Varicose Veins - Symptoms - Better Medicine

What are the symptoms of varicose veins?

Symptoms of varicose veins include tangled, painful, or raised veins in the legs, buttocks, or other regions of the body. In mild cases, varicose veins can be treated at home. In more severe cases, swelling of the legs, excessive pain, or ulcers of the legs or ankles may occur, and you should obtain prompt medical treatment.

Common symptoms of varicose veins

You may experience varicose vein symptoms daily or just once in a while. At times any of these symptoms can be severe:

Enlarged veins
Feeling of heaviness
Hardened tissue under the skin
Leg pain and swelling
Rash
Skin discoloration such as bruising
Throbbing or cramping in the legs
Visible veins

Symptoms that might indicate a serious condition

In some cases, varicose veins can be a serious condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care if you, or someone you are with, have any of these serious symptoms including:

Bleeding
Excessive leg pain
Skin ulceration at the ankles
Visible blood clot

INTRODUCTION

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are veins that have become swollen with blood, leading to a tangled appearance and pain. The swelling in varicose veins arises from improper venous function, leading to inappropriate blood collection. Generally, varicose veins occur in the legs, but they can occur in other regions of the body as well.... Read more about varicose veins introduction

CAUSES

What causes varicose veins?

Varicose veins result from improper venous function, leading to blood pooling in the veins. In general, varicose veins can be caused by valve malformations, pregnancy, and thrombophlebitis, which is vein swelling due to a blood clot. Extended periods of time standing on your feet without motion can also lead to varicose veins. Varicose veins that are due to valve defects which are present from birth or have no known cause are called primary varicose veins, while those that develop because of another condition are considered secondary varicose veins.... Read more about varicose veins causes

TREATMENTS

How are varicose veins treated?

For most cases of varicose veins, noninvasive treatment can be performed to improve the appearance and feeling of the legs. Typical treatments include keeping your legs elevated when sleeping and wearing support hose. If you are experiencing serious leg discomfort from varicose veins, nonsurgical procedures such as scleropathy, radiofrequency treatment, and laser treatment can be performed. For severe cases, vein-stripping surgery may be used to entirely remove varicose veins. In most cases, varicose veins worsen over time unless you obtain medical care or perform self-treatment.... Read more about varicose veins treatments