What to do if you have varicose veins

Varicose veins often occur in the lower limbs, and there will be many spider-web-like blood vessels, which look very scary. The main reason for the swelling and varicose veins is standing for a long time without changing the posture. In this way, blood will continue to accumulate in the lower limbs. People who need to stand for a long time at work have a higher incidence of the disease, such as teachers, waiters, sales clerks, etc. So, what should you do if you suffer from varicose veins?

Varicose veins are also related to genetics, oral contraceptives, and pregnancy. Varicose veins are irreversible because the human body has no self-repair mechanism. However, we can still prevent the expansion of varicose veins and alleviate their symptoms through conservative treatment (such as using elastic stockings, exercise, diet and changes in lifestyle). Gentle exercises such as walking, swimming, and cycling can not only improve circulation but also reduce the rate at which new varicose veins form. In terms of diet, you should eat more high-fiber, low-fat foods and increase your intake of vitamin C and E.

In daily life, you should control your weight, avoid taking birth control pills, avoid wearing tight clothing and high heels, cross your legs, and avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time. Raise your legs for a while before going to bed every day, and sleep on your left side to reduce pressure on the pelvic vena cava. Smoking can increase blood pressure and damage arteries and veins. Patients with varicose veins should quit smoking immediately. In most patients, varicose veins are not serious and do not require treatment. Health care and prevention are the most important. However, if varicose veins are too severe, they are prone to recurrent ulcers, infections and bleeding. Mistakenly believing in folk remedies and using incorrect treatment methods will aggravate the symptoms of varicose veins. So the best way is to consult a specialist for appropriate advice.

There are several treatments for varicose veins: Compression therapy: Using elastic stockings, external pressure is used to reduce edema caused by exercise. Theoretically, the pressure of elastic stockings is greatest at the ankle and gradually decreases upwards. Thigh-high elastic stockings are usually best. It is best to wear elastic stockings in the early morning before getting up and take them off after going to bed at night. If the patient has developed a leg ulcer due to venous hypertension, he or she should follow the doctor's instructions to take antibiotics and diuretics and supplement with special medical treatment.

Sclerotherapy: A hypertonic solution (such as highly concentrated saline or a sclerosant) is injected into the varicose veins to destroy the endothelium, causing them to heal and disappear. However, it can only treat small varicose blood vessels, and the treatment may cause severe pain, pigmentation, and even inflammation, redness, swelling, ulceration and other sequelae. It is also easy to relapse and difficult to deal with after relapse, so it is only suitable for a small number of patients. Extravascular laser or pulsed light: The principle is the same as the laser cosmetic treatment for removing spots. The advantages are that it only requires local anesthesia, short treatment time, low pain, very small wounds, no ugly scars, and you can walk immediately. However, it only treats tiny varicose spider veins and requires several treatments at your own expense to be effective.

Pregnant women, people who stand for more than six hours a day, and obese people are more likely to suffer from varicose veins. To prevent varicose veins, you should raise the foot of the bed to allow blood to flow back while you sleep, try not to wear high heels, maintain a normal weight, try not to take birth control pills as they may cause the disease, and do more leg-lifting exercises.