It is necessary to start the prevention of varicose veins in the legs at the first signs of stretching of the blood vessel walls. If therapy is neglected, the disease will continue to develop, leading to serious complications. Lifestyle changes are crucial to prevent the development of varicose veins. The patient should balance daily routine, review wardrobe and nutrition system. We will tell you about all the methods of further prevention of varicose veins.
Causes of varicose veins
Prevention of varicose veins affects all people because each person is exposed to the negative factors that lead to the development of the disease. In the first place among them is physical inactivity. Most modern people spend 80% of their time in the office. Being in a sitting position negatively affects the work of the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, people who are thinking about how to protect their legs from varicose veins are obliged to include daily exercise in their schedule. Reasons for the development of the disease include:
- Abuse of fatty and sweet foods;
- Significant excess body weight;
- Serious foot injuries;
- Bad habits;
- Taking hormonal medications;
- Excessive load on the legs.
Before you start preventing varicose veins in your legs, you need to determine the degree of risk of developing the disease. There are certain groups of people who suffer the most from this disease. They need to visit a phlebologist 1-2 times a year to prevent varicose veins.
The most vulnerable groups of people
Prevention of varicose veins begins with determining if you are a person with a tendency to develop this pathology. Only a phlebologist can answer this question accurately after assessing the condition of the veins, but you yourself 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;
- Engaged in heavy physical labor and standing almost all day;
- Women who constantly wear high heels;
- Lovers of spicy and overly salty foods;
- Alcohol abusers;
- Those who like to take a very hot bath, go to the sauna;
- Women with dyshormonal disorders;
- Individuals who suffer from increased leg swelling.
How to prevent varicose veins
How to prevent varicose veins 100%, doctors can not tell you, tk. There is no such way. You can follow all the recommendations of doctors, but you will still meet this disease. On the other hand, taking preventive measures helps to normalize the body's functions and blood flow, which significantly slows down the development of the disease. The most effective ways to prevent the progression of varicose veins are:
- Mental education;
- Wearing comfortable shoes;
- Balanced diet;
- Normalize body weight;
- In gymnastics;
- Wearing compression garments;
- Conducting foot massage;
- Choice of work with more normal working conditions.
Of course, not all recommendations can be implemented immediately, but everyone can eat less fatty foods and exercise for 20 minutes a day. Do not be too fanatical about disease prevention, because in order to improve the condition of blood vessels, you can seriously harm yourself.
Moderate activity
Working with free weights and very intense physical activity can not help fight varicose veins. On the contrary, they provoke the destruction of valves and the stretching of blood vessel walls. Prevention of varicose veins includes specialized exercises that normalize blood flow. Lessons should be conducted at a strong pace and not hurt. Sports methods for the prevention of varicose veins include:
- Aqua aerobics and swimming;
- Race walking;
- Easy jogging;
- Stretching.
Quality shoes
To prevent varicose veins, many doctors recommend wearing orthopedic underwear. They help to evenly distribute the load while walking. An important aspect is the shoes themselves. To prevent varicose veins on the legs at home, you can wear sneakers with supports. The type of diaper and the height of the lift should be selected by the doctor. Purchased shoes must meet the following characteristics:
- Do not have a flat foot and heel that is more than 6 cm high.
- Sit well on your feet. Open-toed shoes increase the likelihood of ankle injury, and pressing will worsen circulation.
- The sole / heel should be stable. Even summer shoes should have a non-slip cover.
Suitable for work
As for the prevention of varicose veins in the legs, doctors recommend normalization of work and rest. For many patients, this is caused by a change of job or specialty. Not everyone agrees to take such a radical step, but if you are currently employed, then when choosing a new job, try to consider the following recommendations:
- Work should not be associated with heavy physical labor.
- Can not be stopped in one position for 7-8 hours. Look for companies where employees have the right to stand up every 2-3 hours and have the right to do light warm-ups.
In general, any job can be done by doing a warm-up every hour. If you do not want to change the field of activity or specialty, then you can just do physical education in the workplace. The main thing is not to allow blood to rise in the lower leg, which is caused by immobility of the lower leg.
Proper nutrition
If you have thoughts on how to prevent varicose veins on your legs, then 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 suffer from high cholesterol and excess weight. To normalize bowel function, you need to eat a lot of vegetable fiber. If you have not eaten raw carrots or cabbage so far, you should not eat them in kilograms immediately. It is enough to eat 300 grams of such vegetables a day.
People prone to varicose veins should take care to maintain water balance. You should drink at least 1. 5 liters of clean water a day. This norm does not include juices, soups, teas. They are absorbed by the body as food, so they are quickly excreted by the kidneys and intestines. It is undesirable to use non-carbonated water. If you are prone to varicose veins, carbonated and sugary drinks should be excluded. A similar rule applies to drinks with high caffeine content.
Weight normalization
It is important to maintain a normal body mass index 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, it is necessary to compare body weight with muscle mass, height and your own physicality. At the same height, the difference between the mesomorphic and ectomorphic weights can reach up to 15 kg.
If you decide that the amount of fat in your body is in excess of muscle, then reduce the number of calories in your daily diet. This approach will allow you to lose weight without a strong craving for food. If you change your diet drastically, it will lead to disorder and re-gain of mass. To reduce calories in your daily diet, you need to include more fiber in vegetables. They will not only help you lose weight but also help you to normalize your digestion.
Rejection of bad habits
Prevention of varicose veins in the legs affects all areas of human life. Bad habits are also on this list. Smoking, alcohol and the tendency to overeat have a detrimental effect on blood vessels. This also includes a state of constant stress. Although overeating is relatively easy to deal with, a strong reliance on alcohol and smoking requires medical attention. A hobby or group therapy session can help you relieve stress.
Unloading gymnastics
For the prevention of varicose veins in the legs it is necessary to perform exercises that help relieve excessive tension in the muscles of the lower extremities. The maximum duration of such exercise is 5-10 minutes. Doctors recommend doing them at least once a day, but preferably 2 times a day. The following physical activities are considered beneficial:
- ᲡExercise bike. Start on a solid surface, lift your legs, and then begin to perform movements similar to riding a bicycle. If you can not immediately connect the legs one by one, then take turns to pull them on the body.
- Bend / extend the leg. Exercise is conducted in a sitting position. It is necessary to perform 20 movements for each foot.
- Rolls from heel to toe. They help to dissolve blood if a person is in a sitting position for a long time.
- Lift to the toes. First the actions are performed with two legs at the same time, and then alternately. You should stop at the highest point for 10-15 seconds, then descend to the starting position.
Hand 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 whole body. Due to short manipulations the blood and lymph flow increases, the nutrition of the epithelium is normalized. Foot massage can be performed independently or trust a specialist. With a predisposition to varicose veins, pressing and pressing movements should be avoided during procedures. Self-massage is performed as follows:
- The patient should sit on the floor or on the bed / sofa with the knee slightly bent.
- Leg 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 the hands should be held lightly, moving slowly towards the upper part of the leg.
- The lateral surface of the heel should be wrapped around the fingers on both sides, and then stretched for a few seconds. Next, you need to move from the Achilles tendon to the knee.
- The procedure ends with the coloring of the feet.
Compression clothing
The means of preventing varicose veins are different. Compression therapy is also one of them. If desired, you can attend specialized physiotherapy procedures when the pressure is exerted using specialized equipment, but it is easier to purchase medical socks and tights.
Compression fabric should be selected individually. In the absence of inclination, it is sufficient to wear underwear with an initial degree of compression. If you have symptoms of varicose veins, then your doctor should handle the selection of the t-shirt. The recommendations for choosing medical linen are as follows:
- It should be comfortable. If you feel awkward on the first adjustment, then these underwear are not suitable for you.
- The compression class should be in accordance with the doctor's recommendations. If you were told to wear first class compression stockings, then you could not buy a zero quality knee brace.
- Products must be of high quality. It is better to buy compression garments in specialty stores and not in the market or in any sales, as there is a high probability that they will run into a fake that will stretch over time and stop the therapeutic effect on the feet.
Additional recommendations
Measures to prevent varicose veins include the use of specialized external cosmetics (gels, creams, etc. ). They cool the surface of the feet, which contributes to the natural compression of blood vessels. People prone to varicose veins of the legs should avoid overloading the muscles of the lower extremities. Hygiene is important to prevent the onset of the disease. It is recommended not only to thoroughly clean the skin of the feet, but also to take a contrast shower. It also has a local irritating effect on blood vessels, which improves skin tone.
How to stop varicose veins
Prevention and treatment of varicose veins are closely related. Stopping the spread of the disease in the early stages is possible with the help of medications and alternative therapies, but in the case of a rapidly progressing disease only surgery can help. A phlebologist should develop a treatment plan for a patient with varicose veins. It is impossible to select medicines independently and engage in any oriental practice. Any action of the rash can worsen the condition of the blood vessels.
Drug therapy
Medications can stop the development of varicose veins at an early stage. Usually the disease starts because the vessels do not have enough nutrients to maintain the elasticity of the walls. In this case, an increased accumulation of blood in the extremities is often observed. Venotonics / phlebotonics - Medications that improve fluid drainage from the feet. They also help to restore the walls of blood vessels. They are:
- Natural;
- Combined;
- Synthetic;
- Based on rutoside.
In patients with high blood viscosity, heparin-containing preparations are prescribed. They help improve blood flow, but are contraindicated in people prone to bleeding.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce pain in the second stage of varicose veins. They also contribute to the itching and burning sensation that often accompanies this disease. External remedies help to heal the skin. The duration of use of the medication should be determined by your doctor, but often the standard course of treatment is 6-8 months, so you should not expect all the symptoms of the disease to disappear within 2 weeks after taking the medication.
Traditional therapy
In the initial stages the disease is not considered life-threatening, but it should also not be allowed to drift. Sclerotherapy is a traditional minimally invasive method to prevent further development of varicose veins. It can be used to get rid of stars and small ships. Traditional therapy includes:
- Echosclerotherapy;
- Microsclerotherapy;
- Thermocoagulation;
- Electromagnetic therapy;
- Darsonvalization;
- Electrical stimulation;
- Manual lymphatic drainage;
- Use of elastic compression of the legs;
- Hydrotherapy;
- Balneotherapy;
- Press therapy.
All these techniques prevent further development of the disease. They activate the natural process of vascular regeneration.
Unconventional methods
You can improve the condition of your feet with the help of mud therapy. The patient should remember that the packaging should only be cold. Heating the veins with varicose veins is very harmful for the body. Ayurveda helps relieve chronic stress that provokes vasoconstriction. It is one of the types of alternative medicine built on the Hindu philosophical system. Various plants are used for healing there. Non-traditional methods of treating varicose veins include:
- Yoga;
- Homeopathy;
- Naturopathy;
- In Tibetan gymnastics.
Surgery
For varicose veins of the lower extremities, the most effective way to normalize blood flow is through specialized surgery. Perfect methods of surgical treatment of the disease are characterized by minimal invasiveness and rapid return of the patient to normal life activities. 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 nudity;
- Video endoscopic surgery;
- Microflectomy;
- Laser coagulation;
- Venectomy;
- Safectomy.
These methods are most commonly used to treat varicose veins. The method of surgery to remove the vessel is chosen by the doctor according to the size of the vein and its general condition. Sometimes it is necessary to cut only part of the vessel, sometimes it is necessary to completely eliminate it and create an alternative channel of blood flow.
Folk method
Folk remedies that improve the condition of the veins are divided into external and internal. If you are not sure that the cause of the development of varicose veins was a large number of platelets, the use of various tinctures should be delayed, because they contain a decoction of plants that promote blood flow. Effective external remedies for varicose veins:
- Coniferous salt baths. Add 300 grams of dry matter to hot water and then pour in there. If pine salt is not sold on your side, you can substitute soda. 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. The top is wrapped with a bandage, and then everything is fastened with a plastic wrap. You can just apply apple cider vinegar 2-3 times a day. It irritates the veins.
- A touch of horse chestnut. You can buy ready-made tincture based on this plant in a pharmacy or prepare it yourself. In the latter case you will need plant skin grains. 400 grams of dry product is poured into 1. 5 liters of vodka and then boiled in a dark place for a week. After preparing the tincture, they start to clean the damaged parts of the legs with varicose veins.
Prevention forecast
In women with a low susceptibility to the disease, during the prevention of varicose veins in the legs, it develops in only 5%. The disease is mild, so it can be cured quickly. With a moderate predisposition to the disease, the disease occurs in 30% of patients. More often it is a mild and moderate form of the disease. With a pronounced tendency towards varicose veins, the disease progresses rapidly to a moderate form. Without prevention, the disease quickly becomes severe, which greatly complicates further treatment.
Clinical examination of the population
All citizens can undergo a medical examination free of charge. In general, not all medical examinations are important, but only a visit to the surgeon and the results of a general blood test. The surgeon may notice changes in the blood vessels first and then consult a phlebologist. Also, you should be careful if platelets are predominant in the total blood test result, you need to visit a phlebologist. This may indicate vascular thrombosis.
How to prevent varicose veins during pregnancy
When carrying a baby, the load on a woman’s internal organs increases significantly. Increased risk of developing varicose veins in the legs, small pelvis and external genitalia during pregnancy. Particularly dangerous increases in the II and III trimesters, when the fetus begins to grow actively. A phlebologist can tell you in detail how to prevent varicose veins on the legs in pregnant women. All preventive measures should be started in consultation with him. Doctors advise a woman to position:
- Wear comfortable shoes with low heels (completely flat soles are also harmful);
- Try not to drink too much liquid;
- Go to water aerobics for pregnant women;
- I use my feet more often during the day;
- Wear a compression and auxiliary t-shirt.
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 established disease. Many people with this disease have a genetic predisposition to its development. The main purpose of preventive measures is to maintain the normal condition of the ship. This can be done in a variety of ways. All preventive measures can be divided into 2 types:
- Targeted for people with a hereditary predisposition to the disease or unfavorable working conditions;
- Suitable for patients suffering from any stage of varicose veins.
About 80% of phlebologists believe that disease prevention is much easier than treatment, so all bona fide citizens should devote at least 10-20 minutes a day to foot care.