What are varicose veins (VV)?
Blood flows through the veins of the legs from the bottom up, overcoming the force of gravity.Valves help them with this.For various reasons, the valve apparatus may malfunction and blood outflow is impaired.Blood then begins to stagnate in the veins, causing the walls of the veins to stretch and form nodes.
Signs of varicose veins
The veins become twisted and protrude from the surface of the skin.
leg pain
heaviness in the legs
Burning sensation along the veins.
night cramps
dilated veins
pigmentation and thickening of the skin
Causes of varicose veins
Who suffers from varicose veins more often?
Of the 100% of people who suffer from varicose veins, 30% are women of optimal age, 50% have given birth and 25% are men over forty years of age.Furthermore, the risk of suffering from the disease arises after twenty years.However, despite these depressing statistics, there are quite simple and effective methods to prevent varicose veins, which we would like to tell you about.First, let's list some causes of varicose veins that will help determine if you are at risk.
inheritance
The first and most important factor that leads to varicose veins is heredity.In 70 percent of cases, the disease is passed from mother to daughter.Therefore, try to find out if your grandmother and mother suffered from varicose veins, maybe someone even had surgery for this.If a genetic predisposition to the disease is revealed, it is worth thinking seriously before choosing the profession of a hairdresser, teacher or flight attendant.
Working conditions
The fact is that the second risk factor is prolonged standing, as well as sedentary and physically demanding work.
Hormonal changes
The next dangerous point may be hormonal changes in the body (for example, taking certain hormonal medications).Endocrine changes and increased body weight also have a negative effect on the functioning of the valvular apparatus.This may be why pregnant women are especially at risk.
Regular overheating
High ambient temperatures can also cause varicose veins, which becomes an additional burden on the veins.Therefore, too hot baths, saunas and sun exposure for more than 40 minutes are undesirable.
uncomfortable shoes
You're also at risk if you wear high heels all the time (although completely flat soles aren't very good for your feet either).High-heeled shoes make the muscles constantly tense and increase the load on the veins in the legs.A heel of 5 centimeters or more is considered high and 2 to 3 centimeters is optimal.One last thing worth mentioning is smoking.It's hard to say exactly how many cigarettes smoking poses a risk, but there is definitely a connection between varicose veins and smoking.
How to treat varicose veins
Do not postpone treatment of varicose veins.A timely visit to a doctor will help detect signs of varicose veins in the early stages.There are several modern methods for examining varicose veins, most of which are absolutely painless and safe.It is mainly an ultrasound examination (Dopplerography).It shows the condition of the veins, the mass of circulating blood and the speed of circulation.
Preventing varicose veins at home is not that difficult, but for prevention to give results, most of the doctors' recommendations must become a habit.
practice sports
The first thing that all doctors recommend without exception is exercise.It is better to choose a sport in which the muscles of the lower leg contract evenly and intensely.Walking, running, cycling, skiing, horseback riding and dancing are great for your legs.Don't forget: no matter what sport you choose, your shoes should be loose and comfortable.The best sport for varicose veins is swimming: there is no pressure on the veins, they are as if in weightlessness.A very affordable but effective form of prevention is walking.Even fifteen minutes a day will produce positive results.
If you choose to exercise at the gym, follow some basic rules:
Give preference to exercises without weights or with minimal weights (up to 1 kg).
Increase the number of repetitions, not the weight of the projectile.
Perform exercises on specific muscle groups at different times and alternate training days with rest days.
Wherever you exercise, don't overdo it: the load will come in handy when it gives you pleasure, and the strength will come in handy for more pleasurable things.When choosing a sport, remember that not every load is suitable for varicose veins.
Tennis, bodybuilding, volleyball and skating are not very good for varicose veins, those sports that require sudden movements.Not only can they not be useful, but they can even harm health.Even if you don't have time to exercise regularly, don't despair.
There are simple leg exercises that do not require much effort, but are an excellent way to improve blood circulation.
It is especially recommended to perform exercises for those people who, due to their occupation, are forced to spend a lot of time sitting or standing.Walk by rotating your foot from heel to toe.Then stand on your tiptoes 20 to 30 times.Do several squats, during which you transfer the weight to the edges of your feet.
If you have to sit a lot, you can stretch your legs from time to time like this: raise your knees and move your feet back and forth, turn your feet clockwise and backwards.Then bend and straighten your fingers until you feel slight tension.Change positions more often and try to get rid of the habit of sitting cross-legged;This will compress the veins and, as a result, impair blood circulation.
Take care of your feet
We are used to paying special attention to our face, but our feet also require care.Rinse them ankle-deep in cold shower water for a few minutes in the morning.It is desirable that the current be stronger.
Several times a week it is recommended to apply a mud mask to your feet for 20 minutes.Rinse the mask with cold water and then apply the cream.These procedures relieve swelling, improve nutrition and blood circulation.After applying the mask, the legs should be kept elevated.
Try to make it a habit: when relaxing, watching TV, it is better to keep your legs in an elevated position.Ideally, they should be located above the level of the heart.Doctors recommend placing a pillow under your feet even at night.
Among home remedies, there is a proven method to prevent varicose veins.Take a thick block of wood (a regular wax candle is enough), place one foot on a chair, and then, lightly pressing on the skin, roll it from foot to knee.Do the exercises with the second leg as well.This exercise is very useful for strengthening blood vessels.You can help your feet relax after a hard day with a simple massage.Massage each toe, rolling a rubber ball (a “hedgehog”) on the floor with your foot.Even a few minutes of this type of exercise will perfectly restore blood circulation.
Take care of your diet
Nutrition must be rational because, as already mentioned, weight fluctuations negatively affect the condition of the legs.The basic rule: a maximum of vegetables and fruits, a minimum of salty, fatty and smoked foods.Try to replace animal fats with vegetable fats, as they contain acids that improve blood flow.Eat more fiber: its benefits are evidenced by the fact that in Eastern countries, where fiber is the main food, varicose veins practically do not appear.Large amounts of fatty, fried and spicy foods change the composition of the blood, which can cause clots to form.Alcohol also has a negative effect on the veins.
Also try to eat foods that contain vitamin P. These are mainly walnuts, green tea and rose hips.Foods such as sprouted wheat grains, peas, beans and green onions will enrich the veins with nutrients and make them more elastic.
If possible, it is advisable to limit coffee consumption to one cup a day, since this drink is not harmless to blood vessels.
dress correctly
High-heeled shoes, as well as tight shoes that put pressure on the foot or lower leg, have an adverse effect on the condition of the veins.Leave narrow stilettos for formal occasions, and for every day, choose loose shoes with a small heel.If you notice symptoms of varicose veins, it is best to avoid tight clothing altogether, especially tights and socks with tight elastic bands.
For both the prevention and treatment of varicose veins, doctors recommend wearing special compression stockings.This creates pressure on the veins from the outside, as a result of which blood stagnation is reduced and the normal size of the veins is maintained.In the past, elastic bandages were used to achieve the same effect, but fortunately, the days of unattractively bandaged legs have passed and today compression therapy uses stockings and pantyhose with a massage effect.These products are much more comfortable and practical and do not spoil the appearance.They look like regular women's stockings or knee socks, but they are very tight in certain places.
It is recommended to put on elastic stockings in the morning without getting out of bed, raising your leg at an angle of forty degrees.
Then the stockings will be able to keep the veins in a physiological state and ensure the flow of blood to the heart.These products are sold in pharmacies and used for at least six months.
To the above, it should be added that varicose veins are not only an aesthetic problem, but also a serious illness; ignoring it can lead to complications.Therefore, it is advisable to seek professional help as soon as the first suspicions arise, and the beauty of healthy legs will be a pleasant complement to your good health.