Health Blog

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that often pop up on people’s legs and feet.

And while many people find them unsightly, they’re not just a cosmetic issue.

“It’s a medical problem and it’s a potentially serious medical issue,” said Laurencia Villalba, head of the vascular department at Wollongong Hospital.

They can cause health problems from simple pain and swelling to, at the most extreme end of the spectrum, blood clots, bleeding and ulcers.

Let’s take a look at what causes them and how ...

Varicose veins and spider veins are swollen, twisted veins that usually appear on the legs. Women are more likely to have varicose veins and spider veins. Pregnancy, older age, and obesity can increase your risk of varicose veins and spider veins. Varicose veins and spider veins are often painless and do not usually cause health problems. If they do cause symptoms, or if you want to have them removed, talk to your doctor or nurse about treatment options.

What are spider ...

Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins. Varicose veins can happen anywhere in the body, but are more common in the legs.

Varicose veins are not considered a serious medical condition. But, they can be uncomfortable and can lead to more serious problems. And, because they may be very noticeable, they may cause people to feel uncomfortable or embarrassed.

What are spider veins?

Spider veins, a milder type of varicose veins, are smaller than varicose veins and often look like a sunburst or “spider ...

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that you can see just under the skin. They usually occur in the legs, but also can form in other parts of the body. Hemorrhoids are a type of varicose vein.

Your veins have one-way valves that help keep blood flowing toward your heart. If the valves are weak or damaged, blood can back up and pool in your veins. This causes the veins to swell, which can lead to varicose veins.

Varicose veins are very ...

Varicose veins are large, swollen veins that often appear on the legs and feet. They happen when the valves in the veins do not work properly, so the blood does not flow effectively.

The veins rarely need treatment for health reasons, but if swelling, aching, and painful legs result, and if there is considerable discomfort, treatment is available.

There are various options, including some home remedies.

In severe cases, a varicose vein may rupture, or develop into varicose ulcers on the skin. These ...

The first day of fall has arrived and so has cooler weather. Now is a perfect time to seek treatment for varicose veins.

Beginning treatment in the fall or winter months prepares your legs for summer when you want to wear shorts again, spend time at the beach and feel confident about how your legs look.

Below are five reasons to seek varicose vein treatment in the fall.

1. Life slows down

Generally, for the first couple of weeks after varicose vein treatment, there ...

If you’ve been plagued with dark circles and have no idea what causes them, you’re not alone.

“There are many things that can cause dark eye circles, and top of the list are lack of sleep, dehydration and genetics,” says Shea Amiruddin, director of skincare education at national skincare studio Heyday. “Iron deficiencies can weaken blood vessels and lead to pooling of blood in certain areas. In addition, your body repairs itself during deep sleep, so lack of sleep can inhibit ...

If you’ve been plagued with dark circles and have no idea what causes them, you’re not alone.

“There are many things that can cause dark eye circles, and top of the list are lack of sleep, dehydration and genetics,” says Shea Amiruddin, director of skincare education at national skincare studio Heyday. “Iron deficiencies can weaken blood vessels and lead to pooling of blood in certain areas. In addition, your body repairs itself during deep sleep, so lack of sleep can inhibit ...

(CNN) In what researchers are calling “the largest genetic study ever performed” on varicose vein disease, a Stanford University School of Medicine study found a person’s height to be a significant risk factor for developing varicose veins.

“We not only found an association between height and varicose veins, but the genetic studies we did showed a causal link,” said cardiologist and study author Dr. Nicholas Leeper, an associate professor of surgery and cardiovascular medicine at Stanford. “That suggests that the genes ...

Varicose veins may be an early warning sign of potentially deadly blood clots, suggests a study published Tuesday in the journal JAMA.

Enlarged and gnarled varicose veins and deep venous thrombosis, a clot that forms in the deep veins of the body, are strongly associated, the Taiwanese researchers found.

Though they looked at the health records of more than 425,000 adults, the researchers say that even more work is needed to understand whether this relationship is one in which varicose veins directly ...