Today we will talk about varicose veins of the legs, varicose veins of the lower extremities - a very common vascular pathology, causes, symptoms, disease prevention, therapeutic exercises with a series of exercises.
Varicose veins (varicose veins) - what kind of disease is this, photo
Phlebeurism(see photo of manifestations of varicose veins on the legs) is the scourge of our time; If before this progressive disease of compromised blood flow and weakening of the valves affected very elderly people, now the first signs of this disease of the peripheral vessels appear in twenty-years of age.
Spider veins (telangiectasias) appear first. Then the superficial veins become less elastic, twist, become noticeable, protruding above the skin of the lower leg and thigh. 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 increases rapidly, this pathology of the veins of the lower extremities is diagnosed in every third woman.
However, not only the limbs, even at 30-35 years of age, varicose veins of the pelvic organs (beginning to develop as a result of fluctuations in intravascular pressure during contractions), hemorrhoids and varicoceles (dilation of the spermatic cord veins 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 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 on the legs, a blue network of small vessels, spider veins, swelling at night, persistent dull pain along the veins, burning, sometimes itching, heaviness in the legs at the end of the day, the occurrence of night cramps, paresthesia - chills and numbness.
And with a significant progression of the disease, the following often develop:
- thrombophlebitis (which is expressed by the appearance of sharp pain along the vein, redness, local increase in temperature, swelling, sometimes you can feel painful areas with a blood clot blocking the lumen of the vessel, in severe cases chills begin, a transition from the inflammatory process from superficial to deep veins is observed),
- trophic ulcers against the background of chronic venous insufficiency.
Probably no one will like this photo. And then the detachment of a blood clot and subsequent stroke or heart attack, tissue necrosis still approaches. . . But that's sad enough.
As in order 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 the legs using natural methods.
Causes of varicose veins and predisposing factors
- Genetics (heredity).
- Changes in hormonal levels (pregnancy, hormonal contraceptives).
- Intense physical activity, especially static work, purely standing or sedentary.
- Overweight.
- Chronic cough.
- Smoke.
- Leg injuries that damage blood vessel valves.
Women successfully provoke the appearance of varicose veins by standing for a long time, walking in high heels and sitting at the table with their legs crossed.
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 necessary - a vascular surgeon.
Diagnosis of varicose veins
In addition to external examination of the lower extremities and collection of anamnesis (complaints), the following is carried out to make a diagnosis:
- Doppler ultrasound (determines the quality, speed of blood flow, the presence of obstacles in the form of clots, blood clots),
- transillumination (transillumination of veins, even with changes not yet visible to the naked eye).
Furthermore, the diagnosis of varicose veins is not complete without collecting blood 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, they have contraindications and are mainly indicated in the early stages of the disease.
But what can we do on our own with varicose veins at home to combat this unpleasant vascular pathology?
Therapeutic exercises for varicose veins in the legs
Prevention of varicose veins mainly includes gymnastic exercises, which is not surprising, since the vessels simply need to be trained.
The most advantageous functional position of the legs for varicose veins is elevated, elevated. But it is not possible to keep your legs up all the time, and stagnation in the venous network must be avoided in some way, as 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, fluid can sweat into the tissue and swelling increases.
This is why we don't go crazy at work, we often take breaks during work, get up, stretch, walk around the desk, go to the bathroom if possible, climb a few flights of stairs and do some exercises.
This warming up and distraction from sedentary work is also useful for diseases of the eyes and spine (the neck and lower back are 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 stretch them with strong tension, then do the same with our toes, each exercise 15-20 times. Also, for varicose veins on the legs, foot massage will be useful.
- Walk briskly in place for one minute.
- We stand close to the wall, with our palms at shoulder height, focusing on the wall. We stand on our toes and fall on our heels, 10-15 such rolls.
- Stand slowly on your toes, with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms up.
- "Bicycle" with feet in a supine position.
- "Scissors" (cross your legs stretched out vigorously like scissors).
- Slow leg swings from a lateral position, alternately with the right and then the left.
- Pull 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 in the veins is reduced by 2 times! ), skiing, cycling, athletic walking.
It is also worth considering that some exercises can only harm the veins - strength training with a barbell, jumping rope, long and intense running and long exercises on an exercise 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.
Preventing varicose veins at home
How to prevent varicose veins in the legs?
- In addition to exercise, contrast showers and compression stockings are very helpful for blood vessels.
The latter has its disadvantages: firstly, it is quite expensive, and secondly, after prolonged use, the vessels become completely soft and stop working independently.
Therefore, I would recommend it not for constant use, but during heavy loads, working while standing, long walks and during pregnancy.
- It is useful to put pressure on your legs by climbing stairs, doing vibration gymnastics or jumping (quickly standing on toes and lightly tapping your heels on the floor two or three times a day, 30-60 times, raising your heels by 1-2 cm).
- Prolonged exposure to the sun, in spas or hot baths should not be abused.
- Drink at least 2 liters of liquid per day, it is advisable to control your weight and ensure that the vegetable-vegetable component predominates in your diet. You should give up alcohol, spicy, smoked and salty foods, or at least greatly reduce their components in your diet.
- No tight underwear, shoes, socks or stockings with tight elastic.
- While on vacation, avoid drinking champagne as it tends to make your illness worse.
- Don't wear high heels every day. Above 4 cm - already high.
- Don't squat.
- Do not cross your legs, in this position the vessels are compressed and the flow of blood from the extremities, already deficient, becomes even more difficult.
- Try not to stand still, even in line, it's better to shift from one foot to the other.
- Remember that vitamin C maintains the elasticity of the vascular wall.