Today we will talk about varicose veins of the legs, varicose veins of the lower extremities - a very common vascular pathology, causes, symptoms, prevention of diseases, therapeutic exercises with a series of exercises.
Varicose veins (varicose veins): what kind of disease is this, photo
phlebeurism(see photo of the manifestations of varicose veins in the legs) is the scourge of our time; If before this progressive disease of impaired blood flow and weakening of the valves affected very old people, now the first signs of this disease of the peripheral vessels appear at twenty-years of age.
Spider veins (telangiectasias) appear first. Then the superficial veins become less elastic, twist, become noticeable and protrude above the skin of the leg and thigh. The blood flows more slowly and rises poorly. Venous stagnation and swelling develop, which disappear after a night's rest. There is a danger of blood clots forming.
And during pregnancy and childbirth, when the level of female hormones that weaken the vascular wall rapidly increases, this pathology of the veins of the lower extremities is diagnosed in every third woman.
However, not only the extremities, even at the age of 30-35, also varicose veins of the pelvic organs (which begin to develop as a result of intravascular pressure fluctuations during contractions), hemorrhoids and varicoceles (dilation of the veins of the spermatic cord in men) appear en masse.
There are varicose veins of the esophagus and stomach.
Varicose veins - ICD-10 code
The ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) code for this disease is 183
- If varicose veins are complicated by an ulcer - 183, 0
- If there are varicose veins with inflammation, stagnant dermatitis - 183, 1
- If the first two conditions are combined - 183, 2
- If varicose veins are not complicated - 183, 9
Symptoms of varicose veins of the lower extremities.
Nodules, swollen veins in the legs, a blue network of small vessels, spider veins, swelling at night, discomfort, pain along the veins, burning, sometimes itching, heaviness in the legs at the end of the day, appearance of night cramps, paresthesia, goosebumps and numbness.
And with significant progression of the disease, the following often develops:
- Thrombophlebitis (expressed by the appearance of sharp pain along the vein, redness, local increase in temperature, swelling, sometimes painful areas with a blood clot blocking the lumen of the vessel can be felt, in severe cases chills begin, a transition of the inflammatory process is observed from the superficial to the deep veins),
- Trophic ulcers against the background of chronic venous insufficiency.
Probably no one will like this image. And then there is still a glimpse of the dislodgement of a blood clot and the subsequent stroke or heart attack, tissue necrosis. . . But this is sad enough.
Since to reduce the load on the veins it is unacceptable for us to evolutionarily return to walking on all fours, we will have to look for methods to unload our legs using natural methods.
Causes of varicose veins and predisposing factors.
- Genetics (inheritance).
- Changes in hormonal levels (pregnancy, hormonal contraceptives).
- Intense physical activity, especially static, purely standing or sedentary.
- Overweight.
- Chronic cough.
- Of smoking.
- Leg injuries that damage the valves of blood vessels.
Women successfully provoke the appearance of varicose veins by standing and walking for a long time in high heels and sitting at a table cross-legged.
Wearing thongs and tight synthetic underwear has an unfavorable effect.
Which doctor treats varicose veins in the legs?
A phlebologist deals with veins. If surgical intervention is already required, a vascular surgeon.
Diagnosis of varicose veins.
In addition to external examination of the lower extremities and collection of anamnesis (complaints), the following is done to make the diagnosis:
- Doppler ultrasound (determines the quality, speed of blood flow, the presence of obstacles in the form of clots, blood clots),
- transillumination (transillumination of the veins, even with changes not yet visible to the naked eye).
Additionally, the diagnosis of varicose veins is not complete without a blood draw for clotting.
Modern medicine does not offer an effective way to treat this disease; radical removal of superficial veins does not count. There are also radiofrequency ablation, laser therapy and sclerotherapy, but they are not suitable for everyone, there are contraindications and they are indicated mainly in the early stages of this disease.
But what can we do on our own with varicose veins at home to counteract this unpleasant vascular pathology?
Therapeutic exercises for varicose veins in the legs.
Prevention of varicose veins mainly includes gymnastic exercises, and this is not surprising, since it is simply necessary to train the vessels.
The most advantageous functional position of the legs for varicose veins is elevated, elevated. But it is not possible to spend all the time with your legs in the air, and you must somehow avoid stagnation of the venous network, because this is what causes heaviness in the legs, cramps and swelling.
And it turns out that it is more useful for a person to walk and even run than to sit for hours in an office or at a computer; At rest, there is practically no blood movement, the fluid manages to sweat into the tissue and the swelling increases.
That's why we don't go crazy at work, we often take breaks during work, get up, stretch, walk around the table, walk to the bathroom if possible, climb a couple of flights of stairs and do some exercises.
This warm-up and distraction from sedentary work is also useful for diseases of the eyes and spine (the neck and lower back are the most affected).
A set of exercises for varicose veins.
- We sit on a chair so that our feet do not touch the floor. We turn our legs at the ankles, bend and straighten them until we obtain a strong tension, then we do the same with the toes, each exercise 15 to 20 times. Also, for varicose veins in the legs, foot massage will be useful.
- Walk briskly in place for one minute.
- We stand near the wall, palms at shoulder height, with emphasis on the wall. We stand on tiptoe and fall on our heels, 10 to 15 such rolls.
- Slowly stand on your toes, with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms raised.
- "Bicycle" with feet in a supine position.
- "Scissors" (cross your legs vigorously stretched like scissors).
- Slow movements of the legs from a lateral position, alternately with the right and then the left.
- Bring your knees up to your chest. Repeat 20 times.
In addition to therapeutic exercises, sports activities for diseases of the veins of the lower extremities are extremely useful: swimming, water aerobics (in water the pressure on the veins is reduced by 2 times! ), skiing, cycling, walking.
It is also worth considering that some exercises alone can damage the veins: barbell strength training, jumping rope, long intense runs, and prolonged exercise on a stationary bike are contraindicated. Team sports with jumping and running: football, basketball, volleyball (the valve apparatus is injured) are not recommended for weak blood vessels in the legs.
Prevention of varicose veins at home.
How to prevent varicose veins in the legs?
- In addition to exercises, contrast showers and compression stockings are very useful for blood vessels.
The latter has its drawbacks: firstly, it is quite expensive, and secondly, after prolonged use, the glasses become completely soft and stop working on their own.
Therefore, I would recommend it not for constant use, but for heavy loads, standing work, long walks and during pregnancy.
- It is useful to exert tension on the legs by climbing stairs, doing vibration gymnastics or jumping (quickly rising on your tiptoes and lightly tapping your heels on the floor two or three times a day, 30 to 60 times, raising your heels down). 1-2 centimeters).
- Prolonged exposure to the sun, in a bathhouse or in hot baths should not be abused.
- Drink at least 2 liters of liquid a day, it is advisable to control your weight and ensure that the vegetable-vegetable component predominates in your diet. You should abandon alcohol, spicy, smoked and salty foods or at least greatly reduce their component in the diet.
- Tight underwear, shoes, stockings or socks with tight elastic bands are not permitted.
- During the holidays, avoid drinking champagne, it tends to make your illness worse.
- Don't wear high heels every day. More than 4 cm - already high.
- Don't bend over.
- Do not cross your legs, in this position the vessels are compressed and the outflow of blood from the extremities, already scarce, becomes even more difficult.
- Try not to stand still, even in line; It is better to switch from one foot to the other.
- Remember that vitamin C maintains the elasticity of the vascular wall.