Varicose veins in the legs are swollen veins that appear lumpy and blue through the skin. These veins lie immediately under the skin belonging to the superficial venous sytem of the leg, particularly the calf. Veins have one-way valves which stop blood flowing backwards in the wrong direction. In varicose veins, the walls are stretched and become less flexible which weakens the veins and stops them from working properly, so blood is leaking backwards. This condition is common and affects 30-40% of the individuals, a little more frequently women.
Apart from the cosmetic problem, varicose veins may cause ache, feeling of heaviness, burning, itching in the calves and swelling in the ankles. If the condition is long-standing, the risk for complications, such as inflammation (phlebitis), bleeding, skin changes and ulcers, increases.
If you have already got varicose veins, do not worry. There is a way to get rid of them!
The best results are usually achieved by appropriate and early management of the condition. Today, there are almost pain-free methods to treat varicose veins. Of course, the smaller the veins, the less invasive a procedure to remove them will be, commonly performed through very small incisions, essentially without postoperative pain and with an excellent cosmetic result. The vascular surgeon will advise you on the most appropriate method of treatment in your case.
If you do not have a problem with your leg veins, you can preventively add aerobic exercise to your daily routine, like brisk walking, jogging, cycling, dancing or swimming; these types of excersice activate the muscle pump of the calves and prevent blood from pooling in your leg veins causing swelling. About 20-25 minutes of aerobic exercise every day is usually enough to tone up your blood circulation. Avoid unnecessary standing and exposure of your legs to heat sources, such as sunbathing or hot baths.
Last modified 08/08/2012
