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Varicose veins form when the valves that carry blood from the legs to the heart malfunction. This failure causes the blood pressure inside the veins to increase. As a result, the veins dilate and become distorted and twisted. In most cases, these veins appear on the legs although they may be present on any area of the body. Varicose veins are usually visible through the skin and may appear bluish in color. A common symptom is swelling and/or weakness in the legs after prolonged standing or sitting. This condition is more common in women than men and heredity is believed to be a factor. Pregnant women often suffer with this condition. If left untreated, varicose veins can lead to phlebitis and leg ulcers. Blood clots are also a danger and if the condition worsens, a physician should be consulted. Doctors may perform ultrasound procedures or x-rays to determine if the condition has other underlying causes or if surgery is needed.
Prevention may include increasing exercise with walking or other activities which improve circulation, elevating the feet while sitting, maintaining bowel regularity by eating a high-fiber diet and avoiding excess weight. Also to be avoided are constrictive clothing and shoes with high heels. Compression stockings, which are available at department and drug stores, help to support the leg veins and aid in circulation as will refraining from crossing the legs while sitting. Use of elastic wrapping bandages is not recommended since the wrapping procedure must be done perfectly to avoid injuring the already-damaged veins.
In severe cases, surgery is necessary. This "vein stripping" surgery is fairly common and is done under general anesthesia in a hospital setting. In this procedure, a vascular surgeon removes the damaged veins through incisions, usually through the groin. In some cases, this procedure is used to tie-off damaged veins. Most patients are able to return to relatively normal activity within three days. Other options include laser treatment in which smaller varicose veins (spider veins) are removed. This non-invasive laser procedure is frequently done after vein stripping. Another procedure is schlerotherapy, in which the doctor injects a chemical into the vein to either close off the vein or narrow it to increase blood flow.
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