How to treat varicose veins?
Do you suffer from varicose veins?
They generate particular sensations and pains. They also tire the legs enormously.
Heat, standing, immobility are all situations that trigger pain and stressful pressure.
Let’s see together how to treat varicose veins, what solutions to consider to get rid of them, or otherwise how to improve blood circulation to suffer less and finally forget them.
Contents
- 1 How to treat varicose veins?
- 2 What are varicose veins?
- 3 What are the symptoms of varicose veins?
- 4 Risk factors for varicose veins
- 5 Varicose veins treatment
- 6 When to treat varicose veins?
- 7 What to do after treatment?
- 8 Varicose veins home remedies
- 9 The essential accessories for heavy legs
- 10 In summary
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are swollen veins that appear on the skin in groups of bluish or purple veins.
They are sometimes surrounded by spider veins, lines of small blood vessels located on the surface of the skin.
The veins have one-way valves that push blood flow to the heart.
If these valves are weakened or damaged, blood may slow down or even flow back into the veins.
This causes dilation of the veins and leads to varicose veins.
They can occur anywhere but are mostly located in the legs and pelvic area.
Most grow near the surface of the skin.
Varicose veins of the deep veins are not visible but can cause swelling of the skin which becomes darker and harder where they transit.
What are the symptoms of varicose veins?
Symptoms of varicose veins usually appear before the age of 40 and result in:
– a tangle of blue or purple veins
– swollen legs, ankles, and feet
– muscle cramps, shooting pains in the legs
– heavy legs
– pain in the back of the knee
– itching around dilated veins
– low endurance leg muscles
– brown discoloration of the skin
– skin ulcers
Risk factors for varicose veins
These factors can increase the risk of varicose veins:
– gender: varicose veins are four times more common in women
– age: with age, the wear of the valves of the veins increases
– the weight: the more the load on the legs, the more the pressure in the veins grow
– genetics: you have a good chance of developing varicose veins if your parents or other family members also suffer from them
– lack of physical activity: blood does not flow easily through the veins if the person is too static and sedentary
Varicose veins treatment
Depending on their size and location, varicose veins and spider veins can be treated in different ways:
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Sclerotherapy
This is a non-surgical procedure in which a solution is injected into the veins to make them disappear.
Multiple sessions should be considered as one to three injections are required to treat each vein.
10 to 40 veins can be treated in one session.
Sclerotherapy does not require anesthesia and is painless.
Reactions are nevertheless possible with this treatment:
– a slight swelling of the legs and feet
– localized bruising, redness, and pain
Compression socks are mandatory for 2 to 4 weeks following the injections.
Walking and moderate physical activity accelerates recovery.
Once treated, the veins disappear within 6 months and do not reappear.
However, sclerotherapy does not prevent the appearance of new varicose veins.
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Stripping
This is a surgical procedure to remove dilated veins through small incisions in the skin.
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Endovenous ablation
An endovenous laser or radio waves are introduced through a catheter to generate heat and destroy the varicose vein.
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Endoscopic surgery
The surgeon uses a camera through a catheter to find the damaged vein and destroy it.
When to treat varicose veins?
Varicose veins don’t necessarily need to be treated.
However, if they interfere with walking or standing, medical advice is required.
Likewise, if a sore occurs near a varicose vein or if your feet or ankles swell, see a doctor promptly.
In some cases, varicose veins can be dangerous for your health because they can lead to serious diseases like:
– venous stasis ulcers occur when an excessively dilated vein no longer provides sufficient drainage and the skin no longer receives enough oxygen
– phlebitis: venous thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in the dilated vein
What to do after treatment?
There are ways to keep varicose veins from getting worse or coming back.
– regular exercise
– stand only when necessary
– elevate legs when sitting or lying
If you have to stand for an extended period, consider sitting down regularly and elevating your feet.
Wear compression stockings to improve blood circulation and reduce pain.
Varicose veins home remedies
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Vitamin C
Vitamin C (#ad) helps repair and support veins.
It helps build connective tissue, collagen, and elastin, the two substances necessary for repairing veins, making them firm and flexible.
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Vitamin E
Vitamin E (#ad) for its part ensures the prevention of blood clots by preventing platelets from clumping and sticking to the walls of blood vessels.
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Vitamins B6 and b12
These B vitamins (#ad) also help thin the blood and remove homocysteine which is the cause of blood clots.
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Copper
Copper (#ad) protects blood vessels.
This mineral is essential for repairing and maintaining endothelial cells, those protective cells that line the interior of blood vessels.
It is used by the body to bind collagen and elastin and appears to protect blood vessels from microscopic roughness that can lead to thrombosis.
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Bilberry
Blueberries and all very dark berries like blackberries or cherries contain bioflavonoids which support and strengthen the capillaries so that they do not transform them into spider veins.
Consider blueberry supplementation (#ad) is, therefore, a positive contribution both for the venous tone and the eyes.
The essential accessories for heavy legs
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The electrostimulator
This is not a foot massage but a muscle electrostimulation (#ad) whose goal is to activate blood circulation and relieve pain and heaviness in the legs, feet, and ankles.
This device does not vibrate, it emits waves that stimulate the muscles of the legs to restart blood flow.
An essential medical device for varicose veins and even for treating restless legs
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Therapeutic pillow
Relieving heaviness involves elevating the legs for improved venous return.
While lying down it is crucial to keep the legs elevated to prevent blood stagnation.
Adopt a leg elevation pillow (#ad) for quick pain relief.
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Leg massager
Wireless and rechargeable, this massage device adapts to the diameter of the leg with a Velcro fastener.
Its action is the principle of a pressure massage but without a kneading effect and without vibrations.
20 minutes of use per day of this portable massager (#ad) allows you to eliminate heaviness in the legs, reduce muscle fatigue and boost blood circulation.
* Note that a heated version of this massager exists but that it is strongly discouraged for people suffering from varicose veins who must avoid heat.
Make no mistake about the model!
In summary
Varicose veins cause particular pain and heaviness.
The muscle fatigue they cause can be very pronounced and difficult to bear.
There are medical solutions that do not necessarily require surgery.
There are also supplements to consider to improve blood circulation, reduce swelling in the legs and ankles, and thus reduce pain.
Finally, some targeted accessories can bring quick relief and a newfound quality of life.
We don’t have to resign ourselves to varicose veins.
There are solutions to choose to make them disappear, to relieve them, to master them.
* Read more:
Get immediate relief for restless legs
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