Varicose Veins

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are enlarged and twisted veins. Any superficial vein can become varicosed. However, the veins located in the legs are the most affected, mainly because the lower body is usually subjected to significant pressure due to walking and standing

Symptoms

Several signs indicate a person has varicose veins, including:

Purple or blue veins

Bulging and twisted veins

When painful signs occur, a person may experience the following:

A heavy or achy feeling in the legs

Throbbing, burning, swelling, and muscle cramping in one’s lower legs

Heightened pain after standing or sitting for a long time

Veins itching

Skin discoloration around the affected veins

Causes

Damaged or weak valves would cause varicose veins. The valves open and close as blood flows through the veins. They prevent blood from flowing backward (“Varicose Veins,” 2019). Therefore, if they are damaged, blood would flow back and cause the veins to twist and bulge.

Risk factors

Age – older people are at a greater chance of struggling with varicose veins compared to younger individuals. Aging causes the valves to wear and tear, which facilitates the backflow of blood.

Sex – women stand a higher chance of suffering from varicose veins than men. Hormonal fluctuations during premenstruation, menopause, or pregnancy play a central role since female hormones do relax vein walls (“Varicose Veins,” 2019).

Pregnancy – blood volume increases in the body during pregnancy to support the growing fetus. However, the changes can also cause the veins to enlarge in the legs.

Obesity – added weight causes pressure to increase in the lower body; thus, increasing chances of varicose vein.

Complications

Varicose veins can lead to different complications, including ulcers, blood clots, and bleeding.

Prevention

People cannot entirely prevent varicose veins. However, by enhancing the muscle tone and blood circulation, they can significantly reduce the chances of suffering from the condition. A person can also engage in exercising, eating low-salt diets, elevating one’s legs, and changing the standing and sitting positions regularly (“Varicose Veins,” 2019).