Prevention of varicose veins in the legs

It is necessary to start the prevention of varicose veins on the legs when the first signs of stretching of the vascular walls are discovered. If the therapy is neglected, the disease will continue to develop, which will lead to serious complications. Lifestyle changes are most important in preventing the development of varicose veins. The patient must balance the daily routine, revise his wardrobe and diet. We will tell you more about all methods of preventing varicose veins.

Causes of varicose veins

Prevention of varicose veins affects all people, because every person is exposed to negative factors that cause 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 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. Reasons for developing 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 risk of developing the disease. There are certain groups of people who are most likely to experience this disease. They must visit a phlebologist 1-2 times a year to prevent the appearance of varicose veins.

The 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 correctly after assessing the condition of the veins, but you can try to classify yourself. The following people are at high risk of developing varicose veins:

• with a hereditary predisposition to vascular disease;
• women who have given birth and are pregnant;
• people who do hard physical work and stand on their feet almost all day;
• women who constantly walk in high heels;
• lovers of spicy and too salty foods;
• alcoholics;
• people who like to take hot baths go to the sauna;
• women with dyshormonal disorders;
• persons 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 say, tk. there is no such way. You can follow all the doctor's recommendations, but still face this disease. On the other hand, the implementation of preventive measures contributes to the normalization of bodily 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 stockings;
• performing a foot massage;
• choosing a job with more normal working conditions.

Of course, not all recommendations can be immediately applied in practice, but everyone can eat less fatty foods and exercise for 20 minutes a day. Don't be too fanatical in terms of disease prevention, because you are looking for an improvement in the condition 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 fight varicose veins. On the contrary, they cause the valves to be destroyed and the vascular walls to stretch. Prevention of varicose veins involves performing specialized exercises that normalize blood flow. Classes should be held at a strong pace and not cause pain. Sports methods for the prevention of varicose veins include:

• aqua aerobics and swimming;
• racing 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. To prevent varicose veins on your legs at home, you can wear sneakers with a recess support. The type of cartridge and the height of the climb must be chosen by a doctor. Purchased footwear must meet the following characteristics:

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

Convenient job

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

1. Work should not be associated with hard physical work.
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 warm up slightly.

In general, each job can be done with appropriate heating every hour. If you do not want to change the area of activity or specialty, then you can simply engage in physical education in the workplace. The main thing is not to allow an increase in blood in the lower leg caused by immobility of the lower leg.

Proper nutrition

If you are thinking about 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 get this disease, because they are more likely to have high cholesterol and be overweight. To normalize bowel function, you need to eat lots of fiber vegetables. If you have practically not eaten raw carrots or cabbage so far, then you should not consume them immediately in kilograms. It is enough to eat 300 grams of such vegetables a day.

People prone to varicose veins must take care to maintain water balance. At least 1. 5 liters of clean water should be consumed daily. Juices, soups, teas are not included in this norm. The body perceives them as food, so they are rapidly excreted through the kidneys and intestines. It is undesirable to use still water. If you are prone to varicose veins, you will have to exclude carbonated and sweet drinks. A similar rule applies to beverages high in caffeine.

Weight normalization

Maintaining a normal body mass index is important for the prevention of varicose veins. Simple physics works here. The heavier a person is, the stronger the pressure on the blood vessels. Of course, it is necessary to compare body weight with muscle volume, height and your own body composition. With the same height, the difference in weight of mesomorphs and ectomorphs can reach 15 kg.

If you decide that the amount of fat in your body prevails over muscle, reduce the calorie intake in your daily diet. This approach will allow you to lose weight without a strong craving for food. If you drastically change your diet, it will lead to breakdowns and weight gain. To reduce calories in your daily diet, you should introduce more fiber-containing vegetables. Not only will it help you lose weight, but it will also help you normalize your digestion.

Rejecting 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 detrimental effect on blood vessels. This also includes a state of constant stress. Although it is relatively easy to cope with overeating, a strong addiction to alcohol and smoking requires medical help. Hobbies or group therapy can help relieve stress.

Relief gymnastics

In the prevention of varicose veins of the legs, it is imperative to perform exercises that help release excessive tension from the muscles of the lower extremities. The maximum duration of such trainings is 5-10 minutes. Doctors recommend that you do 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, lift your legs, and then start performing movements similar to riding a bicycle. If you can't immediately interact with your legs one by one, just alternately pulling them along your body.

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

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

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

Foot massage

If you are not sure how to prevent varicose veins on your legs, try a gentle massage. By itself, the reflex action 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. Foot massage can be performed independently or entrusted to a specialist. With a predisposition to varicose veins, pressing and pinching movements during the procedure should be avoided. Self-massage is performed as follows:

1. The patient should sit on the floor or on the bed / sofa, bending the knee slightly.
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 big toe is on the back of the foot and everyone else is on the inside.
4. The segment wrapped around your arms should be squeezed lightly, moving slowly toward the upper leg.
5. The side surface of the heel should be wrapped with the toes on both sides and then squeezed for a few seconds. Then you have to move 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 want, you can attend specialized physiotherapy procedures, when the pressure is applied with the help of specialized devices, but it is easier to buy medical socks and tights.

Compression socks should 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, then choosing a jersey must be addressed by your doctor. Recommendations for choosing a medical canvas are as follows:

1. It should be comfortable. If you feel uncomfortable on first laying, then this underwear is not suitable for you.
2. The compression class should be in accordance with the doctor's recommendations. If you are told to wear first class compression socks, then you cannot buy zero class socks.
3. Products must be of high quality. It is better to buy compression socks in specialized stores, and not at the market or any other sale, because there is a high probability that you will come across a fake, which will eventually stretch and stop having a therapeutic effect on the legs.

Additional recommendations

Measures to prevent 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 prone to varicose veins of the legs must avoid overloading the muscles of the lower extremities. Hygiene is important to prevent disease. Not only good cleansing of the skin of the feet is recommended, but also 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 at an early stage with the help of medications and alternative 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 choose medications on your own and engage in any oriental practices. Any rash action can worsen the condition of blood vessels.

Drug therapy

Medications are able to stop the development of varicose veins in the initial stage. As a rule, the disease begins to form because the blood vessels do not have enough nutrients to make 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 rebuild vascular walls. They are:

• naturally;
• combined;
• synthetic;
• based on rutosides.

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

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

Traditional therapy

In the initial stages, the disease is not considered life-threatening, but it should not be allowed to take away. Sclerotherapy is a traditional minimally invasive method of preventing 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;
• use of elastic leg compression;
• hydrotherapy;
• balneotherapy;
• pressure therapy.

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

Unconventional methods

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

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

Operation

In varicose veins of the lower extremities, the most effective way to normalize blood flow is specialized surgery. Perfect methods of surgical treatment of the disease are characterized by minimal invasiveness and 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 download;
• video endoscopic surgery;
• microphlebectomy;
• laser coagulation;
• venectomy;
• safenectomy.

These methods are most commonly used to treat varicose veins. The method of vein removal surgery 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 a large number of platelets, the application of various tinctures should be delayed, because they contain decoctions of herbs that help dilute the blood. Effective external remedies for varicose veins:

• Coniferous salt baths. 300 grams of dry matter is added to hot water and then immersed. If pine salt is not sold in your area, you can replace it with baking soda. Such baths are recommended 2-3 times a week.
• Apple cider vinegar wraps. The product is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 1 and then applied to the skin. The top of the leg is wrapped in bandages, and then everything is fixed with plastic foil. You can simply apply apple cider vinegar 2-3 times a day. Irritating veins.

• Rubbing with wild chestnut. You can buy a ready-made tincture based on this plant in a pharmacy or you can prepare it yourself. In the latter case, you will need a core 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. Once 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 in the legs, it develops in only 5% of cases. 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 to moderate form of the disease. With a pronounced tendency to dilate veins, the disease progresses rapidly to an average form. Without prevention, the disease quickly becomes severe, making further treatment much more difficult.

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 the first changes in the blood vessels and then refer you to a phlebologist. Also, care should be taken if platelets predominate in the general blood test print, a phlebologist should be consulted. This may indicate vascular thrombosis.

How to avoid varicose veins during pregnancy

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

• wear comfortable low-heeled shoes (completely flat soles are also harmful);
• try not to drink too much fluid;
• go to water aerobics for pregnant women;
• I put my feet up more often during the day;
• wear a compression and support jersey.

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 formed disease. Many people who suffer from this disease have a genetic predisposition for its development. The main goal of preventive measures is to maintain the normal condition of the vessel. This can be done in different ways. All preventive measures can be divided into 2 types:

• intended for persons with a hereditary predisposition to the disease or faced with unfavorable working conditions;
• intended for patients suffering from any stage of varicose veins.

Approximately 80% of phlebologists believe that preventing the 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.