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By Ruthie Calderon


It is possible for any vein to become varicose but the most affected are those in the legs and the feet. Varicose veins are gnarled, large veins. The feet are the most commonly affected because walking and standing upright increases the pressure in the veins of the part body. For most people, this condition is merely a cosmetic concern. For others however, it causes pain and discomfort. They may also signal higher risk of circulatory problems.

The condition does not usually cause any pain. There are however symptoms that may indicate one is suffering from it. The affected veins will be purple or blue in color, they will appear twisted and bulging and they are likely to appear like cords on the legs. In case there is pain, it will be felt after standing for long periods of time. There is also likely to be itching.

Self care involves doing certain exercises and elevation of the legs. These will ease pain. The use of compression stockings also brings positive results after a short time. There are instances when these methods will not work or the individual is concerned about their appearance. If this is the case, then a doctor will have to be consulted.

This condition is attributed to various causes. Age is one such cause. As one ages, the veins lose their elasticity, stretching as a result. This will cause the valves inside them to become weak. When the valves weaken, blood that should be going to the heart will flow backward and pool within the vessels. This makes them to enlarge. The blue color in them is because they do not have oxygen. It is the blood that was to be oxygenated in the lungs.

Pregnant women are also at risk. During pregnancy, the volume of blood flowing through the body will increase. In the process, there will be decrease in blood that flows to the pelvis from legs. The circulatory change is meant to improve growth of the fetus. However, it leads to enlarging of blood vessels. Luckily, the condition improves within three months of giving birth.

When it comes to treatment, you should be a cautious consumer. There are many misleading advertisements which come with a promise of painless and permanent treatment methods. The doctor should be consulted prior to considering any treatments. They will advise on side effects or health risks of the procedure being considered. It is also important to find out the treatment costs and find out if they are covered by insurance.

In most cases, self care will be enough to bring some kind of relief. If they do not, there are other procedures that are used. They are less invasive and thus treatment will be done on an outpatient basis. Other forms of treatment include laser surgery, catheter-assisted procedures, vein stripping and endoscopic vein surgery.

Most of these treatments are effective and one will recover after a short period. However, it is possible that the condition will recur. If it does, treatment will be done again, preferably a different form of treatment.




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