Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that lie just under the skin and usually occur in the legs.

This health topic focuses on varicose veins in the legs, but sometimes varicose veins form in other parts of the body. Hemorrhoids, for example, are a type of varicose vein that develops in the rectum. Telangiectasia, often called spider veins, is another type of vein problem that affects smaller blood vessels.

What are the symptoms?
A posterior view of the external female lower legs. Easily ...

Recommendations for the relief of varicose vein symptoms include wearing support socks or stockings and moving or elevating your legs. If that doesn’t help enough, a surgical procedure can be done to seal off or remove the varicose veins.

Most varicose veins don’t cause any symptoms. But they sometimes cause itching or painful, tired or swollen legs. To reduce the symptoms, it’s a good idea to

• avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time,
• move around as much as possible in ...

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor’s recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Your options

-Have surgery or a procedure to close or remove your varicose veins.
-Try home care to improve your symptoms. You can exercise, prop up your legs when resting, wear support or compression stockings, and lose weight if needed.

Key points ...

Treating enlarged leg veins can improve their appearance and reduce the risk of swelling, aching, and other problems.

If you have varicose veins — those dark blue or purple leg veins that bulge above the skin’s surface — you may dread wearing beachwear and other clothes that expose your legs. With summer just a few months away, this may be a good time to do something about that. But it’s not just a cosmetic consideration. Varicose veins can cause pain and ...

Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged, and painful veins that fill with blood. They usually develop in the legs and are raised above the surface of the skin. They aren’t life-threatening but can cause discomfort.

Traditionally, a surgery known as “vein stripping” was performed to remove varicose veins. This procedure involves making small incisions and physically pulling the veins out of the body.

However, more recent technologies remove varicose veins using minimal or noninvasive procedures. A noninvasive procedure is nonsurgical and doesn’t involve ...

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted, painful veins that have filled with blood.
Description

Varicose veins most often develop in the legs. They often stick out and are blue in color.

• Normally, valves in your veins keep your blood flowing up toward the heart, so the blood does not collect in one place.
• The valves in varicose veins are either damaged or missing. This causes the veins to become filled with blood, especially when you are standing.

The following treatments for varicose veins can ...

Varicose (VAR-i-kos) veins are swollen, twisted veins that you can see just under the surface of the skin. These veins usually occur in the legs; however, they can also form in other parts of your body. Varicose veins are a common condition, and usually cause few signs or symptoms. In some cases, varicose veins may cause complications, such as mild to moderate pain, blood clots, or skin ulcers.

A number of vein problems are related to varicose veins, such as telangiectasias ...

How are varicose veins treated?

The goals of varicose vein treatment are to reduce symptoms and prevent complications. For some, the goal may be improved appearance. Home treatment is typically the first approach.
Home treatment

Home treatment may be all you need to ease your symptoms and keep the varicose veins from getting worse. You can:

• Wear compression stockings.
• Prop up (elevate) your legs.
• Avoid long periods of sitting or standing.
• Get plenty of exercise.

Procedures

If home treatment doesn’t help, there are procedures that can treat varicose ...

Varicose veins are common and usually nothing to worry about. For many people, the twisted and enlarged bluish or purplish veins visible near the surface of the skin are simply a cosmetic concern.

But if you are experiencing pain or discomfort, this could be a sign of a more serious problem.

Varicose veins usually occur in the legs, specifically on the inner thighs or the bottom of your calves. They are caused by increased blood pressure in the veins for a prolonged ...

What is endovenous laser varicose vein surgery?

Endovenous laser varicose vein surgery is a procedure that uses heat from a laser to reduce varicose veins. Varicose veins are swollen, bulging veins that often happen on the thighs or calves. A laser is a device that sends a thin beam of radiation in the form of light.

Laser surgery closes and shrinks the varicose vein and causes scar tissue within the vessel. This seals off the vein. Blood then flows through other nearby ...