Thrombophlebitis is a disease characterized by the inflammatory process of the internal venous wall, with the further formation of blood clots. The pathological process proceeds against the background of redness and compaction of the vein at the site of the lesion. In addition, the disease can occur against the background of an increase in body temperature (up to 37.5 degrees) and sharp pains, swelling. Very often it is possible to solve the problem only thanks to surgical intervention.
Why might a problem arise?
The main cause of thrombophlebitis is an enlarged vein, it is they who are most often overtaken by a disease. The main factors that lead to the appearance of pathology are a change in the composition of the blood, an increase in the level of coagulation and a deterioration in blood circulation. Thrombophlebitis can also develop against the background of injuries, purulent processes, after the birth of a child, in the presence of pathologies associated with the cardiovascular system and blood diseases.
Types, diagnosis and what should be done to the patient
Thrombophlebitis can occur in acute, subacute and chronic form, which lasts up to 3 months. Purulent and non-purulent form is also distinguished. Deep and superficial veins can be affected.
As a rule, if the superficial vein is affected, then no special methods of diagnosis are required. However, to confirm the diagnosis, an ultrasound scan of the veins, rheovasography and ultrasound angioscanning can be performed.
This type of disease requires seeking medical attention from a doctor. In addition to conservative and surgical treatment, the patient must adhere to a diet for varicose veins and thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities, moderate physical activity and local treatment, using ointments and gels.
Why is dieting so important?
Thrombophlebitis is a disease in which you have to abandon the use of food products, which provoke the appearance of deposits on the walls of blood vessels, and from food, which leads to a thickening of the blood.
A diet for thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities involves the rejection of fried and fatty foods, as they accelerate the blood coagulation process and provoke the formation of cholesterol plaques, which cause blockage of the veins.
In some cases, patients even get a disability, even if the affected vein has been removed.
In addition, dietary nutrition involves reducing the patient’s body weight, since it is with its presence that an increased load on the veins and blood vessels occurs.
The diet for thrombophlebitis of the veins of the lower extremities is based on foods that normalize blood flow and strengthen the venous walls. However, the diet should consist of food that spares the liver as much as possible, since it is she who is responsible for all metabolic processes that occur in the body. If the liver is healthy, then there is practically no risk of thrombophlebitis.
What can I eat? General rules
Before prescribing a diet for varicose veins and thrombophlebitis, the doctor assesses the stage of the disease, the degree of destructive processes and the condition of the walls of the veins. Only a complete and comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition allows you to establish the right diet.
First of all, patients with thrombophlebitis should consume at least 2.5 liters of water per day. After all, blood consists of 93% of water. If the heat started, then the amount of fluid consumed should increase by 500 milliliters or more. If the body has enough water, then excessive blood viscosity can be avoided.
Excess weight is the main factor influencing the progression of the disease. Fatty foods lead to the formation of excess cholesterol, which becomes the main factor in the formation of plaques. It is against the background of excess weight that clots appear that are attached to the walls of the vessels of the veins.
The question may arise, why do dietary supplementation for thrombophlebitis in general? And everything is very simple, any disease is a negative imprint on the whole body, therefore, it is harder for it to digest food, and it becomes susceptible to diseases. If you adjust the diet, then a reasonable menu will speed up the healing process.
"Right" food
Diet for thrombophlebitis of the deep veins of the lower extremities involves the use of the maximum amount of nutrients that will help thin the blood. In particular, the following foods can be distinguished:
- Oils: olive and sunflower. Flax seed oil is best suited for this pathology.
- Seeds and fruits from the pumpkin family, that is, melons and watermelons.
- Leaves (green and fresh) of garlic and onions, they have the property that allows you to clean the vascular ducts of cholesterol clots.
- Chocolate, this cocoa-based product is a powerful antioxidant that removes free radicals from the body.
- Seasonings, in particular ginger and cinnamon.
- Almost all vegetables and fruits that contain a large amount of fiber, which helps strengthen blood vessels and makes them more elastic.
- Products that contain omega acids. This refers to seafood, namely seaweed, squid, red caviar, mussels and fish from the genus salmon.
- Products that contain acidic substances, in particular apple cider vinegar and tomato juice.
Do not give up porridge. Wheat, barley, oat and rice are ideal. These cereals contain a huge amount of magnesium, which positively affects the blood vessels.
It is very important to eat foods that contain vitamin C and rutin. These include sea buckthorn, strawberries, lemons and oranges, apples and grapefruits, gooseberries. It is these fruits that will strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
To improve the rheological parameters of blood, you should use cherries and raspberries, but you should do this daily.
It is recommended to include garlic and onions in the daily menu, which cleanse the vessels very well.
Top products
Oddly enough, but the most common product in our region, like buckwheat porridge, can be said to be a panacea for thrombophlebitis. Diet in this case involves almost daily use of buckwheat porridge. In addition, it is low-calorie, that is, it will help lose weight. Buckwheat has a huge amount of rutin, about 0.48 mg per 100 grams of product. It also contains fiber, iron, tryptophan, proteins and amino acids, magnesium.
Another vegetable that should be present on the table for such an illness is a tomato. It can be used in any form: fresh, boiled, in the form of tomato paste. However, do not use pickled tomatoes, pickled or salted.
What will have to refuse?
The diet for thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities has a fairly wide range of limitations, but, nevertheless, allows you to fully eat and not worry about the feeling of hunger.
This type of disease involves the exclusion from the diet of all fats of animal origin, that is, you have to abandon butter, lard. Heavy carbohydrates should not be consumed. This category includes pasta and flour products, legumes. Smoked and fried foods should not be consumed.
The list of restrictions includes peas, currants, soybeans, beans, bananas and rose hips.
You will have to abandon the use of products that contain vitamin K. And this is due to the fact that they can negate all treatment with medications from the group of anticoagulants. It is clear that eating a huge amount of greens or vegetables with a huge amount of the same vitamin K is quite difficult, but there are products in which this vitamin is quite high, namely:
- parsley;
- basil;
- spinach;
- broccoli;
- celery root;
- Chinese cabbage;
- cucumber;
- blueberry;
- blackberry;
- Garnet;
- carrot;
- grapes and others.
It should be understood that the presence of such a pathology involves a complete rejection of alcohol. After all, alcohol constricts blood vessels. The same goes for coffee and strong tea, which only contribute to increased vasospasm.
A few more limitations
There is a certain list of food products that lead to blood clotting, but, as a rule, are present on our table every day. First of all, it is sausage. The diet for thrombophlebitis involves the rejection of bananas, of course, that if one fruit is eaten per week, nothing will happen, but you should not abuse it. It is better not to eat pastries and pastries.
Any canned foods are also on the list of restrictions. Do not abuse fatty cottage cheese and milk, sour cream. It is also better to refuse high-fat cheeses.
What foods do a strong half of humanity lean on?
If a diet is prescribed for thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities in men, it is recommended to consume more foods that will contribute to the synthesis of testosterone. After all, an insufficient amount of this hormone in the male body is a common cause of the disease.
Men should lean on seafood, nuts. It should be included in the diet: eggplant, celery, peaches, pineapple, spinach, pears, parsley and cilantro, apricots.
What is better to use the weak half of humanity?
The diet for thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities in women involves an emphasis on products with a high content of vitamin E. It affects the normalization of hormonal levels. But it is precisely with hormonal changes that thrombophlebitis often occurs, that is, the endocrine system requires constant correction. In particular, this applies to the period of gestation and menopause.
Corrective nutrition involves eating the following foods:
- dried apricots;
- squid;
- any types and grades of nuts.
A few more recommendations for the female?
It is regrettable to admit, but thrombophlebitis more often overtakes women, therefore, so that the disease does not appear, they should be more biased in their health.
In addition to following a diet for thrombophlebitis, women are better off giving up high-heeled shoes. It is clear that they are always in fashion, but they lead to the fact that the venous walls are overexerted, after which edema necessarily appears.
Do not wear too tight jeans, because such clothes make it difficult for blood circulation, and pinched inguinal veins definitely lead to clogged veins. The same applies to stockings with elastic bands and body, belts that tighten the figure too much and jumpsuits. Do not forget that thrombophlebitis can be accompanied by an erysipelatous inflammatory process and severe damage to the veins of the lower extremities.
Herbal infusions and juices
Any phlebologist will not deny that, along with a diet for thrombophlebitis, it is better for patients to include juices and herbal teas in their diet. They will help to saturate the body with vitamins and speed up the healing process.
It is recommended to include green tea and berry fruit drinks in the diet.
You can make an infusion of nettles, which contributes to the rapid digestion of food and cleanses the entire body from free radicals. Such infusions should be consumed in small sips about 4 times a day.
Prevention and possible complications
This is not to say that the diet for deep vein thrombophlebitis has a large number of limitations, however, it is better not to start your body to such a state. Therefore, at the first manifestations of problems with veins, you should immediately consult a doctor. To prevent the occurrence of thrombophlebitis, you should undergo treatment with phleboprotectors at least 2-3 times a year. However, only a doctor should prescribe drugs.
It is necessary to avoid situations in which the lower extremities are constantly in the same position, that is, a stagnant process in the vessels begins. Do not give up sick leave and go to work if an infectious or viral catarrhal disease appears. Although such diseases are simply treated, nevertheless they provoke the process of destruction of the walls of blood vessels.
In the presence of varicose veins, the patient should avoid hypothermia, do not tire your legs with prolonged walking. Whenever possible, try to raise your legs above the heart muscle.
It should also be understood that thrombophlebitis is not only a risk of falling under the surgeon’s knife, but also a high likelihood of developing a pulmonary embolism, which can appear against the background of a severed thrombus, which will lead to sepsis. Also, patients with this pathology have a huge risk of developing tissue phlegmon on the lower extremities.