Varicose veins are a pathology that requires constant monitoring and compliance with medical recommendations.Symptoms of the disease (increased lumen of blood vessels, thinning of their walls, congestion) will progress if all provoking factors are not excluded.
What is not allowed for varicose veins is one of the main questions that interests the patient.Failure to comply with basic restrictions may lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of treatment.
Top 10 Things Not to Do When You Have Varicose Veins
- You cannot rely on ointments and pills.There is no miracle ointment or magic pill for varicose veins.There are drugs that facilitate blood circulation, substances that strengthen the vascular wall, but these are all temporary means that can be used as an addition to the main treatment.They alleviate the condition: with the help of medications you can relieve swelling and pain, but do not normalize the condition of the veins.
- You cannot heal yourself.Varicose veins are not a condition that heals itself or goes away on its own.The problem will not be “solved,” so if you have signs of varicose veins, you should see a doctor.
- You can't heal yourself with leeches.There is a strong belief that varicose veins can be treated with leeches.We do not recommend trying this method.Consult at least one specialist, in this case a phlebologist.Yes, leeches secrete substances that reduce blood clotting.This facilitates blood circulation, but has no effect on varicose veins.Leech secretion does not strengthen the vein wall and does not lead to normalization of the condition of blood vessels.
- Compression stockings should not be worn occasionally.The main requirement for a patient suffering from varicose veins is to wear compression stockings.It helps normalize blood circulation, and if you have undergone treatment (for example, sclerotherapy), compression stockings help you recover better.You should 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 put on knitwear and in the hot season it is uncomfortable to walk in them, but all these points can be discussed with a phlebologist and the most convenient option can be found.
- If surgery is recommended for you, you should not postpone it.Doctors note that varicose veins never disappear on their own, and over time the condition of the veins only worsens.That is why, if a phlebologist recommends that you have surgery now, you should not postpone it.
- Massage of varicose veins does not improve the condition;in addition, varicose vein massage is not indicated and can have a negative effect on the legs.Especially the massage, which is done with force, rubbing, squeezing the legs.And although many patients report feeling relief after a massage, this may be because swelling goes down after the procedure.But in the longer term, massage can harm the health of the veins.Especially if it comes to specific types of massage, such as honey, cupping, vacuum, anti-cellulite.
- And going to the bathhouse is also not recommended.Yes, for varicose veins, a contrast shower is indicated - the temperature difference “trains” the vascular wall.However, the temperature contrast that usually occurs in public baths is too great and can have a detrimental effect on the veins.Therefore, if you are diagnosed with varicose veins, it is better to forget about the steam room.Or postpone it until you resolve your vein problems.A diagnosis of varicose veins does not mean the end of healthy living.It is a chronic disease, yet well studied.Serious operations to remove veins, carried out several decades ago, are a thing of the past: today, minimally invasive interventions that spare the veins occupy first place.And then follow preventive measures.
- What foods should not be eaten if you have varicose veins:
- Sweet and floury.It is not a question of completely excluding them from the diet, but of limiting their intake.Excessive consumption of sweets and baked goods can lead to obesity and therefore increase the load on the blood vessels of the legs.
- Animal fats.Consumption of butter and fried meats is limited.The cholesterol contained in these products causes undesirable changes in the vascular bed.
- Salty and spicy food.Consumption of products in 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 absolutely cannot be allowed for varicose veins of the legs.
- Alcohol.Contrary to the opinion that alcohol has beneficial effects on blood vessels, you should not drink it if you suffer from severe varicose veins.Taking a drink containing alcohol leads to short-term dilation and then long-term spasm of blood vessels.The thin walls of varicose veins may not be able to withstand such a load: the veins are damaged and begin to bleed.Additionally, alcohol consumption is not recommended due to the increased risk of blood clots.
- Coffee.The drink weakens intestinal motility and can cause constipation, which is extremely undesirable for varicose veins of the rectum (hemorrhoids).Although it is extremely difficult to give up coffee, consumption is limited to 2 cups per 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 should not drink not only coffee, but also chicory.Drinking a drink based on this plant leads to thinning of the blood, dilation of already thinned blood vessels and an increase in the permeability of the walls.This significantly increases the risk of bleeding from affected veins.For this reason, it is not recommended to drink chicory in large quantities against varicose veins.
- Celery.Despite the fact that the plant is included in the list of dietary products, its use is undesirable in case of venous pathology.The reason why you cannot eat celery for varicose veins is its effect on blood vessels, similar to that of chicory.
- Not all physical exercises are indicated in cases of venous bed injury.To understand what kind of sport is impossible and even dangerous to do with varicose veins, you need to pay attention to the presence of impact forces or loads.
Among the prohibitions:
- weightlifting;
- running - sprint, marathon;
- football, volleyball - are allowed at the initial stage, but subject to bandaging of the lower extremities.
Lifting heavy loads while standing is contraindicated not only for varicose veins of the lower extremities, but also for damage to the veins of the rectum.Strength exercises can cause hemorrhoids to prolapse and then become strangulated.In such cases, emergency surgery may be necessary.
What exercises should not be done with varicose veins of the legs:
- squat;
- jump (especially on a skipping rope);
- exercises with platform (step aerobics).
- Do not take hormonal medications without a doctor's prescription
This mainly applies to women using oral contraceptives.Some medications to prevent pregnancy are hormonal.Their use leads to thickening of the blood and therefore creates an additional risk of thrombosis.You should only take hormonal contraceptive medications after prior consultation with your doctor.