What Are Varicose Veins And What Causes Them?
First off, varicose veins should not be confused with spider veins which are usually smaller than varicose veins and are blue or red colored. Spider veins resemble little spider webs, hence the name, and are also more likely to develop on your face or hands and reside closer to the skin.
Varicose veins are those unattractive, distended, bulging blue veins that can be very painful that are typically found in a person's legs.
Symptoms of varicose veins include:
Leg pain
Legs feeling heavy
Grossly enlarged veins
Skin ulcers around the ankles
Discoloration or swelling of the ankles
Constant fatigue and low energy levels
Standing for long periods of time, exercise and even hot weather can make varicose vein symptoms worse and can lead to itching, swelling, aching and cramping. In severe cases blood can leak into the surrounding tissue and cause skin discoloration or leg ulcers requiring immediate medical attention.
There are many causes of varicose veins and it can be hard to pinpoint the exact reason a person has them. Obesity is one of the leading causes because of the additional weight stress that is constantly being put on the legs.
Water retention caused by using too much salt in your diet can add weight to your body and thus put more pressure on your legs resulting in varicose veins developing.
If you sit or stand for extended periods of time varicose veins can form and pregnancy can also cause varicose veins to temporarily develop.
Varicose veins are hereditary so if someone in your family has them you stand a better chance of getting them yourself and even overexposure to the sun can cause varicose veins to form particularly in the facial area.
medical conditions like deep vein thrombosis, or blood clotting, or a valve malfunction in a vein can also cause varicose veins and these conditions need to be promptly treated to prevent more serious problems from developing.
While varicose veins can be extremely unsightly they usually are easily treated by your doctor using topical skin creams and special compression stockings. Good eating habits and an exercise plan can also help to reduce the symptoms and you and your doctor should be able to put together a treatment plan that will either eliminate your varicose veins or alleviate the symptoms.
For more information about varicose veins please visit Treating Varicose Veins