Varicose veins are a disease that affects 30% of the world's population. Regardless of lifestyle, gender and age, this disease can become a problem for anyone. But how to deal with this disease? TV commercials promise salvation from conventional ointments in our veins, the Internet is full of articles about home remedies. So, how to deal with the problem to forget about it forever? The candidate for medical sciences, doctor of the highest rank, head of the phlebological center, spoke about the important nuances of the disease, as well as the modern possibilities of disease prevention and treatment.
Who is at risk?
Varicose veins is an expansion of subcutaneous veins, accompanied by a violation of venous flow. They increase in size due to the thinning of the vessel wall and, at the same time, their diameter becomes larger. Basically, varicose veins are an inherited disease, although other factors can contribute to the development of the disease.
"Sooner or later, the disease will manifest itself, " says the doctor. - If a person is a loader or weight lifter, he will face an illness sooner. If he sits in the office, later with age. In women, for example, the disease is associated with hormonal factors: pregnancy, childbirth, oral contraceptives. "
People who are constantly on their feet, whose profession is associated with constant and prolonged stress, are always at risk of encountering this disease. The choice of our shoes also influences: the regular use of high heels causes the disease. Those who are overweight and lead a sedentary lifestyle are also at risk.
Finding varicose veins is simple: this is not a disease that has hidden symptoms. First of all, the problem is immediately accompanied by aesthetic defects: small blue-red vascular "asterisks" appear on the legs, dark blue intradermal veins become visible.
Also, at the end of the day, there is swelling in the legs, heaviness and pain in the calves after a long stay in a sitting or standing position. Characteristic of varicose veins is the disappearance of these symptoms when walking and after sleeping.
How to treat?
Any disease should be diagnosed and treated only by a specialist. Therefore, it is absolutely impossible to buy several ointments without thinking and self-medicating. Also, varicose veins have varieties and each type has its own technique.
"There are cosmetic varicose veins, which are treated with laser therapy, and there are surgical ones: we eliminate them with the help of an operation", explains the specialist. – Surgical varicose veins are not treated with conservative methods. If it is, then the trunks of the large and small saphenous veins are affected, and here the drugs cannot be dispensed with. A minimally invasive operation is performed - that is, a procedure in which a small incision is made. The most economical treatment method is endovascular laser coagulation of the veins. What is the procedure? A light guide is inserted through the vein, which closes it from the inside. This is a complex operation - the newest form of non-traumatic treatment for this disease. "
Basically, specialists remove the veins using the stripping procedure. This is an operation in which two incisions are made: in the groin and in the lower leg. A probe is inserted there, after which the diseased vein is removed towards you. This procedure is quite painful: a person limps for a long time and the leg heals up to six months. Until now, this type of surgical treatment of varicose veins is used for economic reasons: it is very cheap for clinics and hospitals.
a surprising paradox
Varicose veins have long acquired the status of a female disease. It is believed that such a large number of factors, such as wearing high heels, hormonal and hereditary aspects, are enough for the fair sex to fit into the risk group in the first place. But in fact, the situation is diametrically opposite - men suffer from this disease several times more often.
"As you know, the morbidity rate is recorded by referral and, most of the time, women go to the doctor", explains the specialist. - Still, the ladies are worried about a cosmetic defect. In fact, men are much more likely to suffer from varicose veins, but they go to the doctor at the last moment, when a trophic ulcer already appears.
There are general recommendations for the prevention of this disease. If you have a sedentary job, try at least every hour to take small breaks of 10 minutes: walk, massage your legs. For activities that require constant standing, don't forget to take a contrast bath at night and do herbal foot baths. Also, do not forget about moderate physical activity, which will strengthen the walls of blood vessels. And, of course, choose comfortable shoes: tight shoes have never done anyone any good.