Prevention of varicose veins in the legs

It is necessary to start 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 paramount in preventing the development of varicose veins. The patient must balance the daily routine, revise his wardrobe and nutritional system. We will tell you about all the methods of preventing varicose veins further.

The causes of varicose veins

Prevention of varicose veins affects all people, becauseeach person is exposed to negative factors that provoke 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 adversely affects the work of the muscular apparatus. Therefore, people who are thinking about how to protect their legs from varicose veins are obliged to introduce daily gymnastics into their schedule. The reasons for the development of the disease include:

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

Before you start preventing varicose veins in your legs, you should determine the degree of your risk of developing the disease. There are certain groups of people who are most 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

Prevention of varicose veins begins with determining whether you are a person with a tendency to develop this pathology 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;
• persons engaged in heavy physical labor and staying on their feet almost all day;
• women who constantly walk in high heels;
• lovers of spicy and overly salty food;
• alcohol abusers;
• people who like to take very hot baths, go to the sauna;
• women with dyshormonal disorders;
• persons suffering from increased leg swelling.

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 the doctors, but still face 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;
• wearing comfortable shoes;
• balanced diet;
• normalization of body weight;
• gymnastics;
• wearing compression hosiery;
• carrying out 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 less fatty foods and exercise for 20 minutes a day. Do not be too fanatical about the prevention of the disease, becausein pursuit of improving the state of blood vessels, you can seriously harm yourself.

Moderate activity

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

• aqua aerobics and swimming;
• race walking;
• easy running;
• stretching.

Quality shoes

To prevent varicose veins, many doctors recommend wearing orthopedic insoles. They contribute to an even distribution of the load when walking. An important aspect is the shoes themselves. In order 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 rise must be selected by the doctor. The footwear purchased must meet the following characteristics:

1. Do not have a flat sole and heel that is more than 6 cm high.
2. Sit well on the leg. Loose shoes on your feet increase the likelihood that you will injure your ankle, and pressing down will cause poor circulation.
3. The sole / heel must be stable. Even summer shoes must have an anti-slip coating.

Suitable job

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

1. Work should not be associated with hard physical labor.
2. You cannot stay in one position for 7-8 hours. Look for companies where employees are allowed to get up every 2-3 hours and are allowed to do light warm-ups.

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

Proper nutrition

If you have thoughts on how to avoid 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, becauseare more likely to experience high cholesterol and overweight. To normalize bowel function, you need to eat a lot of vegetables with fiber. If you have practically not eaten raw carrots or cabbage up to this point, then you should not 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 take care 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 norm. They are perceived 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 will have to be excluded. A similar rule applies to drinks with a high caffeine content.

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, it is necessary to compare body weight with muscle volume, height and your own physique. With the same height, the difference in the weight of the mesomorph and ectomorph can reach 15 kg.

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

Rejection of bad habits

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

Unloading gymnastics

In the prevention of varicose veins of the legs, it is imperative to perform exercises that help relieve excessive tension from the muscles of the lower extremities. 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 bike. Lying on a firm surface, raise your legs, and then begin to perform movements similar to riding a bicycle. If you can't immediately interact with your legs one by one, then just take turns pulling them to the body.

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

• Rolls from heel to toe. They well contribute to the dispersal of blood if a person has been in a sitting position for a long time.

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

Foot massage

If you are unsure of 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 entire body. Due to short manipulations, the flow of blood and lymph increases, the nutrition of the epithelium is normalized. 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, slightly bending the knee.
2. Rubbing movements should be done 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 all the rest are on the inside.
4. The segment wrapped around your hands should be squeezed lightly, slowly moving towards the upper part of the leg.
5. The lateral surface of the heel needs to be wrapped with your fingers on both sides, and then squeezed for a couple of seconds. Next, you need to move up from the Achilles tendon to the knee.
6. The procedure ends with 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 the impact by pressure is carried out using specialized devices, but it is easier to purchase medical stockings and tights.

Compression hosiery should be individually selected. In the absence of a predisposition, it is enough to wear underwear with an initial degree of compression. If you have symptoms of varicose veins, then the doctor must deal with the selection of jersey. Recommendations for choosing medical linen are as follows:

1. It should be comfortable. If you feel uncomfortable at the first fitting, then this underwear is not suitable for you.
2. Compression class should be in accordance with the doctor's recommendations. If you have been told to wear first-grade compression stockings, then you cannot purchase zero-grade knee-highs.
3. Products must be of high quality. It is better to buy compression hosiery in specialized stores, and not in the market or any sales, becausethere is a high probability of running into a fake, which will stretch over time and cease to have a therapeutic effect on the legs.

Additional recommendations

The 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, which contributes to the natural contraction of blood vessels. People with a tendency to varicose veins of the legs need to avoid overloading the muscles of the lower extremities. Hygiene is important to prevent the onset of illness. 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

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 medication and alternative therapy, but with a rapidly progressing ailment, 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 oriental practices. Any rash actions can worsen the condition of the blood vessels.

Drug therapy

Medicines are capable of stopping the development of varicose veins at 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 increased 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 vascular walls. They are:

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

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

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help to 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 medications should be determined by the doctor, but often the standard course of treatment is 6-8 months, so you should not expect that all symptoms of the disease will go away within 2 weeks after using the medications.

Traditional therapy

In the initial stages, the disease is not considered life-threatening, but it should not be allowed to drift 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 vessels. Traditional therapy includes:

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

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

Unconventional methods

You can improve the condition of the legs with the help of mud therapy. The patient must remember that wraps should only be cold. Warming up the veins with varicose veins is very harmful to the body. Ayurveda helps to get rid of chronic stress that provokes stretching of blood vessels. 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 treating varicose veins 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 minimally invasiveness and a quick 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;
• video endoscopic surgery;
• microflebectomy;
• laser coagulation;
• venectomy;
• safenectomy.

These methods are most often used to treat varicose veins. The method of surgery to remove the vessel is chosen by the doctor based on the size of the vein and its general condition. Sometimes it is necessary to cut off only part of the vessel, and sometimes it is necessary to completely eliminate it and create an alternative channel for 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 the high number of platelets, the use of various tinctures should be postponed, becausethey contain decoctions of plants that help thin the blood. Effective external remedies for varicose veins:

• Coniferous salt baths. 300 grams of dry matter is added to hot water and then immersed there. If pine salt is not sold in your area, you can substitute baking soda for it. It is recommended to take such baths 2-3 times a week.
• Apple cider vinegar compresses. The product is diluted with water in a 1 to 1 ratio and then applied to the skin. From above the leg is wrapped with bandages, and 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 a pharmacy or you can prepare it yourself. In the latter case, you will need kernels 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 wipe the parts of the legs damaged by varicose veins.

Prevention forecast

In women with a low predisposition to the development of the disease, during the prevention of varicose veins on the legs, it develops in only 5% of cases. The disease is mild, so it can be quickly treated. With a moderate predisposition to the disease, the disease occurs in 30% of patients. More often it is a mild to moderate form of the disease. With a pronounced 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 medical examination free of charge. In general, not all medical examination is important, but 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 wary 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

During the carrying of a baby, the load on the internal organs of a woman increases greatly. During pregnancy, the risk of developing varicose veins of the legs, small pelvis and external genital organs increases. Especially the danger increases in the II and III trimesters, 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 a 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;
• more often I position my legs during the day;
• wear compression and supportive jersey.

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 suffering from this ailment have a genetic predisposition to developing it. The main goal of preventive measures is to maintain the normal state of the vessel. This can be done in different ways. All preventive measures can be divided into 2 types:

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

Approximately 80% of phlebologists believe that preventing a disease is much easier than treating it, so all conscientious citizens should devote at least 10-20 minutes a day to caring for their feet.