Varicose Veins

Nature Of Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are enlarged and twisted veins. Discoloration and swollen nature of varicose veins makes them different. They are typically in a size of 3 millimeters or more in a diameter. They are generally found on thighs or on the backs of calves. These veins have valves to prevent blood from the flowing retrograde. Leaflets of the valve do not meet properly when veins became enlarged and hence the valves stops working. The situation gets worse with the collection of blood in the veins and they ultimately gets enlarge.

Varicose veins and superficial veins are common in the legs, which are generally subject to high pressure when standing. Varicose veins are often itchy and painful. Sometimes open sores appear while scratching the skin and may leads to ulcer. Serious complications occur rarely. Women do have varicose veins more frequently than men. According to a research in the U.S., almost 50% of women face the problem of varicose veins. For men, the percentage goes down to 45%.

Some other symptoms of varicose veins include: heaviness in legs, legs that tire easily, skin darkening, numbness in legs, leg swelling, irritated, itchy legs etc. The reason which causes varicose veins is still a mystery but there are some theories given by researchers. An additional weight passed in the abdominal muscle to the leg veins due to over weight of a person causes the veins to get enlarged. Standing for long period of time may also cause varicose veins in the legs.

Valves present in the body prevent the blood to flow backwards as it moves up the legs. However, valves in varicose veins sometimes fail or become weak and ultimately results in blood getting away from the heart along with leaking back into the vein and collect at the same place. This pooled blood gets enlarged and stretches the vein which further becomes varicose.

Stretched veins can cause malfunctioning which tends to occur with women who are pregnant, or on their period, because women produces hormones that could weaken the walls of veins.

The treatments for the varicose veins have not been actually found but the researchers advised some cures that can alleviate some of the problems of varicose veins.

Surgery is one of the options to treat severe varicose veins. This is also known as vein stripping. It is usually done under local anesthesia.

Such veins can return even after treatment, but the therapies present in medicine have a high success rate. The treatment of varicose veins is very important at initial stages as it could lead to various other problems.