Wednesday, February 13, 2019

3 Signs you Are Suffering From Varicose Veins

It can be embarrassing every time you walk, and everyone around you seems to take an interest in the highly visible veins on your legs. It can easily make you lose your self-confidence. Even so, for most people with protruding veins, they worry less about how they look.

The varicose vein is a condition that occurs when the veins enlarge and overfill with blood. Usually, bulging leg veins are seen having a bluish purple color. The veins are not harmful. Even so, they are very uncomfortable. An outstanding 25 percent of all adults have this condition. The most significant number is women.


How does this condition come about?
Veins contain only one valve. When this valve fails, the blood is not able to be transported back to the heart. The blood then collects in the vein, therefore, expanding the vein walls and making it bulge. With the heart being further away from the legs, it makes it harder for the blood to flow hence the veins start twisting.
•    Age- Age is one of the factors that may lead to varicose veins. As you grow old, the valves in the vein also age. The weak valves being unable to control the flow of blood let the blood to flow backward leading to varicose veins

•    Family history – varicose veins are easily passed down from family.

•    Obesity – once the veins in the legs are exposed to the pressure of your weight, they develop varicose veins.

•    No movement – By not moving often, the veins find it hard to transport the blood to the heart. Eventually, they weaken and the blood flows backwards leading to varicose veins.

•    Pregnancy – having a baby can lead to varicose veins. Due to the change in body blood pressure, the veins enlarge and with the added pressure put by the uterus to the vein in the legs, varicose veins are set to appear. However, this condition lasts for a maximum of 3 months only.
What are some of the signs you have varicose veins?

1. Twisted or Bulging Leg veins
When the valves in the veins stop to function, the blood flows backward settling in the area below the valves. The collecting blood makes the vein enlarge and stretch to start showing on the skin. The veins appear bulgy or twisted.

2. Swollen Ankles
With an increase in pressure in the veins, the blood leaks to the surrounding tissues and the legs start to swell. The skin of the leg becomes tight as the leg increases in size. The shoes then stop fitting. If not attended to early, the skin may end up leaking yellow fluids.

3. Aching Legs
If your legs start aching, then a more serious problem seems to have happened. You may be having a blood clot or a skin infection. Once the leg starts swelling, it opens up spaces for the bacteria in the skin to get into the body. The bacteria is responsible for a skin condition known as cellulitis. The leg will have an area of redness and warmth that will be painful to touch.

It is important to seek medical aid if your varicose veins leads your leg to swell and become painful. The doctor will then have to perform a deep vein thrombosis evaluation.