Vericose veins are prominent veins near the surface of the skin, which swell up with blood. Varicose veins occur in the legs and occur more frequently in people who have to stand or sit for long periods of time. After the veins have been overloaded repetitive blood (forced down by the force of gravity), the walls of the veins tend to lose their elasticity and are no longer able to exercise a strong resistance against the blood. As a result, the veins are stretched too much and lose their resistance to the blood. The tendency to develop vericose veins may be hereditary and is more pronounced during pregnancy.

People who appear to have varicose veins usually complain of appearance, but may also experience night cramps in legs, symptoms of fatigue, and a dull pain in the legs and swollen ankles.

To help prevent varicose veins, people should exercise their legs and walk frequently. If your occupation requires long periods of sitting or standing, be sure to walk from place to place during regular hours of work. Avoid tight stockings or any clothing that is too tight.

How varicose veins develop?

The blood leaves the heart through the blood vessels called arteries towards the body to carry oxygen and nutrients, and undertakes, from anywhere in the body of its journey back to the heart through vessels called veins. The first part of the road is easy, since the heart is responsible to push forward, but the fly from certain areas is more difficult because all of it drives back to the heart. The regions that are above what it is easy: the blood, the effect of gravity, again with little effort. Regions that are far below and far from the heart without, on the contrary, very difficult, since there is a long way to go which is also against the gravity.

Because of this, the veins of the legs have valves, so the blood cannot go up again to drop under its own weight. This pumping is done by moving the leg muscles, so walking is an excellent exercise to activate the movement of the legs.

For various reasons when the body is unable to make the blood flow back to the heart, it is stagnant, and having the glass site (vein) is procrastinating. At first, by promoting venous return, this vein dilation disappears and returns to normal. But if it lasts too long, the vein is yes, it "gives", the valves stop working and the problem will be solved when no longer favors the return.

Dilated vessels are called varicose veins, and can appear anywhere in the body, although most frequent in the legs.

Varicose veins affect 1 out of 10 people, approximately, and so twice as often in women, primarily because of pregnancy (which worsens venous return).

Varicose veins tend to become larger over time and can be caused by edema (swelling) in the legs and varicose ulcers, which often are preceded by brown pigmentation of the skin.

Signs and Symptoms of varicose veins

The appearance of varicose veins is easily identifiable: they are thick and twisted veins that appear along the legs and feet. Remember that the veins in the form of spider veins, which look like a very finite network of veins located in the superficial layers of the skin anywhere on your body, are associated with venous disorders, but are different than varicose veins. With varicose veins, you will experience the following symptoms:

Blood clots.

Ulcers on the skin.

Feeling of sensitivity, pain, burning or heaviness in the legs.

Vericose veins can be relieved using some simple measures. Here are some suggestions for this:

1. Lie on your back with your feet slightly elevated and extended on level of the head several times during the day. It stimulates blood flow in the legs by exercising daily and taking hot baths.

2. Even a short walk stimulates circulation.

3. Use elastic stockings that provide special support and fit well. The elastic supports are used to prevent the veins from becoming inflamed and sore. These elastic supports must be put up before and should be the first thing to use in the morning, however, do not use any type of clothing that you squeeze in the groin area, the thighs or knees, such as suspenders, underwear or tight sleeves or trousers that are tight.

If you are concerned about vericose veins and they cause you severe pain, go ahead for vericose vein injections or surgery, read on......

In some cases, the varicose veins already pass the stage where they are not treatable with exercise and rest and can be treated through injections of a solution to harden them. A few hours after this treatment, the injected veins harden and become sensitive to touch and feel sore. However, the pain happens for a few days and then declines.

This treatment may require several injections and not always work in advanced cases of varicose veins, as there is a high degree of recurrence. In some people with a long history of severe symptoms and many varicose veins, surgery can be recommend. The extraction surgery for varicose veins is possible since there are two complete vein systems in each leg and varicose veins appear only where they are closer to the surface. Therefore, the diseased veins can be removed with surgery. The operation most often done in varicose veins is called extraction and ligation of varicose veins. It is performed under general anesthesia and usually requires a hospital stay of one to three days after surgery. Some patients feel discomfort due to the procedure, particularly when walking for a few days and then it subsides but for majority of the time, this operation is successful.

Prevention and treatment for varicose veins

It is not always possible to prevent the development of varicose veins, but it should do everything possible to avoid the complications that entails treatment to cure this problem. Because they stay stopped for long periods of time is a risk factor, you should make sure to limit the time that will often stop and rest with your feet elevated, and so the best seats for people who have varicose veins are reclining chairs that will keep your feet higher than your hips. Usually exercises also prevent blood clots, which cause the formation of varicose veins. On the other hand, using average compression could help prevent or alleviate the effects caused by varicose veins.

There are some other different treatment options that could be referred to.

Nutrition: The need to increase intake of healthy food sources of bioflavonoids, such as dark berries, green leafy vegetables, onions and garlic, vitamins, eg vitamin C and zinc, and whole grains.

Laser surgery: Laser surgery to remove varicose veins, such as blue light therapy or laser therapy with venous therapies are very popular because they do not need recovery time. In addition, due to future pregnancies may worsen the appearance of varicose veins, it would be an excellent idea to take over the problem as quickly as possible, so you can get rid of his troublesome varicose veins once and for all.

The Sclerotherapy: This surgery consists of an injection which is inside the varicose vein, followed by the use of stockings or compression bandages, which will diminish the appearance of their varicose veins.