months, so you should not expect all symptoms of the disease to disappear within 2 weeks of administration. of medications.
Traditional therapy
In the early stages, the disease is not considered life-threatening, but it should not be allowed to spread either. Sclerotherapy is a traditional minimally invasive method to prevent the development of varicose veins. It can be used to remove stars and small glasses. Traditional therapy includes:
- eco-sclerotherapy;
- microsclerotherapy;
- thermocoagulation;
- electromagnetotherapy;
- darsonvalization;
- electrical stimulation;
- Manual lymphatic drainage;
- the use of elastic compression of the legs;
- hydrotherapy;
- balneotherapy;
- pressotherapy.
All of these techniques help prevent further development of the disease. They activate the natural process of vascular regeneration.
Unconventional methods
You can improve the condition of your legs with the help of mud therapy. The patient should remember that the bandages should only be cold. Heating varicose veins is very harmful to the body. Ayurveda helps to get rid of chronic stress that causes stretching of blood vessels. This is one of the varieties of alternative medicine, built on the Hindu philosophical system. Various plants are used there as medicines. Non-traditional methods of treating varicose veins include:
- yoga;
- homeopathy;
- naturopathy;
- Tibetan gymnastics.
Surgery
With varicose veins in the lower extremities, the most effective way to normalize blood flow is a specialized operation. The perfect methods of surgical treatment of the disease are characterized by minimal invasiveness and a rapid return of the patient to the activity of normal life. They allow you to completely get rid of the affected veins, which slows down the development of the disease. Modern methods of surgical treatment of varicose veins include:
- short peeled;
- video endoscopic surgery;
- microflebectomy;
- laser coagulation;
- venectomy;
- saphenectomy.
These methods are most often used to treat varicose veins. The doctor chooses the surgical method to remove the vessel based on the size of the vein and its general condition. Sometimes it is necessary to cut only part of the vessel, and sometimes it is necessary to completely remove it and create an alternative channel for blood flow.
Popular method
Home remedies that improve the condition of the veins are divided into external and internal. If you are not sure whether the cause of the development of varicose veins was the high number of platelets, the use of various tinctures should be postponed, because they contain decoctions of plants that help to thin the blood. Effective external remedies for varicose veins:
- Coniferous salt baths. 300 grams of dry matter are added to hot water and then immersed there. If pine salt is not sold in your area, you can substitute baking soda for it. It is recommended to take such baths 2-3 times a week.
- Apple cider vinegar compresses. The product is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 1 and then applied to the skin. From above, the leg is wrapped with bandages, and then everything is fixed with plastic wrap. You can simply apply apple cider vinegar 2-3 times a day. Irritates the veins.
- Rub with horse chestnut. You can buy a tincture made from this plant in a pharmacy or you can make it yourself. In the latter case, you will need grains with the skin of the plant. 400 grams of dry product is poured with 1. 5 liters of vodka, and then infused for a week in a dark place. Once the tincture is ready, they begin to clean the parts of the legs damaged by varicose veins.
Prevention forecast
In women with a low predisposition to the development of the disease, during the prevention of varicose veins on the legs, it develops only in 5% of cases. The disease is mild, so it can be treated quickly. With a moderate predisposition to the disease, the disease occurs in 30% of patients. Most often it is a mild to moderate form of the disease. With a pronounced tendency to varicose veins, the disease rapidly progresses to an average form. Without prevention, the disease quickly worsens, greatly complicating further treatment.
Clinical examination of the population
All citizens can undergo a medical examination for free. In general, not all medical tests are important, just a visit to the surgeon and the results of a general blood test. The surgeon may notice the first changes in the vessels and then refer you to a phlebologist. Also, he should be careful if platelets predominate in the impression of a general blood test, he should visit a phlebologist. This may indicate a vascular thrombosis.
How to avoid varicose veins during pregnancy
During the transport of a baby, the load on the internal organs of a woman increases enormously. During pregnancy, the risk of developing varicose veins in the legs, small pelvis and external genital organs increases. Especially the danger increases in the II and III trimesters, when the fetus begins to actively grow. A phlebologist can tell you in detail how to prevent varicose veins in the legs in pregnant women. All preventive measures should be started with a consultation with him. Doctors recommend a woman in one position:
- wear comfortable shoes with low heels (completely flat soles are also harmful);
- try not to drink too much fluids;
- go to water aerobics for pregnant women;
- more often I place my legs during the day;
- Wear compression and support jersey.
Why Disease Prevention Is Important
It is much easier to think about how to prevent varicose veins in the legs than to deal with the treatment of an already formed ailment. Many people who suffer from this ailment have a genetic predisposition to develop it. The main objective of preventive measures is to maintain the normal state of the boat. This can be done in different ways. All preventive measures can be divided into 2 types:
- aimed at people with a hereditary predisposition to the disease or facing unfavorable working conditions;
- aimed at patients suffering from any stage of varicose veins.
About 80% of phlebologists believe that preventing a disease is much easier than treating it, so all conscientious citizens should spend at least 10-20 minutes a day caring for their feet.