varicose veins symptoms

varicose veins symptoms


 Varicose veins
Symptoms and causes
Diagnosis and treatment
Doctors and departments
Attention at Mayo Clinic
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General description

Illustration of varicose veins
Varicose veins
Image of spider veins
Vascular spiders
Varicose veins are twisted and dilated veins. Any vein can become varicose; however, the most affected veins are those of the legs and the feet. This is because standing and walking with an upright posture increases the pressure in the veins of the lower part of the body.

For many people, varicose veins and spider veins, a frequent mild variation of varicose veins, are simply an aesthetic problem. For other people, varicose veins can cause pain and discomfort. Sometimes, varicose veins cause more serious problems.

Varicose veins can also be a sign of an increased risk of other circulatory problems. Treatment may involve personal care measures or medical procedures to close or remove the veins.

Varicose vein care at Mayo Clinic

symptom

Varicose veins may not cause any pain. The signs that you can have for varicose veins are the following:

Veins that are purple or dark blue
Veins that appear twisted and protrude, often, like laces on the legs
When painful signs and symptoms are manifested, they may include the following:

A feeling of pain or heaviness in the legs
Burning, pulsation, muscle cramps and swelling in the lower extremities
Worsening pain after sitting or standing for a long time
Itching around one or more veins
Bleeding from varicose veins
A painful cord in the vein with changes in color to red skin
Changes in the skin, hardening of the vein, inflammation of the skin or ulcers in the skin near the ankle, which means that you have a severe form of vascular disease that requires medical attention
Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, but they are smaller. Spider mites are closer to the surface of the skin and are often red or blue.

They occur on the legs, but they can also be found on the face. The size of the spiderlings varies and, often, they look like a spider's web.

When to see the doctor

Self-care - such as exercising, raising the legs, or wearing compression stockings - can help relieve the pain of varicose veins and can prevent them from getting worse. However, if you are concerned about the appearance and sensation of the veins, but self-care measures did not prevent the disease from getting worse, consult your doctor.Request a Consultation at Mayo Clinic
Causes

The arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the tissues. The veins return the blood from the rest of the body to the heart so that the blood can circulate again. To return blood to the heart, the veins of the legs must work against gravity.

The muscular contractions in the lower legs act like pumps, and the elastic walls of the veins help the blood to return to the heart. The small valves of the veins open as blood flows to the heart and then close to prevent blood from flowing backward.

The causes of varicose veins include:

Age. As you get older, the veins may lose elasticity and stretch. Vein valves can weaken and allow blood moving to the heart to flow backward.

Blood accumulates in the veins, enlarges and becomes varicose. The veins turn blue because they contain deoxygenated blood, which is in the process of recirculating through the lungs.
Pregnancy. Some pregnant women have varicose veins. Pregnancy increases the volume of blood in the body, but decreases blood flow from the legs to the pelvis. This circulatory change is designed to support the growing fetus, but it can produce an unfortunate side effect: enlarged veins in the legs.

Varicose veins may appear for the first time or may worsen during the end of pregnancy, when the uterus puts more pressure on the veins of the legs. Hormonal changes during pregnancy may also contribute. In general, varicose veins that appear during pregnancy improve without medical treatment 3 to 12 months after delivery.

Risk factor's

These factors increase the risk of varicose veins:

Age. The risk of varicose veins increases with age. Aging causes wear of the valves in the veins that help regulate blood flow. Finally, that attrition causes the valves to allow blood to flow back into the veins, where it meets instead of flowing to the heart.
Sex. Women are more likely to suffer from the disease. Hormonal changes during pregnancy, premenstruation or menopause can be a factor, because female hormones tend to relax the walls of the veins. Taking a hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills can increase the risk of varicose veins.
Family background. If other relatives had varicose veins, there is a greater chance that you will also have them.
Obesity. Being overweight puts extra pressure on the veins.
Standing or sitting for prolonged periods. Blood does not flow as well if you are in the same position for prolonged periods.
Complications

The complications of varicose veins, although rare, include:

Ulcers. Extremely painful ulcers can form on the skin near the varicose veins, especially near the ankles. Ulcers are caused by the accumulation of long-term fluid in these tissues, which is caused by the increase in blood pressure in the affected veins.

Usually, a discolored spot is seen on the skin before an ulcer forms. Check with your doctor immediately if you suspect you have an ulcer.

Blood clots On some occasions, the deep veins of the legs dilate. In such cases, the affected leg can swell considerably. Any sudden swelling of the leg justifies urgent medical attention, as it may indicate a blood clot, a condition known medically as thrombophlebitis.
Bleeding Occasionally, veins that are too close to the skin may explode. Usually, this only causes slight bleeding. However, any bleeding justifies medical attention, since there is a high risk of it happening again.
Prevention