Prevention of varicose veins in the legs

It is necessary to begin the prevention of varicose veins in the legs when the first signs of stretching of the vascular walls are detected. If therapy is neglected, the disease will continue to develop, leading to serious complications. Lifestyle changes are key to preventing the development of varicose veins. The patient has to balance the daily routine, review their wardrobe and nutritional system. We will tell you further about all the methods of preventing varicose veins.

The causes of varicose veins

Prevention of varicose veins affects all people, because each person is exposed to negative factors that provoke the development of the disease. Primarily among these 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 muscular system. Therefore, people who are thinking about how to protect their legs from varicose veins are obliged to introduce daily gymnastics into their program. The reasons for the development of the disease include:

• abuse of fatty and sweet foods;
• significant excess body weight;
• severe leg injuries;
• bad habits;
• taking hormonal drugs;
• excessive loads on the legs.

Before starting to prevent varicose veins in the legs, you should determine the degree of risk of developing the disease. There are some groups of people who are more likely to experience this disease. They need to visit a phlebologist 1-2 times a year to prevent the appearance of varicose veins.

Most vulnerable groups of people

Varicose vein prevention begins with determining whether you are a person with a tendency to develop varicose veins or not. Only a phlebologist can answer this question exactly 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 a hereditary predisposition to vascular diseases;
• women who have given birth and are pregnant;
• people engaged in heavy physical work and who stand up most of the day;
• women who constantly walk in high heels;
• lovers of spicy and too salty foods;
• people who abuse alcohol;
• people who like to take very hot baths go to the sauna;
• women with dyshormonal disorders;
• people suffering from increased swelling of the legs.

How to prevent varicose veins

How to avoid varicose veins by 100%, doctors will not be able to tell, tk. there is no such way. You can follow all the recommendations of doctors, but still deal with this ailment. On the other hand, the implementation of preventive measures contributes to the normalization of body functions and blood flow, which significantly slows down the development of the disease. The most effective means of preventing the progression of varicose veins are:

• physical education;
• wear comfortable shoes;
• balanced diet;
• normalization of body weight;
• gymnastics;
• wearing compression stockings;
• perform a foot massage;
• choice of work with more normal working conditions.

Of course, not all recommendations can be immediately implemented in practice, but everyone can eat lower-fat foods and exercise for 20 minutes a day. Do not be too fanatic about the prevention of the disease, because in the pursuit of improving the state of blood vessels, you can seriously harm yourself.

Moderate activity

Working out with free weights and very intense physical activity will not be able to help in the fight against varicose veins. On the contrary, they cause the destruction of the valves and the elongation of the vascular walls. Prevention of varicose veins involves performing specialized exercises that normalize blood flow. Classes should be held at a brisk pace and not make you suffer. Sports methods for the prevention of varicose veins include:

• water aerobics and swimming;
• march on foot;
• easy ride;
• elongation.

Quality shoes

To prevent varicose veins, many doctors recommend wearing orthopedic insoles. They contribute to an even load distribution when walking. An important aspect is the shoes themselves. To prevent varicose veins on the legs at home, you can wear sneakers with instep supports. The type of insole and the height of the riser must be selected by the doctor. The footwear purchased must meet the following characteristics:

1. Do not have a flat sole and a heel higher than 6 cm.
2. Sit well on the leg. Shoes that are wide on the feet increase the likelihood of injuring your ankle, and pressing down will cause poor circulation.
3. The sole / heel must be stable. Summer shoes must also have a non-slip coating.

Suitable work

When it comes to preventing varicose veins in the legs, doctors recommend normalizing work and rest. For many patients, this is due to a change in job or specialty. Not everyone agrees to take such a radical step, but if you are now engaged in a job, then when choosing a new job, try to take into account the following recommendations:

1. Work shouldn't be associated with hard physical work.
2. You cannot stay in one position for 7-8 hours. Look for companies where employees can get up every 2-3 hours and can do a slight warm-up.

In general, any job can be made suitable by doing a warm-up every hour. If you don't want to change your field of activity or specialty, you can simply engage in physical education in the workplace. The main thing is not to allow an increase in blood in the lower legs, which is caused by immobility of the lower leg.

Proper nutrition

If you have thoughts on how to avoid varicose veins on your legs, 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 overweight. To normalize bowel function, you need to eat a lot of vegetables with fiber. If you haven't eaten raw carrots or cabbage up to this point, you shouldn't immediately consume them in kilograms. It is enough to eat 300 grams of such vegetables per day.

People with a tendency to varicose veins need to be careful to maintain water balance. At least 1. 5 liters of clean water should be consumed per day. Juices, soups, teas are not included in this standard. They are perceived by the body as food, so they are quickly excreted by the kidneys and intestines. It is not recommended to use still water. If you are prone to varicose veins, carbonated and sugary drinks will have to be excluded. A similar rule applies to drinks that are high in caffeine.

Weight normalization

Maintaining a normal body mass index is important 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, you need to compare your body weight with muscle volume, height and your physique. With the same height, the weight difference between mesomorph and ectomorph can reach 15 kg.

If you decide that the amount of fat in your body predominates over the muscles, then reduce the calories in your daily diet. This approach will allow you to lose weight without experiencing severe food cravings. If you drastically change your diet, it will lead to breakdowns and regain mass. To reduce calories in your daily diet, you should introduce more fiber-containing vegetables. They will not only help you lose weight, but they will also help normalize digestion.

Refusal of bad habits

The prevention of varicose veins on the legs affects all areas of human life. Bad habits are also on this list. Smoking, alcohol and a tendency to overeat have a detrimental effect on blood vessels. This also includes a constant state of stress. While it is relatively easy to cope with overeating, a heavy addiction to alcohol and smoking requires medical attention. A hobby or group therapy session can help relieve stress.

Gymnastics exhaust

In the prevention of varicose veins in the legs, it is imperative to perform exercises that help relieve excessive tension from the muscles of the lower limbs. The maximum duration of such workouts 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 useful:

• Exercise bicycle. Lie down on a solid surface, raise your legs, then begin making movements similar to those of a bicycle. If you can't immediately interact with your legs one by one, take turns pulling them towards your body.

• Foot flexion / extension. The exercise is performed in a sitting position. It is necessary to perform 20 movements with each foot.

• Roll from heel to toe. They contribute well to blood shedding if a person has been in a sitting position for a long time.

• Stand on tiptoe. First, the actions are performed simultaneously with two legs, and then alternately. At the highest point, you should linger for 10-15 seconds, then lower yourself to the starting position.

Foot massage

If you are unsure how to prevent varicose veins in the 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 flow of blood and lymph increases, the nutrition of the epithelium is normalized. The foot massage can be performed independently or entrusted to a specialist. With a predisposition to varicose veins, pressing and pinching movements should be avoided during the procedures. Self-massage is performed as follows:

1. The patient should sit on the floor or on a bed / sofa, bending the knee slightly.
2. The rubbing movements should be performed from the toes to the lower leg.
3. The foot should be wrapped around the toes so that the thumb is on the back of the foot and everything else is on the inside.
4. The segment wrapped around your hands should be squeezed slightly, slowly moving towards the upper leg.
5. The lateral surface of the heel should be wrapped with the fingers on both sides and then squeezed for a couple of seconds. Next, you need to rise from the Achilles tendon to the knee.
6. The procedure ends by stroking the feet.

Compression clothing

Means for the prevention of varicose veins are different. Compression therapy is also one of them. If you wish, you can attend specialized physiotherapy procedures, when pressure impact is performed using specialized devices, but it is easier to buy medical stockings and tights.

Compression stockings must be selected individually. In the absence of predisposition it is sufficient to wear underwear with an initial degree of compression. If you have symptoms of varicose veins, your doctor must take care of the selection of the shirt. Recommendations for choosing medical linen are as follows:

1. It should be comfortable. If you feel uncomfortable on the first try, this underwear is not for you.
2. The compression class should comply with the doctor's recommendations. If you have been told to wear grade 1 compression stockings, you cannot purchase grade zero knee socks.
3. The products must be of high quality. It is better to buy compression stockings in specialized stores, and not in the market or any sale, because there is a high probability of running into a fake, which will stretch over time and cease to have a therapeutic effect on the legs.

Further recommendations

Measures for the prevention of varicose veins include the use of specialized external cosmetic products (gels, creams, etc. ). They cool the surface of the legs, contributing to the natural contraction of blood vessels. People with a tendency to varicose veins in the legs should avoid overloading the muscles of the lower limbs. Hygiene is important to prevent the onset of diseases. It is recommended not only to cleanse the skin of the legs well, 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

The prevention and treatment of varicose veins are closely related. The spread of the disease can be stopped in the early stages with the help of alternative medications and therapies, but with 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 independently select medicines and engage in any Eastern practice. Any rash action can worsen the condition of the blood vessels.

Pharmacological therapy

Medicines are able to stop the development of varicose veins in the initial stage. As a rule, the disease begins to form because the vessels do not have enough nutrients to keep the walls elastic. In this case, an increase in the accumulation of blood in the extremities is often observed. Venotonics / phlebotonics - drugs that improve the outflow of fluid from the legs. They also help restore the vascular walls. They are:

• natural;
• combined;
• synthetic;
• based on rutoside.

With high blood viscosity, patients are prescribed drugs with heparin. They help improve blood flow but are contraindicated in people with a tendency to bleed.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce pain in the second stage of varicose veins. They also help relieve the itching and burning sensation that often accompanies this disease. External remedies promote skin healing. The duration of the use of drugs should be determined by the doctor, but often the standard course of treatment is 6-8 months, so you should not expect all symptoms of the disease to disappear within 2 weeks of using the drugs.

Traditional therapy

In the early stages, the disease is not considered life-threatening, but it shouldn't be allowed to drift away either. Sclerotherapy is a traditional, minimally invasive method of preventing the further development of varicose veins. It can be used to remove stars and small vases. Traditional therapy includes:

• ecosclerotherapy;
• microsclerotherapy;
• thermocoagulation;
• electromagnetotherapy;
• darsonvaluation;
• electrical stimulation;
• manual lymphatic drainage;
• the use of elastic compression of the legs;
• hydrotherapy;
• balneotherapy;
• pressotherapy.

All these techniques help prevent further development of the disease. They activate the natural vascular regeneration process.

Unconventional methods

You can improve the condition of the legs with the help of mud therapy. The patient must remember that the compresses should only be cold. Warming the veins with varicose veins is very harmful to the body. Ayurveda helps to get rid of chronic stress that causes blood vessels to stretch. This is one of the varieties of alternative medicine, built on the Hindu philosophical system. Various plants are used there as medicines. Non-traditional methods of varicose vein treatment include:

• yoga;
• homeopathy;
• naturopathy;
• Tibetan gymnastics.

Surgery

With varicose veins of the lower extremities, the most effective way to normalize blood flow is a specialized operation. Perfect methods of surgical treatment of the disease are characterized by minimal invasiveness and a rapid return of the patient to normal life activity. 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 stripping;
• endoscopic video surgery;
• microflebectomy;
• laser coagulation;
• venectomy;
• saphenectomy.

These methods are most often used to treat varicose veins. The surgical method of removing the vessel is chosen by the doctor based on the size of the vein and its general condition. Sometimes it is necessary to cut only part of the vessel, and sometimes it is necessary to completely eliminate it and create an alternate channel for the blood flow.

Popular method

Folk remedies that improve the condition of the veins are divided into external and internal. If you are not sure whether the cause of the development of varicose veins was the high number of platelets, the use of various tinctures should be postponed, because they contain decoctions of plants that help thin the blood. Effective external remedies for varicose veins:

• Coniferous salt baths. 300 grams of dry matter are added to hot water and then immersed. If pine salt isn't sold in your area, you can replace it with baking soda. It is recommended to take such baths 2-3 times a week.
• Apple cider vinegar tablets. The product is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 1 and then applied to the skin. From above the leg is wrapped with bandages, then everything is fixed with plastic wrap. You can simply apply apple cider vinegar 2-3 times a day. It irritates the veins.

• Rubbing with horse chestnut. A ready-made tincture based on this plant can be purchased at the pharmacy or you can prepare it yourself. In the latter case, you will need grains with the skin of the plant. 400 grams of dry product is poured with 1. 5 liters of vodka and then infused for a week in a dark place. After the tincture is ready, they begin to clean the parts of the legs damaged by varicose veins.

Prediction of prevention

In women with a low predisposition to the development of the disease, during the prevention of varicose veins on the legs, it develops only in 5% of cases. The disease is mild, so it can be treated quickly. With a moderate predisposition to the disease, the disease occurs in 30% of patients. Most often it is a mild to moderate form of the disease. With a marked tendency to varicose veins, the disease rapidly progresses to an average form. Without prevention, the disease quickly becomes severe, which greatly complicates further treatment.

Clinical examination of the population

All citizens can undergo a free medical examination. In general, not all medical visits are important, only a visit to the surgeon and the results of a general blood test. The surgeon may notice the first changes in the vessels and then refer you to a phlebologist. Also, you should be careful if platelets predominate in the printout of a general blood test, you need to visit a phlebologist. This may indicate vascular thrombosis.

How to avoid varicose veins during pregnancy

When carrying a child, the load on a woman's internal organs increases significantly. During pregnancy, the risk of developing varicose veins in the legs, small pelvis and external genital organs increases. Especially the danger increases in the II and III trimester, when the fetus begins to actively grow. A phlebologist can tell you in detail how to prevent varicose veins on the legs in pregnant women. All preventive measures should be started with a consultation with him. Doctors recommend a woman in one position:

• wearing comfortable shoes with a low heel (completely flat soles are also harmful);
• try not to drink too much liquid;
• go to water aerobics for pregnant women;
• more often I place my legs during the day;
• wear a supportive and compression vest.

Why disease prevention is important

It is much easier to think about how to prevent varicose veins on the legs than to deal with the treatment of an already formed ailment. Many people with this disorder have a genetic predisposition to develop it. The main objective of the preventive measures is to maintain the normal state of the ship. This can be done in several ways. All preventive measures can be divided into 2 types:

• aimed at people with a hereditary predisposition to the disease or who face unfavorable working conditions;
• aimed at patients with any stage of varicose veins.

About 80% of phlebologists believe that preventing a disease is much easier than treating it, so all conscientious citizens should spend at least 10-20 minutes a day looking after their feet.