Definition and Overview
You may not have heard this term before, but this condition is quite common. The term varicose veins, is used to refer to a medical condition where your veins become dilated, enlarged or overfilled with blood. Although any vein in your body can become varicose, the veins in your feet and legs are most prone to this condition. That is due to walking and standing upright, which increases the amount of pressure in the veins that are located in the lower parts of the body.
Varicose veins are a quite common condition that affects women more than men. About a quarter of all adults suffer from this condition.
For a lot of individuals, varicose veins are only a cosmetic concern. However, others are not so lucky and for them this condition can lead to severe discomfort and pain. In some situations varicose veins can have more grave implications. They are also indicative of a greater risk of circulatory issues. Treating varicose veins may entail self-care measures or specific procedures that your physician can use to remove or close the veins.
Most Common Symptoms
There are a significant number of people who exhibit no symptoms due to their varicose veins, other than the noticeable appearance, which could be embarrassing. Apart from cosmetic embarrassment, the most common and frequent symptoms of this condition are aching legs, heaviness and discomfort in legs, which worsen as the day progresses. At times your ankles may swell as well. These symptoms don’t tend to be medically serious; in case they become substantially problematic treatment options are available.
Although varicose veins have the tendency of getting worse as the years progress, this is a very slow and gradual process. If you are one of those unfortunate people who have high pressure in their veins, it may end up damaging the skin located near the ankle; the skin in the area will turn brown in color, and in some situations will get scarred with white areas. At times a red rash can appear which is called Eczema.
If for some reason you allow these skin changes to progress, or your skin gets injured, there is a likelihood that an ulcer may build up. Changes to your skin condition are a good reason for you to see a doctor so that he may refer you to a skin specialist.
Below is a list of symptoms for easy reference.
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- Veins that have a blue or dark purple color
- Veins that seem bulging or twisted; giving the impression that a cord is sticking to your leg
- Painful varicose veins have the following symptoms:
- A feeling of aching or heaviness in your legs
- Swelling, burning sensation, muscle cramping and throbbing in your legs
- Worsening of pain following standing or sitting for long periods
- Itching in your veins
- Bleeding varicose veins
- Hardening of your veins, color changes, skin inflammation or ulcers near the ankles
In case you or your loved ones are suffering from varicose veins, don’t worry as we have got you covered. Just call us right away to schedule an appointment with our team of experienced and qualified physicians in New York City and get instant relief.