Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a disease that affects beautiful women four times more often than the strong half of humanity. And if in the past this disease was considered "age-related", after 50 years it was preceded mainly by women, nowadays phlebologists speak with regret about its sharply increased "youth".
And doctors' fears are understandable, as they are increasingly visited by women who are barely 30 years old. So we need to find out what is the risk of varicose veins in the legs in women, what is the cause of its occurrence, the symptoms, and what methods are known to get rid of the disease right now.
Alarms to wake up
Doctors have long identified general signs of varicose veins in the legs, which should be referred to a vascular surgeon without delay.
The following factors eloquently trumpet the appearance of varicose veins:
- Swelling of the legs and feet, especially in the evening, after an eventful work day. In the early stages of the disease, the edema usually disappears completely after a night of restorative rest, but once the disease has entered a chronic stage, this symptom becomes a companion of the patient day and night.
- Pain syndrome in the gastrocnemius region, a feeling of fullness that is not released until the patient is in a “supine” position.
- A varicose vein on a woman's leg noticeably spoils the appearance of a beautiful leg. Often appearing on the surface of the skin, in front of such an even and smooth, reddish network of blood vessels, rushes beautiful ladies urgently to the doctor.
- In some places in the calves of the legs, especially in the popliteal region, there are prominent venous vessels, often knotted, brightly colored. The color of the blood vessels on the legs can range from deep blue to brownish purple.
If you find yourself with one or more of these unpleasant phenomena, you should know that these are symptoms of varicose veins in the legs, and in this situation, it is most urgent to make an appointment with your doctor.
What can happen if you don't see a doctor in time
This disease is by no means just a deterioration in the appearance of slender female legs. In addition to now preferring pants and dark stockings, throwing your favorite miniskirt on the back shelf of your closet, the following can happen:
- If no urgent action is taken to treat the stagnation of blood in the venous veins of the legs, the next stage in the development of the disease is thrombophlebitis. This is because the blood that thickens in the deformed veins gradually forms blood clots that clog the blood vessels. Once in the heart or pulmonary artery, blood clots cause death.
- Dermatitis, then later - and the appearance of a trophic ulcer. The skin on the surface of which the patient’s vein protrudes first darkens, becomes thinner, firmer, resulting in an unhealthy glow. Thereafter, further thinning, such skin is easily exposed to external lesions, and the inflammatory process begins not only within the vein but also on the surface of the skin. This can result in a trophic (non-healing) ulcer that is an open, crying wound.
- When veins are deformed and stretched, they can simply “leak out, ” which can result in bleeding, which can be both internal and external.
- Once ulcers and other skin lesions have developed, pathogenic bacteria and infections can easily enter the bloodstream through them. This can lead to serious consequences in the form of gangrene and the need to amputate the affected limb.
Where do female varicose veins come from?
This unpleasant and unsolvable disease affects girls and women much more often than men, and here’s why.
- The cause of varicose veins in women often lies in hereditary inheritance. If grandmother, mother, and older nurses suffer from venous insufficiency, the risk of its occurrence is much higher in the younger generation than in those who lack this disease in the female genus.
- Professional factor. If, due to the nature of your activity, you have to spend a long time standing (these are vendors, teachers, surgeons), stagnation of blood in the lower extremities often occurs. The same consequences apply to those whose work involves a long session at the computer desk.
- Improper food. It’s no secret that many ladies like to indulge in sweets, high-calorie cakes, something spicy like pickles, sauces and spices. All of these delicacies, if consumed frequently, cause the blood to thicken. As a result, blood flow is disrupted, congestion develops, and the veins in the legs are deformed.
- Another factor in the appearance of varicose veins is that a married lady burdened with everyday life, children, and work simply doesn’t have time to devote time to her loved one. Due to the lack of time spent in the gym or at home physical exercises, the calf muscles lose their tone, ceasing to maintain normal pressure within the legs vessels. Furthermore, deformation of the venous walls occurs and blood stagnation does not last long.
- Changes in hormonal levels. It can be both climacteric syndrome and pregnancy. In the latter case, varicoses can be triggered not only by hormones but also by increased pressure on the legs, which makes it increasingly difficult to bear the growing abdomen. In addition, the blood flow intensity of pregnant women is doubled and the venous vessels are simply unable to cope with such a heavy load. Therefore, every woman in an "interesting position, " especially in the last trimester, should have regular preventive examinations with a phlebologist.
- Preference for high heels in everyday life. Although this shoe makes the lady attractive in the eyes of the male, it is very detrimental to the health of the legs! The constant load on the lower leg is a messenger of blood clots and abnormal deformation of the vessels of the calf region.
How to cure female varicose veins
The set of measures to treat varicose veins in women in women is usually as follows:
- Stopping the further development of the disease.
- Removal of symptoms of the disease.
- Preventive measures.
Before prescribing treatment, the phlebologist will perform the necessary examination and determine the extent of the disease.
If the disease has not gone too far, as evidenced by a lack of blood clots and other serious consequences, the varicose vein can be cured.
Therapeutic therapy
It is usually prescribed for this disease:
- Ointments and gels that tone the venous walls, strengthen them and normalize intravenous blood flow (venotonics). In addition, horse chestnut-based products are very effective.
- Blood thinners and antithrombotic tablets.
- Pills that help eliminate and prevent inflammation in the veins. And these funds are also perfect for relieving pain.
- Medications for edema.
Hardware Management
There is also hardware therapy that is very effective in treating varicose veins.
- The device, invented by South Korean professionals, perfectly helps tired legs, relieves pain and eliminates swelling.
- A device that helps restore the damaged structure of blood vessels and soft tissues in the painful area of calves.
- A device that normalizes venous circulation due to its vibrations.
- A complex-acting device that restores the tissues affected by varicose veins, relieving swelling, pain and inflammation.
- A device that uses laser to heal sore veins, speed up blood flow, and relieve vein pain.
Traditional methods
And there are many folk remedies for how to treat varicose veins in women’s feet. These are ointments, compresses, rubs and various tinctures for oral administration.
- For example, you can make such a tincture. Take 1 large spoon of root potassium, thyme, foal, string, birch buds. Put everything in a pot, pour 1 liter of boiling water. Heat in a water bath for about half an hour. Then cool, drain and drink 1/2 cup three times daily before meals. The course of treatment is 1 month.
- Back compression based on fermented dairy products is also very good. You can just use kefir or pour in finely chopped leaves and bitter wormwood flowers (or yogurt). After the compress is wrapped in foil on top and insulated with a blanket, lie down for about half an hour. The legs should then be rinsed and smeared with an ointment against the varicose veins recommended by your doctor.
Radical measurements
In the later stages of varicose veins, the following are usually practiced:
- Minimally invasive treatment methods: laser and radiofrequency correction, micleblebectomy, sclerotherapy.
- A classic surgery in which the diseased part of a vein (and sometimes the entire venous vessel) is completely removed.
Preventive measures
Read them and try to listen to tips to help you overcome varicose veins.
- Daily dose adjustment. All cholesterol-rich fatty foods, spicy marinades, salt content, smoked meats, and strong teas, coffee, and alcohol are prohibited.
- If a lady smokes, it makes it much harder to treat the varicose veins. That is why it is necessary for you to gather yourself and stop the addiction.
- Wear repair stockings and leg warmers. This is a special underwear that venous patients must wear to normalize intravenous pressure and stop further development of venous deformity. To prevent venous disease, Class 1 underwear is recommended, if the capillary mesh is already visible and the swelling becomes more intense, you should purchase Class 2 compression stockings. And in case of significant deformation of the dishes, the 3rd compression class of such underwear is used.
- Revitalizing fitness complex. A number of physical exercises are recommended to combat varicose veins. This can be short-term jogging, raising the lower limbs, swinging the legs.
In addition, yoga can only be an excellent help if your postures (asanas) do not involve prolonged static tension in the calf muscles. For the same reason, team sports are excluded: volleyball, football, basketball, weightlifting, long, intense speed runs.
Finally
In order to stop the onset of venous disease as soon as possible, you should adhere to these principles:
- Set aside high-heeled shoes and buy high-quality and comfortable shoes made of natural materials instead.
- Avoid baths, saunas and solariums.
- Replace intense sports loads with lighter ones, be sure to discuss your exercises with your doctor.
- If you are not exercising physically, you should pull yourself together and take half an hour a day to complete the therapeutic complex of the exercises.
- Organize your diet to include as many vegetables, grains, and seafood as possible in your diet. For example, the secrets of Japanese women, famous for their long youth and good health, lie precisely in the fact that there are plenty of “seafood” and rice on the everyday table.
All of these measures to prevent varicose veins are also great for those who don’t want to face this harmful disease.
After all, any disease is much easier to predict and prevent than to treat its unpleasant manifestations. Love yourself! And be healthy!