What are Varicose Veins (VVs)?
The blood flows from bottom to top through the leg veins, overcoming gravity.Valves help you with this.For various reasons, the valve system may malfunction and blood flow may be disrupted.Then the blood in the veins begins to stagnate, which leads to stretching of the vein walls and the formation of nodes.
Signs of varicose veins
Veins twist and protrude above the surface of the skin
Leg pain
Feeling of heaviness in the legs
Burning along the veins
Night cramps
dilated veins
Pigmentation and thickening of the skin
Causes of varicose veins
Who suffers most from varicose veins?
Of the 100% of people who suffer from varicose veins, 30% are women in their prime, 50% have given birth and 25% are men over 40 years old.In addition, the risk of disease only appears after twenty years.But despite these depressing statistics, there are very simple and effective ways to prevent varicose veins that we would like to talk about.First, let's list some causes of varicose veins that will help you determine if you are at risk.
Inheritance
The first and most important factor that leads to the development of varicose veins is heredity.In 70 percent of cases, the disease is transmitted from mother to daughter.Therefore, try to find out whether your grandmother and mother suffered from varicose veins.Maybe someone even had surgery.If a genetic predisposition to the disease is detected, you should seriously think about it before choosing the profession of a hairdresser, teacher or flight attendant.
Working conditions
The fact is that the second risk factor is long standing, sedentary and physically demanding work.
Hormonal changes
The next dangerous point can be hormonal changes in the body (for example, taking certain hormonal drugs).Endocrine changes and increased body weight also have a negative effect on the function of the valve system.This could be why pregnant women are at particular risk.
Regular overheating
High ambient temperatures can also lead to varicose veins - these put additional strain on the veins.Therefore, excessively hot baths, saunas and exposure to the sun for more than 40 minutes are undesirable.
Uncomfortable shoes
You're also at risk if you constantly wear high-heeled shoes (although completely flat soles aren't particularly good for your feet either).Shoes with high heels lead to constant tension in the muscles and increase the strain on the leg veins.A heel of 5 centimeters or more is considered high; 2-3 centimeters is optimal.One last thing worth mentioning is smoking.It's difficult to say exactly how many cigarettes you smoke poses a risk, but there is definitely a connection between varicose veins and smoking.
How do you treat varicose veins?
Do not delay treatment for varicose veins.A timely visit to the doctor helps to 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.This is primarily an ultrasound examination (Dopplerography).It shows the condition of the veins, the amount of circulating blood and the speed of circulation.
Preventing varicose veins at home is not so difficult, but in order for prevention to be successful, most of the doctors' recommendations must become a habit.
to do sports
The first thing that all doctors, without exception, recommend is exercise.It is better to choose a sport in which the lower leg muscles tense evenly and intensively.Walking, running, cycling, skiing, horse riding and dancing are very good for your legs.Don't forget: no matter what sport you choose, your shoes should be loose and comfortable.The best sport against varicose veins is swimming: there is no pressure on the veins, they lie as if in weightlessness.A very inexpensive yet effective way of prevention is walking.Just fifteen minutes a day will produce positive results.
If you want to work out in the gym, keep a few basic rules in mind:
Prefer exercises without weights or with minimal weights (up to 1 kg).
Increase the number of repetitions, not the weight of the projectile.
Perform exercises for specific muscle groups at different times and alternate training days with rest days.
Wherever you train, do not overdo it - the load will be useful if it brings pleasure, and the strength will be useful to you for more pleasant things.When choosing a sport, remember that not every exercise is suitable for varicose veins.
Tennis, bodybuilding, volleyball and skating are not very good for varicose veins - sports that require sudden movements.Not only can they be useless, they can even be harmful to your health.Even if you don't have time for regular exercise, don't despair.
There are simple exercises for the legs that do not require much effort, but are an excellent way to improve blood circulation.
The exercises are particularly recommended for people who have to spend a lot of time sitting or standing due to their job.Walk by rolling your foot from heel to toe.Then stand on tiptoes 20-30 times.Do several squats, shifting your 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, turning your feet clockwise and back.Then bend and straighten your fingers until you feel a slight tension.Change your position more often and try to give up sitting cross-legged - this leads to compression of the veins and thereby impaired blood circulation.
Take care of your feet
We are used to paying special attention to our face, but our feet also need care.In the morning, rinse them with cold water from the shower up to the ankles for a few minutes.It is desirable that the current be stronger.
It is recommended to apply a mud mask to your feet for 20 minutes several times a week.Rinse off the mask with cold water and then apply the cream.These procedures relieve swelling, improve nutrition and blood circulation.After applying the mask, your legs should remain elevated.
Try to make it a habit - when you are relaxing or watching TV, it is better to keep your legs in an elevated position.Ideally they are above the level of the heart.Doctors recommend placing a pillow under your feet even at night.
Among folk remedies there is a proven method for preventing varicose veins.Take a thick wooden block (a regular wax candle will do), place one foot on a chair, and then, applying light pressure to the skin, roll it from the foot to the knee.Do the exercises with the second leg too.This exercise is very useful for strengthening blood vessels.After a busy day, you can help your feet relax with a simple massage.Massage each toe and roll a rubber ball - a "hedgehog" - on the floor with your foot.Just a few minutes of such exercises perfectly restore blood circulation.
Pay attention to your diet
Nutrition should be rational, because, as already mentioned, weight fluctuations have a negative effect on the condition of the legs.The basic rule: a maximum of vegetables and fruits, a minimum of salty, fatty and smoked foods.Try replacing animal fats with vegetable fats as they contain acids that improve blood circulation.Eat more fiber - the benefits are evidenced by the fact that in eastern countries, where fiber is the main diet, varicose veins are practically non-existent.Large amounts of fatty, fried and spicy foods change the composition of the blood, which can lead to the formation of blood clots.Alcohol also has a negative effect on the veins.
Also try to eat foods that contain vitamin P.These are primarily walnuts, green tea and rose hips.Foods such as sprouted wheat grains, peas, beans and green onions enrich the veins with nutrients and make them more elastic.
If possible, you should limit your coffee consumption to one cup per day, as this drink is not safe for blood vessels.
Dress properly
High-heeled shoes and tight shoes that put pressure on the foot or lower leg have a negative effect on the condition of the veins.Ditch narrow stilettos for formal occasions and choose loose shoes with a small heel for everyday wear.If you notice symptoms of varicose veins, it is better to avoid tight clothing altogether, especially stockings and socks with tight elastic bands.
Doctors recommend wearing special compression stockings to both prevent and treat varicose veins.This creates external pressure on the veins, which reduces blood congestion and maintains the normal size of the veins.To achieve the same effect, elastic bandages were previously used, but fortunately the time of unsightly bandaged legs is over and today stockings and tights with a massage effect are used in compression therapy.Such products are much more convenient and practical without compromising the appearance.They look like ordinary women's tights or knee socks, but they are very tight in some places.
It is recommended to put on elastic stockings in the morning without getting up and raise your leg at an angle of forty degrees.
Then the stockings can keep the veins in a physiological state and ensure blood flow towards the heart.Such products are sold in pharmacies and are worn for at least six months.
In addition, it is worth noting that varicose veins are not only an aesthetic problem, but also a serious condition, neglect of which can lead to complications.That's why you should seek professional help at the first suspicion, because the beauty of healthy legs is a pleasant enrichment for your health.