Varicose veins, the symptoms, which are found in approximately every fourth inhabitant of the planet is not only a cosmetic defect, which is manifested in the form of a blue tree mesh in the legs, thighs, or hindquarters, heavy legs, pain in the case of static loads, or long periods of walking, jerking in the muscles of the legs, but also a high risk of thrombosis in Vena cava inferior system.
Thrombotic complications lead to trophic ulcers on the legs, the acute disruption of blood flow with blueness of the extremities and the risk of necrosis. Breaking away from the vascular walls, blood clots from the legs, often begins the path that ends in the heart (leading to heart attack) or cerebral vessels (causing a stroke). This is a fact, and not to spoil the view of the once beautiful legs require the earlier attention of the treatment (and preferably prevention) varicose veins.
Because the disease appeared, is not static, but gradually progresses, capture new segments of the external or internal venous network of the leg, then the parsing of the treatment is to start with a description of the prevention. Sensible preventive measures that will at least slow down the process, developed on the background of the inherited insolvency of valvular veins of the lower extremities.
The prevention of varicose veins
The veins of the lower extremities, which have very weak walls, almost without muscular elements that could push blood by reducing the. Therefore, veins have special valves that prevent backflow of blood and its stagnation in the veins. In some people, these valves hereditary insolvent, or become so with age:
- in considerable physical activity
- increases intra-abdominal pressure
- closure
- frequent pregnancy.
First, this process is the impact of the external veins. And then marvel at a collector of the vein and the deep venous network. Varicose veins of the limbs develops several (sometimes tens of) years of age, and its speed varies according to lifestyle intensity physical activity and strength of blood vessels.
- The first goal is prevention, to minimize the increase in intra-abdominal pressure (to combat constipation, to avoid excessive overload).
- The second task is to create the conditions for a passive outflow of venous blood from the legs. Make sure that at the end of the day, or several times a day. To this end, the legs are stacked from the foot to the hip on the surface at an angle of 45 degrees to the horizontal. Lie in this position should be at least half an hour. Persons with varicose veins in the legs has reached the medical fact, it is recommended to sleep with raised legs as often as possible.
- When varicose veins is recommended not to use tight shoes, socks with tight elastic, that is, not to create additional obstacles for blood circulation in the legs.
- It also should not foot to foot, and with long-term sitting position, put the feet well supported and give them a horizontal (or slightly larger) position. Such a position, you can sometimes see in gangster movies about cool mafia, which is sitting on a chair, put your feet on the table.
- Of course, in the office, if You're a business owner, you need to come up with something a little less challenging. You can, for example, put under the Table a cardboard box and put legs on it or use for this purpose, a high plastic wastepaper basket with a flat top lid. For any questions about an unusual way to sit on the Table, you must sincerely answer, to avoid ridicule and not to bizarre. It should be noted, however, that no employee will actively participate in the treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to perceive the opinions of others and not to neglect the prevention of disease.
- If you are at home, try to take a horizontal position and positioned with the help of several pillows, legs above his head. This is necessary to improve the conditions for venous outflow.
Conservative treatment
In the program of nonsurgical treatment included diet, compression and treatment with medications.
Diet
The food event is mandatory, since weight is one of the risk factors for the development of varicose veins. The food should be leveled (at the consumption of energy does not exceed energy needs, is related to the nature of loads or their absence). In addition, the menu will have to eliminate spicy seasonings, peppers, pickles, excess salt, smoked meat, and reduce the consumption of fried. Alcohol is also advisable to not use it.
Menu must contain a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, food rich in fibre wholemeal bread, seafood. Shown frequent (at least 4-times a day) fractional power. As for the fashion a few years ago, there is a tendency to limit, in all animal fats, and to forget about it. Of course, the prohibitive figure of triglycerides and cholesterol not true. But in moderate quantities of cholesterol helps to get the patch on the vascular wall, which reduces the risk of secondary thrombotic complications and sudden ruptures of blood vessels.
* No Smoking
Smoking is the most harmful habit with varicose veins. If the choice is between drinking moderate amounts of alcohol and Smoking, the first can still barely endure. But the second – are categorically excluded. Not only the resin clog blood vessels, increasing the risk for thrombosis and secondary complications (heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism). You need to be especially careful, for those who have varicose veins (or predisposed to it), take hormones and still manages to smoke.
Compression garments (stockings, socks, panty hose, tights, socks)
This is a good option to prevent and treat early stages of varicose veins, as they have different parameters, pressure on the soft tissue of the versions, designs and colours. Wear underwear is necessary in the morning, before getting out of bed, while the venous system is not full with blood. For this method is one thing, but – prohibitive price tags on the territory of the Russian Federation, restriction of the acquisition of the knit against the varicose veins of the broad masses of people. As a rule, the use of linen did not begin to those, for which it still can help at the stage before the disease and those with severe forms of varicose veins, often complicated by some of the processes that is shown the operative treatment and compression socks, as a secondary prevention.
Varicose veins: treatment
Medications are not the solution. To completely stop or cure varicose veins, they are not.
Creams and gels
This means that it is possible to protect the walls of blood vessels, stimulates the outflow of venous and improves microcirculation. These funds can reduce pain intensity and edema, subject of course to answer. Shown courses twice a year that lasts at least 2 months.
The most useless (but safe) you can read ointments or gels. Creams do not penetrate through the skin and all the worthwhile effect on blood vessels cannot provide. Recommended in the early stages of the disease, when it is not yet known why actually can experience swelling and weight in the legs: from the drugs, or simply postural drainage and the end of the exercise.
This treatment involves the administration of drugs or elastic bandaging. Its simplicity, preservation of the aesthetic appearance of the limbs, no effects on the general health of the patient attracted to this technique, so the doctors and patients.
However, sclerotherapy is not an isolated brings lasting results and is not able to stop the progression of the disease. In most cases, still it must be combined with surgery. Before the therapy should be performed ultrasound examination of the lower extremities, precluding extensive destruction of the subcutaneous or deep veins of the legs.
Contra-indications of this technique are: Allergies to medication, atherosclerosis of large vessels with the presence of ischemia, diabetic angiopathy, obliterating endarteritis, injury to the system of blood coagulation, acute or recent thrombosis of the legs, pregnancy.
Therapy options
- Before surgery - sclerotherapy of veins may be used before surgery to reduce the risk for bleeding and thrombosis during the postoperative period
- during the operation, replacement vein removal
- after surgery to close the remaining vessels.
Method puncture
If it's not used in the operating room is performed in a special surgical room, with all the rules of asepsis. First, close the larger veins, then smaller. Medicines are usually imposed from the top down. Punctured the vein stands behind the patient, and before the introduction of the drug fund. If the field of interests goes a long vessel or vessels of the entire circumference of the leg, then a few therapy sessions. After the sclerosing treatment of the patient should be taken into account phlebologist for three years after the last injection.
- After the injection of running elastic bandaging in the limb, which is repeated for 2 weeks. In the first week the bandage is not removed.
- Within half an hour after the procedure, the patient needs to walk.
- The patient needs to sleep with a raised foot end, and during the day to avoid prolonged sitting or standing and a lot of walking.
Varicose veins: surgery
A decision on whether the surgical procedure is performed by a physician or vascular surgeon.
Often women with a lesion of the superficial veins, and decided to have a surgical procedure just because of the cosmetic effect, I propose to postpone the surgery if you plan for a later delivery (such as during pregnancy, varicose veins, as a rule, progresses, and results may disappear and require repeated surgical treatment).
Combined phlebectomy
The most common operational solution to the problem of varicose veins of the lower extremities is combined phlebectomy. The surgery is performed under General anesthesia or with epidural. All cuts and holes to try to make than smaller sizes. For example, if you want to remove the great saphenous vein, the incision is performed in the groin area. Through this, the vein is injected with a probe tip. Then the probe is removed and is sent to Vienna from the middle part of the Shin to the groin. Through the shallow channels and remove the channels and small blood vessels. After surgery, use compression (bandage or stocking on the foot).
Electrocoagulation
This includes the removal of subcutaneous veins by exposing them to current. The method is more dangerous than radiofrequency ablation or conventional surgery.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery allows you to remove the veins due to the cold temperatures. With modern equipment, safe way. This is not always possible to calculate the depth of freezing, without damaging surrounding tissue or leaving "surpluses".
Home treatment of varicose veins
Varicose veins can be treated at home, although systemic medications (prescription), though, ointments and gels, although the leeches (the treatment of varicose veins with leeches) and cabbage leaves, Apple cider vinegar. Also for the home part, which is suitable for compression garments or elastic bandaging (selected and recommended by the doctor). For the late stages of the disease, all these efforts are futile without radical surgery.
So, today, the radical method to eliminate varicose veins may be considered only surgical methods, often in combination with a therapy or compression techniques.