Varicose veins - a common disease, characterized by a violation of the outflow of venous blood, which leads to their deformation, the appearance of nodes. Such processes occur when vessels lose elasticity, they stretch, become wide and cease to function properly. As a result - impaired blood circulation, stagnation of blood in the veins. If the disease is started, the only way out of the situation is surgery. In order not to bring to such consequences, it is important to pay attention to alarming symptoms in time and take measures - at an early stage, the disease can be treated.
Symptoms
The initial stage of varicose veins on the legs is manifested by a feeling of heaviness after a long walk, swelling, pain that disappears after rest. Puffiness most often manifests itself when wearing high heels or a long stay in a standing position.
With the further development of the disease, such a symptom appears without special reasons, even after a slight load. Varicose veins (the initial stage) can manifest itself with the appearance of spider veins (red or blue spots) and a purple spider web that shines through the skin. Often people with the initial stage of varicose veins feel a heaviness in their legs, which recedes if you take a horizontal position and give your legs a rest. If such signs occur, you should consult a doctor immediately (to a surgeon or phlebologist), because if you start treatment on time, you can avoid complications, form blood clots and stop the development of the disease.
Causes
Violation of blood flow in the veins of the legs causes "varicose veins". The initial stage of this disease is manifested by uncomfortable or painful sensations. The main reason for varicose veins is heredity. If one of the parents suffers from this disease, then children need to be attentive to their health, as they are at risk for varicose veins. There are other causes of the disease:
- overweight, obesity,
- pregnancy, childbirth,
- malnutrition
- unhealthy lifestyle, drinking alcohol, smoking,
- permanent standing (work that involves a standing position),
- excessive physical exertion, weight lifting (in connection with professional or sports activities),
- tight clothes
- constant wearing uncomfortable shoes, including too high heels,
- diabetes,
- flat feet
- diseases of the internal organs that create pressure in the veins of the legs.
Both men and women are prone to varicose veins, mainly from the age of 45 years, but it is often found in younger people.
Prevention
People with a predisposition to varicose veins are advised to pay attention to their health and start taking preventive measures before the first manifestations of the disease. To prevent the development of the disease, you need to adhere to some rules:
- lose weight, do not overeat,
- stop smoking and drinking alcohol,
- lead an active lifestyle, but do not subject the legs to excessive loads,
- wear comfortable clothes and shoes,
- it’s useful to wear compression hosiery at least sometimes,
- undergo a medical examination at least once a year.
With careful attention to yourself and your health, you can prevent varicose veins. The initial stage, if it makes itself felt, is at a more mature age.
Diagnosis and treatment
If it was not possible to avoid the disease and varicose veins appeared, the initial stage is treated quite effectively. The main thing is to take action on time. Treatment can be carried out independently, at home, for this there are such methods as self-massage, physical exercises, baths. A doctor’s consultation is mandatory in this case, he will additionally advise ointments for fatigue and swelling in the legs, and also prescribe medications in the form of tablets if necessary. To diagnose the disease, a specialist needs a visual examination of the limbs, on which the first signs of disturbance have already appeared.
The doctor will clarify all the manifestations that bother the patient, find out the presence of pain, severity, edema, when and how these symptoms appear and for how long. Also, the doctor should look at the history of other diseases that may be causing varicose veins (for example, flat feet), study the result of blood tests. If such measures are not enough to make a diagnosis, an ultrasound examination or phlebography is used, which can detect violations of the valves of the veins, their patency.
Water treatments
What to do if varicose veins, the initial stage are detected? Treatment can begin with a contrast shower, which strengthens the walls of blood vessels. You need to carry out this procedure every day for the onset of effect. The best time for a shower is the evening, before bedtime. Similar treatment methods include contrast baths. We change the temperature of the water from cold to hot at least five times, ending with cold water.
It’s good to do foot douche before bedtime. Cold water should have a temperature of 16-20 degrees, hot - from 40. For the treatment of the initial stage, leg wrapping is used. Wet the bandage in cool water and wrap the legs to the knees for 30 minutes. Baths are good to take with the infusion of herbs. So, sage has a calming and analgesic effect. Apply this procedure twice a week. Decoctions of oak and willow bark help with pain.
Self massage
When the initial stage of varicose veins develops, how to effectively treat it with self-massage? Before starting the procedure, you need to lie down for 15 minutes with legs extended above the level of the heart in order to improve the outflow of blood through the veins. You should start from the hips: from the knee to the groin, knead the muscles, make stroking movements. Next, knead the knee joint, popliteal fossa well massaged in a circular motion.
Lying on your back, bend your legs at the knee and knead the lower leg from the inside and outside. Next, massage the foot, toes. Finally, stroke the entire surface from the bottom up. This procedure will help restore blood circulation. If pain is felt during the massage, consult a doctor.
Elastic bandage
If varicose veins appear on the legs, the initial stage, how to treat with elastic underwear? At an early stage, it is best to use special bandages. They are superimposed in the knee or on the entire surface of the leg. The wearing time should be determined by the doctor, since excessively long therapy can be harmful. At night, freeing your feet from the bandage, put them on a raised platform (for example, in the form of a rolled blanket).
The effectiveness of this method lies in the pressure that supports the weak walls of blood vessels and improves blood flow. Elastic bandages can be replaced with a more expensive means - compression stockings.
Physical exercise
Physical activity improves blood circulation in the legs, so if varicose veins (the initial stage) have arisen, you do not need to give up sports. The main thing is not to give undue stress to the legs. The development of the disease is much more favored by a sedentary lifestyle. There are special sets of exercises that should be performed if the initial stage of varicose veins develops. How to treat the disease in this way, the attending physician will tell.
Medications
Creams and ointments for veins will help stop the process of developing the disease at the initial stage, they help well in combination with other methods of treatment. The most popular drugs: Troxerutin, Troxevasin, Antistax, Trental, Venitan, heparin ointment, Curantil, Thrombophob, Lyoton-gel, Eskuzan, Detralex.
Ointments with heparin and vetons have an anti-inflammatory effect. Phlebotonic drugs relieve swelling and pain, improve tone. To eliminate the symptoms, a varicose patch is used.