A leg full of varicose veins is not only aesthetically disturbing, but can also cause serious pain and complications. Regular exercise is essential to prevent the condition from deteriorating faster, but it can also be used as a preventive method. Dr. You can find out from György Sepa, the chief vascular surgeon at the Thrombosis Center, what types of exercise should be done with varicose veins.
That’s why movement is important for varicose veins
The characteristic of varicose veins is that the functioning of the venous valves is impaired, the blood vessels lose their elasticity, and the muscle pump does not work properly. As a result of these, the blood begins to stagnate, so the blood vessels expand. Although the condition can often be traced back to genetic causes, the complaints are often caused by overweight and a sedentary lifestyle, which are only worsened by sitting and standing work.
Strengthening the vessel wall and improving circulation are therefore of particular importance in the field of varicose vein treatment – in this way, the appearance of bulging, tortuous vessels and the rapid deterioration of the condition can be prevented.
It doesn’t matter what kind of exercise you do
Since varicose veins are characterized by increased venous pressure, sports that involve significant physical exertion should be avoided. That is why you should refrain from weight training and muscle-building exercises, or do the training in compression stockings. According to research, swimming, walking on flat terrain/lighter jogging and cycling are the most beneficial, as all three help to eliminate venous stasis and increase muscle pump. The latter is mainly the advantage of swimming, in addition, the cold water also narrows the otherwise dilated blood vessels, and swimming on water eliminates the harmful effect caused by gravity, thus contributing to venous return, says Dr. György Sepa, chief vascular surgeon at the Thrombosis Center.
Tipp: get used to exercise gradually, and don’t miss the warm-up and stretching! In addition, you should regularly perform vein exercises to avoid blood stagnation!
If movement doesn’t help
Although regular exercise can help a lot with varicose veins, more serious intervention is necessary in advanced cases. In the case of the formation of capillaries, sclerotherapy can be a quick help, during which a special solution is injected into the vein with the help of a thin needle, so that the blood in it coagulates, and then the walls of the veins stick together and are then absorbed as a result of compression treatment.
Sclerotherapy is effective in these cases
- So-called broom veins with a diameter of 1-2 mm, from dark red to blue in color, which do not completely fade under pressure
- 2-4 mm diameter, bluish, dark purple blood vessel dilatation, which may even bulge forward.
Radiofrequency treatment can provide a solution for smaller varicose veins. During therapy based on the principle of thermocoagulation, the heat effect caused by high-frequency vibration (4 MHz) applied through a thin needle destroys the walls of the blood vessels, so they close, and the blood in them suddenly coagulates and its cells disintegrate. The method causes only minimal pain, and there is no need to wear compression stockings after the treatment, so it can be performed even in the heat of summer.
In advanced cases, radiofrequency surgery is required, which is performed without anesthesia and incisions, under local anesthesia. This is much gentler than traditional varicose vein surgery and the patient can go to work on the 3rd day after the operation.
Source: Thrombosis Center
Source: www.patikamagazin.hu
