Varicose Vein

Varicose veins are a very common condition in the United States and affect approximately 15 percent of men and approximately 25 percent of women.

Varicose veins are the blue or purplish enlarged veins you typically see bulging out of one's leg. The word "varicose" is derived from the Latin root word "varix" which is translated in English as "twisted". Any vein in your body may become varicose, however, its important to note that this condition or varicose veins exists most often in the legs and feet. Varicose veins occur in the legs and lower extremities because standing and walking increases the pressure in the veins in the lower half of your body.

Is it only a cosmetic concern? For many men and women, varicose veins and spider veins (these are the smaller and more common variation of varicose veins) makes them feel less attractive. However, it's important to note that for others, varicose veins cause aching pain and discomfort. This condition may lead to serious problems if not treated. Moreover, varicose veins may also serve as an indication that the individual is at a higher risk of other disorders of the circulatory system.

As with many other health related issues, self-help measures work well for prevention; compression stockings and changing certain aspects in one's lifestyle.

Symptoms

A number of people do not experience any discomfort with varicose vein, however, certain people do. For those that do experience discomfort, below are some of the symptoms:

• Achiness or heavy feeling in one's legs; burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in the lower legs.
• Itching around one or more of your veins in the legs.
• Skin ulcers near your ankle, which represent a severe form of vascular disease and require immediate attention.

If you have varicose veins, typically prolonged sitting or standing tends to make your legs feel worse. The varicose veins are easy to spot because they are dark purple or blue in color and sometimes appear twisted and bulging. The most common spot they appear is on the inside of the leg or on the backs of calves. But don't let that fool you, they can form anywhere on your legs, from your groin to your ankle.

Risk Factors that Increase your Chances of Developing Varicose Veins

• Standing for long periods of time. Blood doesn't flow as well if you're in the same position for long periods of time because your muscles are not contracting to push the blood back to the heart.
• Obesity. Extra weight puts more pressure on your veins.
• Age. The normal processing of aging causes wear and tear on the valves in your veins which regulate blood flow. The wear and tear may causes the valves to malfunction.
• Sex. Women have a higher chance than men are to develop varicose veins and spider veins. This is attributed to hormonal changes during pregnancy, and also premenstruation or menopause may be a factor. Some researchers have found that female hormones may relax vein walls. Moreover, the use of hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills may increase the risk of varicose veins.
• Genetics. Check to see whether your family members have varicose veins, heredity plays a big role.