Varicose Veins- the Result of Failed Valves!

Varicose veins are contorted, enlarged veins, usually located in the legs and feet. Varicose comes from the Latin word meaning "twisted"; varicose veins, although not pleasing aesthetically, usually are not a serious condition. However, varicose veins can be a symptom of a much more serious circulatory disorder, and they tend to affect women more than men, especially older females.

The arteries have the task of carrying your blood from your heart to the rest of your body, while veins return the blood to the heart so it can then be recirculated. In order for the veins in your legs to accomplish their job, against the pull of gravity, they depend on their elasticity. The muscle contractions in your lower legs act just like a pump, sending the blood up through the veins, as their elasticity aids the whole process. The veins are equipped with minute one-way valves that open as the blood makes it way to the heart, and close to prevent a back-flow of blood. When these valves fail to work, due to the fact that as you get older your veins lose elasticity, the blood flows backwards, pooling in the veins. This is how varicose veins develop as the veins become enlarged. They appear blue, because they are full of deoxygenated blood that is waiting to be recirculated into the heart.

Pregnancy has the effect of increasing the volume of blood in a woman's body, but lessening the flow of blood from the legs to the pelvis. This is so the fetus has a chance to grow, but the side effect is enlarged veins in the woman's legs. This is often a woman's first encounter with varicose veins, as the uterus causes an increase in pressure on the leg veins. Varicose veins are found in both men and women, as sixty percent of Americans will have them at some point in their lives. Aging causes the valves in the veins to wear down over time, with women, who have hormones that have the effect of relaxing the walls of these veins, running a greater risk of developing varicose veins. Additionally, birth control pills and other hormonal supplements can increase the likelihood of having varicose veins. There is evidence to suggest that heredity plays a factor in who will have varicose veins, and being obese puts that much more pressure on the veins, meaning they are more prone to losing their elasticity. When you stand or sit for long stretches of time, the blood in your legs will have that much harder a time making it to its destination, and varicose veins could be a consequence.

Some of the signs of varicose veins are an aching or heavy sensation in the legs, with the lower legs feeling like they are burning. There can be swelling in the lower legs as well as muscle cramps, and sitting or standing for too long can make things worse. Itching around your veins is another symptom of varicose veins, and if you develop skin ulcers in the area of your ankles, seek immediate medical attention, as this is a sign of extreme vascular disease associated with varicose veins caused by the increased pressure of the blood in the veins. The varicose veins will be a deep purple or blue color and they will look like they are twisted and lumpy in spots. Most often, varicose veins will show up on the backs of your calves or on the inside part of your legs, but they are capable of forming anywhere on the legs from the ankle to the groin. Spider veins are veins that are smaller and closer to the surface of the skin than varicose veins, and they are reddish or blue. They resemble a spider's web and are caused in the same manner as varicose veins. Some of the other kinds of varicose veins include reticular veins, which are a flat, blue vein that materialize behind the knee, venous lakes, pools of blood in veins usually found in the area of the neck or the face, and fine clusters of blood vessels that are much like spider veins called telangiectases. At times, a vein or veins deeper in the leg can become enlarged, and lead to a dangerous condition involving blood clots known as thrombophlebitis.

Varicose veins are dealt with in minor cases of the condition by losing weight, exercising properly, wearing loose fitting clothing, keeping the legs elevated to help blood flow, and the avoidance of sitting or standing for long periods of time. The varicose veins associated with pregnancy usually are gone within three or four months after the baby is born. If these measures fail, your doctor may perform a procedure called sclerotherapy, in which a solution is injected into small and mid-sized varicose veins to create a scarring effect that closes the veins. The blood will find its way into healthier veins and the varicose veins will be history in a few weeks after this outpatient procedure. Laser surgery is another option to close off the smaller varicose veins, especially the ones that show up in the upper body. Sometimes the larger varicose veins can be removed by a process known as vein stripping, and there are other ways to rid yourself of unsightly varicose veins, such as making them collapse and shut down with a heated catheter. Although there is no surefire method to prevent varicose veins, you can try by staying in shape through exercise and improving your circulation by making sure you don't stand or sit too long, not sitting with your legs crossed, and keeping your legs elevated. If you do develop varicose veins, a pair of compression stockings will help aid the flow of blood back to the heart. They can be purchased at almost all pharmacies. Physicians do not put much stock in claims that herbal supplements, which come with claims of helping eradicate varicose veins, do much towards that end, and they should be avoided.