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What are varicose veins?
Any vein in the body can become varicose, but they are most commonly seen in the calf and up the leg into the groin.
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Symptoms
The legs may ache, feel heavy and be uncomfortable. In severe cases, the skin over the vein becomes dry, itchy and thin, and an ulcer may develop
The veins become more obvious in warm weather and when you stand up.
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Causes and risk factors
When the one-way valves in the veins don't work, blood flows back down causing them to bulge and become visibly swollen and distorted.
They're rare in people under the age of 20, but become more common with age. Around one in five people will develop varicose veins and women are more often affected than men.
The tendency to develop varicose veins can run in families and they are more likely to develop in pregnancy or conditions where the abdominal pressure increases, such as being obese or chronically constipated. Often they occur for no apparent reason.
Walking regularly to exercise the legs and keep the blood flowing helps to prevent varicose veins.
Standing for long periods and being overweight increases the risk of varicose veins, so these should be avoided.
Varicose veins aren't usually serious but complications such as inflammation within the vein called superficial thrombophlebitis, and eczema or skin ulcers over the lower leg may result.
Any vein in the body can become varicose, but they are most commonly seen in the calf and up the leg into the groin.
Top
Symptoms
The legs may ache, feel heavy and be uncomfortable. In severe cases, the skin over the vein becomes dry, itchy and thin, and an ulcer may develop
The veins become more obvious in warm weather and when you stand up.
Top
Causes and risk factors
When the one-way valves in the veins don't work, blood flows back down causing them to bulge and become visibly swollen and distorted.
They're rare in people under the age of 20, but become more common with age. Around one in five people will develop varicose veins and women are more often affected than men.
The tendency to develop varicose veins can run in families and they are more likely to develop in pregnancy or conditions where the abdominal pressure increases, such as being obese or chronically constipated. Often they occur for no apparent reason.
Walking regularly to exercise the legs and keep the blood flowing helps to prevent varicose veins.
Standing for long periods and being overweight increases the risk of varicose veins, so these should be avoided.
Varicose veins aren't usually serious but complications such as inflammation within the vein called superficial thrombophlebitis, and eczema or skin ulcers over the lower leg may result.
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