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 they can be treated.
What causes varicose veins?
A vein’s job is to carry blood from around your body back to your heart. It ushers the blood along its length using valves — little flaps that can open and close.
But if these valves become weak and can’t close properly for some reason, blood can pool in the vein and distend it.
Read more at Australian Broadcasting Corporation…
ShareMAR
2020