Noticed an increase in unsightly visible veins on your legs? A lot of people do. Varicose veins are more than an eyesore. They can have serious health concerns and side effects and should be treated as such.
Before we jump to conclusions, let’s take a minute to understand what exactly causes varicose veins.
A vein’s primary function is to return blood to your heart. There are valves in our veins that keep the blood flowing in only one direction towards our heart. The veins are squeezed by our surrounding muscle pushing the blood towards the heart. Unfortunately, the blood in our legs has the added force of gravity pulling the blood towards the ground. This is where healthy valves come into play, helping to keep the blood flowing towards the heart. These valves can become damaged over time resulting in “reflux,” the pooling of blood in the bulging veins you see along your legs.
These veins are called varicose veins and can cause pain, aching, itching, burning, cramping, throbbing, restlessness and swelling. Varicose veins can not only lead to symptoms but also changes that may lead to discoloration of the skin, scarring and fibrosis. They can also lead to more serious health issues such as blood clots and leg ulcers. On rare occasions, bleeding and hemorrhaging can occur.
While the varicose veins themselves are quite unsightly, there are more side effects than just the unattractiveness of your legs. It is important to take varicose veins seriously and always consult your physician when you notice anything unusual.
If you notice that you may have varicose veins and want to further examine them, please contact us at the Center for Varicose Veins for more information and schedule your appointment with a vein expert, Dr. Vinay Madan, today!
