Treatment of varicose veins
Vein disease is the "folk" name for venous insufficiency. It actually refers to a failure of the valves in the veins of the leg to close properly. It can have many causes and consequences.
Development of varicose veins
The varicose vein carries used blood from the body to the heart. The veins are squeezed by contracting muscles, causing the blood to flow upwards. In healthy people, so-called venous valves act as gates to block the blood from flowing back to the heart.
If we don't move much or sit or stand a lot, our muscles don't "pump" the blood vessels. Furthermore, if our venous wall is diseased, damaged or our valves are weak, the efficiency of our venous circulation is compromised.
Causal factors (e.g. weakness of connective tissue) and provoking factors (e.g. standing and sitting, sedentary lifestyle) can increase blood pressure in the back of the leg. The blood vessel dilates, preventing the valves from closing, creating an opening and preventing blood from moving upwards. Blood is permanently mard, or "stagnant", in the veins. The veins gradually become tortuous and swollen. If the condition persists, the dilatation and malfunctioning becomes permanent and permanent. It is no longer just a cosmetic problem, because it causes an unpleasant "heavy leg" feeling, a tightening pain, and the slow blood flow increases the risk of complications (ulcer, thrombosis and embolism).
Vein disease is therefore a condition in which the venous vascular system is unable to remove waste blood from the tissues and harmful metabolic products from the space between the tissues.
In the milder forms of varicose veins, there is "just" itching, heavy legs or tightness. Muscle cramping, peeling and a brownish-reddish discolouration of the skin may also appear. The veins become more tortuous and swollen, more prominent, and the swelling of the ankle and shin increases. After a while, a wound (ulcer) that is difficult to heal or the dreaded complication, thrombosis, may develop. The latter is a life-threatening condition.
Preventing varicose veins
In a healthy person, blood flow is ensured by the movement of the muscles. Muscles contracting again and again "push" blood from the veins towards the heart. Without muscle movement, blood does not move (or moves very slowly). So a sedentary lifestyle is a direct route to varicose veins.
This means that regular exercise is the best way to prevent and treat varicose veins. The recommended forms of exercise are walking, running, swimming and cycling. Exercise helps to increase blood circulation, increase oxygen supply to the cells and evacuate stagnant blood.
V varicose veins are usually treated with creams, medicines and compression stockings. However, it is important to know that elastic stockings or stockings can only work if you are moving. If you sit still in them, the elasticity will "relax". It tightens us, but it does not pump. In other words, someone who wears one but slouches in an armchair, even though he thinks he is treating himself, is actually doing nothing.
Some advice for everyday life
- get active every day (running, jogging, cycling, Nordic walking, walking, hiking)
- don't use the lift, take the stairs!
- Wear flat, flexible-soled shoes (a maximum heel of 5 cm is recommended)
- Avoid heat, sunbathing, saunas and thermal baths
- if your legs swell, sit with your feet up often
- if you are sitting down, stand up every half hour, move your legs, take a short walk
- don't sit cross-legged
- a chestnut ointment
- may be helpful
- your diet should be high in fibre and low in salt
Curing varicose veins
There is no way to cure varicose veins that have already developed, i.e. to "fix" the tortuous veins and restore them to their original condition!
The surgical "eradication" or "injection" of a tortuous, painful vein is in fact a cosmetic trick. The function of the vein that has been removed (i.e. to transport blood) must be taken over, so that another vein will dilate in its place!
Any vein cannot be "removed"!Sclerotherapy, laser surgery, removal of varicose veins with radiofrequency catheter, stripping, plehbectomy, endoscopic surgery should be considered when natural or imitation methods have failed and the risk of embolisation is high due to frequent varicose vein inflammation.Artificial means of varicose vein treatment
For those who cannot exercise regularly for some reason, the use of home medical devices is recommended, especially foot massage with lymphatic massage machines (intermittent pneumatic compression) and electrostimulation for varicose vein treatment.
Intermittent pneumatic compression device
The machine uses a boot-like cuff made up of several air compartments, inflating and deflating the air compartments one after the other, which compress the muscles and tissues, which triggers the flow of lymph and blood. Swelling is reduced, acute and chronic limb tension is reduced, blood circulation is improved and pain is relieved.
Electrostimulator
The treatment involves the delivery of tiny pulses to the muscles through an adhesive electrode attached to the calf muscles. These cause the muscles to contract - similar to what happens when you walk - and squeeze blood out of the veins. The 20-30 minute treatment is a real refreshing experience. It eliminates tense complaints and empties the veins.
Machine lymphatic massage and electrostimulation are not only excellent for prevention, but also for post-varicose vein pain, post-thrombotic syndrome symptoms and thrombosis prevention
In this section we have collected devices and equipment that can be used for varicose vein treatment.