Varicose Veins
GENERAL INFORMATION:
What are varicose veins? Varicose (VAR-i-kos) veins are veins that are enlarged, twisted, and swollen. Veins are blood vessels that bring blood from your body back to your heart. Veins have valves (stoppers) that open and close to keep the blood flowing in one direction. Varicose veins are often seen in the legs, but may occur in other parts of the body. They affect mostly women and are common on the back of the calves, knees, and thighs.
What causes varicose veins? If the valves in the veins do not work properly, blood may not flow toward the heart. The blood leaks back, pools (collects), and increases pressure in the veins. This increased pressure causes the vein to stretch, enlarge, swell, and twist.
What increases my risk of having varicose veins? The following factors may put you at a higher risk of having varicose veins:
- Pregnancy. Having two or more pregnancies may put you at an even higher risk.
- Having family members with varicose veins
- Weighing more than what your caregiver recommends.
- Increasing age, especially 50 years or older. As you get older, your blood vessels become less flexible.
- Long periods without activity, such as sitting or standing for several hours without moving around.
- Smoking.
- Wearing tight underwear.
What are the signs and symptoms of varicose veins? You may see bluish or purplish, snake-like veins under the skin, which may also bulge. You may have pain, swelling, or have muscle cramps in your legs and your legs may feel heavy. Symptoms may be worse after standing or sitting for long periods of time.
How are varicose veins diagnosed? Your caregiver may check your legs, while you are standing, to better see the varicose veins. You may also need to have a test called a doppler ultrasound or duplex scan. This test uses sound waves to see how blood flows through your veins on a TV-like screen. Your caregiver may also look for clots in the veins near a painful or reddened area.
How are varicose veins treated? Treatment of varicose veins aims to decrease symptoms, improve appearance, and prevent further problems. It will depend on which veins are varicosed and how severe your condition is. You may have any of the following:
- Changes in lifestyle: Some changes in your lifestyle may help control varicose veins from getting worse. These may include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, wearing low-heeled shoes, and putting your legs up when resting. Doing these things may also help ease pain and swelling. It is important to understand that changes in lifestyle will not cure varicose veins.
- Compression stockings: These are tight elastic stockings that put pressure on your legs. The pressure is highest in the toe and decreases as it goes up towards the thighs. Wearing pressure stockings helps push blood back up to the heart and keeps clots from forming. It does not cure varicose veins.
- Procedures: You may need certain procedures if your varicose veins are very bad. Varicose veins may cause an unsightly appearance or severe leg pains. Your caregiver may inject a solution or use a laser to close the varicose veins. Surgery to remove long veins may also be done. Ask your caregiver for information about the procedures used in treating varicose veins.
Where can I find more information? Having varicose veins may be hard for you. Contact the following for more information:
- American Academy of Family Physicians
PO Box 11210
Shawnee Mission, KS 66207-1210
Phone: 1-913-906-6000
Web Address: http://www.aafp.org
- LEGS FOR LIFE®
Web Address: www.legsforlife.org
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
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