10/10/2023
Treatment and prevention of varicose veins
Did you know that, according to statistics, varicose veins affect approximately 30% of women and 15% of men? This figure is even higher as we get older, and around half of people over the age of 60 experience them. Are you also struggling with varicose veins and wondering how they are treated? Or do you want to prevent varicose veins?
What are varicose veins
Varicose veins are enlarged and dilated veins that protrude above the surface of the skin. Varicose veins can vary in size and most commonly form on the lower legs, but can affect any vein on the body. Varicose veins can take the form of fine thread veins also known as spider veins, or trunk varicose veins that bulge underneath the skin.
Risk factors for varicose veins include increasing age, heredity, standing for long periods of time or living a sedentary lifestyle, and being overweight or obese. Women are more prone to developing varicose veins than men, mainly due to hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause.
How do varicose veins form?
How do varicose veins form? Poor functionality of the veins is to blame. The veins return blood from the tissues to the heart, so they must work against the earth's gravity. Several mechanisms help them to do this, including valves that prevent the blood from returning, or muscle movements that support the veins' elasticity. However, if this system does not work as it should, blood builds up in the veins and causes them to dilate. This causes varicose veins.
How do varicose veins affect quality of life?
Milder forms of varicose veins can be just a cosmetic issue that is itself very unpleasant. More severe forms, however, can be associated with a range of health complications.
Most commonly, varicose veins are manifested by pain and heaviness in the legs, cramping, tingling, burning, and swelling in the legs or itching around the veins. Bleeding from the veins, hardening of the veins and changes in pigmentation or inflammation of the skin may also occur. If left untreated, varicose veins can lead to venous inflammation or leg ulcers.
Treatment of varicose veins
There are several options for treating varicose veins. Treatment can be divided into conservative and operative. Conservative treatment consists mainly of administering medication in the form of tablets, creams, or gels in combination with wearing compression stockings.
During this treatment, prolonged sitting and standing should be avoided. In some cases, doctors choose surgical solutions. There are several types of varicose vein surgeries, such as sclerotization, laser ablation, radiofrequency or phlebectomy.
TIP: VENORUTON
The over-the-counter medicine VENORUTON can relieve the unpleasant symptoms of varicose veins. It also brings relief from the symptoms of tired, painful, swollen, and restless legs and cramps. The effectiveness of this product is clinically proven.
How to prevent varicose veins?
Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed way to prevent varicose veins, but you can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing them through several measures. Many of the preventive measures overlap with the recommendations associated with varicose vein treatment. So, let's take a closer look at them.
Avoid standing for long periods of time
If you have a job that requires you to stand for long periods of time, take short breaks to stretch to promote blood flow. If you can't avoid long periods of standing or sitting, wear compression stockings or socks.
Don't sit cross-legged
As a precaution, it is also recommended not to sit with your legs crossed since this worsens blood flow.
Maintain a healthy weight
One of the risk factors for varicose veins is being overweight and obese. When you get rid of excess pounds, the pressure inside the veins will reduce.
Exercise regularly
The answer to improving blood circulation is regular exercise, which has a beneficial effect on both physical and mental well-being. You can also boost blood circulation in your lower limbs by showering alternately with hot and cold water.
Stop smoking
Smoking has been shown to damage blood vessels and reduce blood flow. If you manage to quit smoking, you not only reduce the risk of developing varicose veins, but also a number of other diseases, including lung cancer.
Don't wear clothes that are too tight
To promote blood flow, avoid wearing clothes that are too tight, instead choose loose and comfortable clothing. Ideally, you should also not wear high heels too often.
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