Varicose Veins are swollen, gnarled veins that are usually found in the legs, ankles and feet. They are caused when the blood circulating through the lower limbs does not properly return to the heart but instead pools up in the veins.

Women who have been pregnant more then once and people who are obese are at high risk of having varicose veins by the time they reach their sixties. It is also common in people who spend a great deal of time on their feet.

Some of the most common symptoms are swollen veins, blue or purple in color, and they are usually bulging above the surface of the skin. They can appear anywhere on the legs, ankles or feet.

For some people they may be just small discolored veins or minor swelling giving little or no problems. But for most people they cause severe symptoms which can include throbbing pain, a deep ache or heavy feeling in the legs, muscle cramps, burning or itching skin, and severe swelling of the ankles.

If you think that you have varicose veins and they start to give you problems it is best to contact your doctor. There is many treatments that can be used to help you deal with the symptoms of them but there is no known cure for them yet. Your doctor will have to do some test to decide which treatment would be best for you.