Varicose veins are a pathology that requires constant monitoring and following medical recommendations.Symptoms of the disease (increasing the lumen of blood vessels, thinning of their walls, congestion) will develop if all provoking factors are not excluded.
What is not allowed for varicose veins is one of the main questions that interest patients.Failure to comply with basic restrictions can lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of therapy.
Top ten "don'ts" for varicose veins
- You can't rely on ointments and pills.There is no magic ointment or magic pill for varicose veins.There are drugs that facilitate blood flow, there are substances that strengthen the vascular walls, but all these are temporary means that can be used in addition to the main treatment.They alleviate the condition: with the help of drugs you can relieve swelling and pain, but do not normalize the condition of the veins.
- You cannot self-medicate.Varicose veins are not a pathology that can be cured by itself or will disappear by itself.The problem will not "solve", so if you have signs of varicose veins, you should consult a doctor.
- You can not treat yourself with leeches.There is a strong belief that varicose veins can be treated with leeches.We do not recommend that you try this method.At least consult a specialist, in this case a phlebologist.Yes, leeches secrete substances that reduce blood clotting.This facilitates blood flow, but has no effect on varicose veins.The secretion of leech does not strengthen the vein walls and does not lead to the normalization of the condition of the blood vessels.
- Compression stockings should not be worn occasionally.The main requirement of varicose vein patients is to wear compression stockings.It helps to normalize blood circulation, and if you have undergone treatment (for example, sclerotherapy), then compression socks help you recover better.You need to wear stockings or tights exactly as recommended by the doctor: if you do this from time to time, the therapeutic effect will disappear.Of course, it is difficult to wear knitted clothes, and in the summer it is uncomfortable to walk in them, but all these things can be discussed with a phlebologist and the easiest option can be found.
- If surgery is recommended for you, you should not delay it.Doctors note that varicose veins never disappear by themselves, and over time the condition of the veins only worsens.That is why, if the phlebologist recommends you undergo surgery now, you should not delay it.
- Massage for varicose veins does not improve the condition;moreover, massage for varicose veins is not indicated and can have a negative effect on the legs.Especially massage, which is done with force, rubbing, squeezing the feet.And although many patients report that they feel relief after the massage, this may be due to the fact that the swelling decreases after the procedure.But in the long run, massage can negatively affect vein health.Especially if this is a certain type of massage, such as honey, cupping, vacuum, anti-cellulite.
- And going to the bath house is also not recommended.Yes, for varicose veins a contrast bath is indicated - the temperature difference "trains" the vascular walls.However, the temperature contrast that usually occurs in a bath house is too great and can have a bad effect on the veins.Therefore, if you are diagnosed with varicose veins, it is better to forget about the steam room.Or put it off until you fix your vein problem.A diagnosis of varicose veins does not mean that a healthy life is over.This is a chronic disease, which, however, has been well studied.Serious operations to remove veins, which were performed decades ago, are a thing of the past: today, minimally invasive interventions that save veins are in the first place.And then follow the preventive measures.
- What foods should not be eaten if you have varicose veins:
- Sweet and starchy.This is not about excluding them completely from the diet, but about limited intake.Excessive consumption of sweets and baked foods can cause obesity and, therefore, increase the load on the blood vessels of the legs.
- Animal fat.Consumption of butter and fried meat is limited.Cholesterol contained in this product causes unwanted changes in the vascular bed.
- Salty, spicy food.The use of products from this category leads to water retention in the body and the formation of edema.This, in turn, increases the load on the vascular bed, which is absolutely unacceptable for varicose veins in the legs.
- Alcohol.Contrary to the opinion about the beneficial effects of alcohol on blood vessels, you should not drink it if you have severe varicose veins.Consuming alcoholic beverages leads to short-term expansion, then long-term spasm of blood vessels.The thin walls of varicose veins may not be able to withstand such a load: the veins become damaged and begin to bleed.In addition, drinking alcohol is not recommended because of the increased risk of blood clots.
- coffee.The drink weakens intestinal motility and can cause constipation, which is very undesirable for rectal varicose veins (hemorrhoids).If it is difficult to stop drinking coffee, intake is limited to 2 cups a day.
- Chicory.This plant is actively used as a harmless substitute for coffee.However, not all patients know why if you have varicose veins, you can not drink not only coffee, but also chicory.Drinking a drink from this plant leads to blood thinning, dilation of already thinned blood vessels, and increased wall permeability.This significantly increases the risk of bleeding from the affected vein.For this reason, drinking chicory in large quantities for varicose veins is not recommended.
- celery.Despite the fact that the plant is included in the list of nutritional products, its use is undesirable for venous pathology.The answer to why you should not eat celery for varicose veins lies in its effect on blood vessels, which is similar to chicory.
- Not all physical exercises are indicated for damage to the venous bed.To understand the types of sports that are impossible and even dangerous to engage in with varicose veins, you should pay attention to the presence of forces or impact loads in them.
Among the prohibited:
- weight lifting;
- running - sprint, marathon;
- football, volleyball - allowed at the initial stage, but subject to bandages on the lower part of the foot.
Lifting heavy loads in a standing position is contraindicated not only for varicose veins on the lower legs, but also for damage to the rectal veins.Strength training can cause prolapse and then strangulation of hemorrhoids.In such cases, emergency surgery may be required.
What exercises should not be done with varicose veins of the legs:
- squatting;
- jumping (especially on a jump rope);
- exercise with a platform (step aerobics).
- Do not take hormonal drugs without a doctor's prescription
This especially applies to women who use oral contraceptives.Some drugs to prevent pregnancy are hormones.Its use leads to blood thickening and, therefore, creates an additional risk of thrombosis.You should take hormonal contraceptives only after consulting your doctor first.