Varicose
veins are abnormally dilated and tortuous veins. Any
vein in the body can become varicoseÑhemorrhoids, for example, are a form of
Varicose veinsÑbut most
occur in the legs. In healthy veins
valves permit blood to flow toward the heart but not away from it. In varicose veins these valves do not work, perhaps because of thinning of the vein walls. The veins then become inflated with backed up blood.
Varicose veins occur more often in women than in men, especially during pregnancy, and a predisposition to varicosity may be inherited. The condition is more likely to occur in people who stand for long periods of time or who do
heavy lifting. Usually they cause no greater problems than an unsightly appearance, but sometimes they lead to a heavy feeling in the legs, especially by the end of the day; elevating the legs several times a
day can alleviate this sensation. They may also cause skin discoloration, itching, or inflammation (see phlebitis). Varicose veins can be helped considerably by wearing support stockings. Treatments include sclerotherapy, which chemically shuts the vein and turns it into a fibrous cord that eventually disappears, and surgical removal for the largest ones.
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