EXPLAINING YOUR VEINS

Over time, when veins become enlarged and entangled, they become varicose veins - a condition that can occur in any vein in the body, but most commonly occurs in the legs and feet, as performing activities in an upright position increase pressure on veins in those areas.

Most of the concerns of the majority of people who suffer from varicose veins are cosmetic, though for others, varicose veins can cause aching pain in affected areas, sometimes leading to more severe problems, such as circulatory problems.

Risk Factors

A multitude of risk factors can contribute to the development of varicose veins, including, but not limited to:

• Age - If you are 50 years or older, you automatically have a 50/50 chance of developing varicose veins sometime in your life - substantially higher than the 15-25% of all adults.

• Female Gender - Women are more likely to develop varicose veins than men, due to the effects of pregnancy, the production of oestrogen, or oral birth control contraceptives.

• Family History - If varicose veins run in a prior family history, it is likely to affect later generations.

• Pregnancy - Pregnant women tend to develop varicose veins, due to increased pressure on the leg veins when the uterus grows, which tends to put pressure on the right side of the body.

Symptoms

The development of varicose veins can result in notable symptoms, including, but not limited to:

• Leg pain
• Easy leg fatigue
• Leg heaviness
• Venous insufficiency (in severe cases)
• Skin discoloration / Ulceration, as a result of reflux (in severe cases)