Varicose Veins
Veins are thin-walled vessels through which the
impure blood is carried back to the heart. They usually have valves which
regular the flow of blood towards the heart. Varicose veins are a condition in
which veins become enlarged, dilated or thickened. Varicose veins can occur in
any part of the body but generally appear on the legs. The veins of the legs
are the largest in the body and they carry the blood from the lower extremities
upwards towards the heart. The direction of circulation in these vessels is
largely determined by gravity. Though there are no mechanical obstacles to
blood-flow, it is usually the incompetence of the valve which leads to an
increase in intravenous pressure.
Varicose veins have an unsightly appearance and can
be dangerous. A blood clot within a large, greatly dilated vein may breakaway
and move toward the heart and lungs, causing serious complications. Varicose
veins are about thrice as common as occurrence in women as in men. This disease
is rare in rural undeveloped societies.
Symptoms
The first sign of varicose veins is a swelling along
the course of the veins. This may be followed by muscular cramps and a feeling
of tiredness in the legs behind he knees. In some cases, the normal flow of
blood towards the heart may be reversed when the patient is in an upright position.
This results in venous blood collecting in the lower part of the legs and the
skin becomes purplish and pigmented, leading to what is known as varicose
eczema or varicose ulcers. Both conditions cause severe pain.
Causes
A varicose condition of the veins results from
sluggish circulation due to various factors such as constipation, dietetic
errors, lack of exercise and smoking. Standing for long periods and wearing tight
clothing can also lead to sluggish circulation. Pregnancy may cause varicose
veins due to increased pressure in the pelvis and abdomen, which slows down the
flow of blood from the lower extremities to the heart. Women usually suffer
from this condition in the early years of child-bearing. Obesity can also cause
varicose veins.
Treatment
For a proper treatment of varicose veins, the
patients should, in the beginning, be put on a juice fast for four or five days
or on all-fruit diet for 7 to 10 days. A warm water enema should be administered
daily during this period to cleanse the bowels and measures should be taken to avoid
constipation.
After the juice fast or all the fruits-diet, the
patient should adopt restricted diet plan. In this regimen, oranges or orange
and lemon juice may be taken for breakfast. The midday meal may consist of a
raw salad or any of the vegetables in the season with olive oil and lemon juice
dressing. Steamed vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, carrots, turnips,
cauliflower and raisins, figs or dates may be taken in the evening. No bread or
potatoes or other starchy food should be included in this diet, or otherwise
the whole effect of the diet will be lost.
After the restricted diet, the patient may gradually
embark upon a well-balanced diet with emphasis on grains, seeds, nuts,
vegetables and fruits. About 75 per cent of the diet should consist of raw
vegetables and fruits. All condiments, alcoholic drinks, coffee, strong tea,
white flour products, white sugar, and white sugar products should be strictly
avoided. A short fast or the all-fruit diet for two or three days may be
undertaken every month, depending on the progress. Raw vegetables juices,
especially carrot juice in combination with spinach juice, have proved highly
beneficial in the treatment of varicose veins. The formula proportion
considered helpful in this combination is: carrot 300 ml. and spinach 200 ml to
prepare 500 ml of juice. Certain nutrients, especially vitamin E and C have
also been found effective in the treatment of this disease. The patient should
take vitamin C in a therapeutic dose up to 3,000 mg. and Vitamin E in
therapeutic doses from 600 to 1200 I.U. daily. This will relieve him of pain
and leg cramps associated with varicose veins.
The alternate hot and cold hip bath is very valuable
and should be taken daily. The affected parts should be sprayed with cold water
or cold packs should be applied to them. A mud pack may be applied at night and
allowed to remain until morning. A hot Epsom-salt bath is also very valuable
and should be taken twice a week.
Precautionary Measures:
The following precautionary measures will help
prevent varicose veins and ease symptoms if the disease has already developed:
- When on a long plane or train trip get up and walk around every
half an hour. If on a long trip by car, stop once in a while and get out
to stretch your legs.
- When you are reading or watching television, elevate your feet and
rest your legs on a chair or stool.
- Mobility helps general circulation. Walking is beneficial as the
movements of leg muscles help push the blood upwards. Swimming or walking
in deep water does much the same thing. The great pressure of the water
against legs helps move the blood up the veins and protects against
stagnation.
- Sleeping with feet raised slightly above the level of the heart
helps the blood flow away from ankles. In case of serious troubles with
varicose veins, the bed should be raised by placing blocks of six inches
height under the posts at the foot. This is, however, not advisable for
person with heart trouble.
- If confined to bed, movement of feet and legs should be encouraged
to help keep circulation moving youthfully.
- Round garters should never be worn. They cut off the venous
circulation, thus raising pressure in the veins and increasing the risk of
varicositis.
- Elastic girdles should not be worn continuously, especially when
seated for a long time, such as at a desk, or during a plane, train or
auto trip. The girdles bunch up and hamper the return flow of blood.
- Pregnant women should wear elastic stockings and lie down
occasionally during the day. Getting up soon after delivery is also
helpful in blood circulation.
These easy-to-follow flex-exercises are beneficial as
they ease the cause of varicose veins and thereby relieve the resultant
symptoms. Sun bathing and deep breathing exercises are also helpful.
Certain inverted yoga postures such as viparitakarni,
sarvagasana, and shirshashana are beneficial in the treatment of varicose veins
as they drain the blood from the legs and reduce pressure on the veins. They
help to relax the muscles and allow the blood freely in and out of the lower
extremities. Padmasana, gomukhasana, vajrasana and shalabhasana are also
beneficial.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
Varicose veins are about three times more common than the appearance in women than in men. This disease is rare in rural undeveloped societies.
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