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 everyone who has encountered such a problem to know the causes of varicose veins, its manifestations and most importantly - to study the best methods of treatment of this disease.
Main information
Varicose veins are a chronic vascular disease that develops as a result of blood stasis (usually in the lower extremities). This is due to damage to the vascular valves, which usually pass the blood extremely 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. On the legs of such a patient with the naked eye can be seen twisting "snakes" of blood vessels that rise above the skin, and in some places form enlarged "knots".
Causes of varicose veins
There are many reasons for the development of this disease. In particular, varicose veins can lead to:
- "Bad" heredity. Varicose veins are found in people with congenital weakness of the valvular system 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 on his feet for a day), sedentary lifestyle (sedentary work).
- Taking hormonal drugs. Some hormonal drugs, such as birth control pills with high estrogen, cause blood clots and can cause varicose veins.
- Circulatory disorders. These disorders 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 notice that varicose veins are not as terrible in themselves as its complications are dangerous. Indeed, in the early stages of the disease, varicose veins are an aesthetic problem for a person (especially women). First, vascular webs 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 pain when walking. These are important symptoms of varicose veins, which in any case should notIf a person is not in a hurry to see a doctor and find out the cause of the disease, he risks running into varicose veins and facing a problem that cannot be solved without surgery.
With the development of varicose veins, the skin in the area of the lower leg becomes thicker and becomes bluish. The patient's calves begin to "whine" even with a short walk, and swollen veins are visible 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 start to fight the existing disease, irreversible changes begin to appear in the skin around the surrounding veins, as a result of which lipodermatosclerosis develops, and later trophic ulcers appear. In addition, without treatment, the inner walls of the veins become inflamed and provoke the formation of blood clots. This is how thrombophlebitis develops. As they increase in size, blood clots block the lumen of the vein and the clot can separate at any time. And this state is filled with death.
Thus, it is quite clear that varicose veins need to be treated. And you should start therapy as early as possible. Then we will look at the methods of treatment of this serious disease.
Medication treatment
In the complex therapy of varicose veins drugs are mandatory. Most of them are capsules or tablets that have a universal 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 vessel walls. It will not be possible to remove varicose veins with such drugs, but they are fully capable of relieving swelling of the legs, eliminate the sensation of burning and pain.
- Blood thinners. Such drugs dilute the blood and promote better blood circulation, preventing the development of thrombosis. Medicines are prescribed only on an individual basis, and the time of administration is determined by the doctor.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. These include pills, ointments and gels that relieve pain, relieve swelling and prevent platelet aggregation. More importantly, these drugs prevent inflammation of the veins, which leads to thrombophlebitis.
Socks and tights from varicose veins
The fairer sex encounters varicose veins much more often than men. This is largely due to hormonal changes that occur in the female body (menopause, pregnancy). Therefore, the best way to prevent varicose veins for them is to wear special tight-fitting 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 time immemorial. At different temperatures, the veins narrow 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 vascular networks have just begun to appear on the skin. In addition, depending on the existing problem, the baths can be local (only for the legs) or common (for the whole body). The water temperature in such a bath varies from 20 to 40 ° C.
Non-traditional treatments
Non-traditional methods can be used in the complex treatment of varicose veins. Here's a few examples.
Potato juice
Affected veins should be lubricated with freshly squeezed potato juice in the morning, afternoon and evening, and at night bandages should be applied with a bandage dipped in this juice. 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.
Apple vinegar
It is called "medicine number 1" for varicose veins and all this because apple cider vinegar improves blood circulation, strengthens blood vessel walls and improves skin tone. It is very easy to use: 2-3 r / day you need to lubricate the skin in the affected areaveins and vinegar. At the same time you should drink a glass of water in which 1 teaspoon of vinegar is dissolved. The duration of therapy is 2 months.
Kalanchoe leaf
This is another effective way to deal with varicose veins. Fill a half-liter bottle with chopped kalanchoe leaves in half and fill the raw material with 40% alcohol to fill the bottle. After leaving the product to infuse in a dark place for a week, strain it and use the tincture 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.
willow bark
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, 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 in buckets of water, then lower your legs and hold for 30 minutes. And immediately after the procedure, put on compression stockings and let your feet rest. The 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 these methods are excellent means of preventing this disease and provide good help in the treatment of varicose veins in the early stages of the disease. However, practice shows that in 80% of cases people with affected veins go 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 issue.
Sclerotherapy
This is a non-surgical method for dealing with varicose veins, in which the doctor uses a thin needle to inject a special substance into the affected vein - sclerosant. Such a substance sticks to the vein 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 lesion. And throughout the treatment the patient must wear compression underwear.
As a result of such therapy, a person almost forever forgets about annoying varicose veins. Relapses occur in only 25% of cases and are usually associated with advanced disease. It is true that it should be understood that sclerotherapy is not performed in 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 "solders" the affected vein from the inside, thus closing its lumen and interrupting the flow of blood, which begins to move 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 mildly traumatic, the operation takes no more than 40 minutes, and the patient can leave the clinic literally 2 hours after the operation. No wonder that the treatment of varicose veins with a laser is called "office surgery". In this case, skin incisions should only be made when large veins are eliminated, while small varicose veins are removed without damaging the tissues. It should only be remembered that the cost of such an operation is quite high.
Radiofrequency ablation
Most recently in our country they began to practice the most modern method for eliminating the affected veins, which is called radiofrequency ablation. It is used to treat major major veins affected by varicose veins. In this case, a radiofrequency catheter is inserted into the affected vein by piercing the skin, which uses microwaves to "pull" the vein inside, and the catheter has sensors that allow you to monitor the effectiveness of the procedure.
This method can compete with laser treatment, as it also does not require skin incisions, leaves no hematomas and is performed in just 30 minutes. On the day of the operation, the patient can return to his duties. 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 carried out. It is possible to remove the neglected varicose veins only by surgical removal of the veins, together with sclerotherapy. But even 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. In addition, new technologies make it possible to remove painful veins in just 30-40 minutes.
You do not need to be afraid of varicose veins. On the contrary, the disease requires careful attention to yourself and the sooner the better. Timely identification and properly chosen method of treatment will allow you to eliminate the disease without problems and live a full life.
Good health to you!