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 everyone. But how to deal with this disease? TV commercials promise salvation from conventional vein ointments, the Internet is full of articles about home remedies. So how to deal with the problem to forget about it forever? The candidate of medical sciences, doctor of the highest category, head of the phlebological center spoke about the important nuances of the disease, as well as modern ways of preventing and treating the disease.
Who is at risk?
Varicose veins is an expansion of the subcutaneous veins, accompanied by a violation of the venous outflow. They increase in size due to the thinning of the vessel wall itself, and at the same time their diameter increases. Basically, varicose veins are a hereditary disease, although other factors can also contribute to the development of the disease.
"Sooner or later the disease will manifest itself, " says the medic. - If a person is a loader or weightlifter, then he will face a disease earlier. If he sits in the office, then later, with age. In women, for examplethe disease is associated with hormonal factors: pregnancy, childbirth, oral contraceptives. "
People who are constantly on their feet, whose profession involves constant and prolonged stress, are always at risk of developing this disease. The choice of our shoes also has an influence: wearing high heels regularly provokes the disease. Also at risk are people who are overweight and lead a sedentary lifestyle.
Finding varicose veins is easy: this is not a disease that has hidden symptoms. First, the problem is immediately accompanied by aesthetic flaws: 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, a feeling of heaviness and pain in the calves after sitting or standing for a long time. Varicose veins are characterized by 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 thoughtlessly buy various ointments and self-medicate. In addition, there are different types of varicose veins, and each type has its own technique.
"There are cosmetic varicose veins that are treated with laser therapy, and there are surgical ones: we eliminate them with the help of surgery, " explains the expert. - Operative varicose veins are not treated with conservative methods. If so, then the trunks are the big onesand small truncal veins are affected, and medication cannot be dispensed with here. A minimally invasive operation is performed, ie an operation in which a small incision is made. The most gentle treatment method is endovascular laser coagulation of 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 type of non-traumatic treatment of this disease. "
Basically, specialists remove veins using the stripping method. This is an operation in which two incisions are made: in the groin and at the bottom of the leg. A probe is inserted there, after which the diseased vein is removed in its direction. This procedure is quite painful: a person limps for a long time, and the leg heals up to six months. So far, this type of surgical treatment of varicose veins has been used for economic reasons: it is very cheap for clinics and hospitals.
An amazing paradox
Varicose veins have long since acquired the status of a women's disease. It is assumed that so many factors such as wearing high heels, hormonal and hereditary aspects are sufficient for the fair sex to fall into the risk group at all. However, in fact, the situation is diametrically opposite - men are several times more likely to suffer from this disease.
"As you know, the morbidity rate is registered by referral, and women come to the doctor most often, " explains the expert. - Despite this, women fear a blemish. In fact, men suffer from varicose veins much more often, but they go to the doctor at the last minute, if a trophic ulcer already appears.
There are general recommendations for the prevention of this disease. If you're a sedentary person, try to take small 10-minute breaks at least every hour: walk around, massage your legs. For activities that require constant standing, don't forget to take contrast showers and herbal foot baths in the evening. Also, do not forget about moderate physical activity, which strengthens the walls of blood vessels. And of course choose comfortable shoes: Tight shoes have never done anyone any good.