What are varicose veins?
The word “varicose” comes from the Latin word “varicosus” which means abnormally swollen. Varicose veins are diseased blood vessels that have become permanently swollen (enlarged), and can no longer efficiently carry blood back to the heart. Arteries carry blood away from the heart while veins return blood back to the heart. Varicose veins can arise when this system gets backed up — almost like a traffic jam.
Arteries bring oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body and veins return oxygen-poor blood back to your heart. Varicose veins are swollen veins that you can see through your skin. They often look blue, bulging, and twisted. Left untreated, varicose veins may worsen over time. Varicose veins can cause aching and feelings of fatigue as well as skin changes like rashes, redness, and sores. As many as 40 million Americans, most of them women, have varicose veins. You have three kinds of veins in your legs; the superficial veins, which lie closest to your skin, the deep veins, which lie in groups of muscles and perforating veins, which connect the superficial veins to the deep veins. The deep veins lead to the vena cava, your body’s largest vein, which runs directly to your heart. Varicose veins occur in the superficial veins in your legs. When you are in the upright position, the blood in your leg veins must work against gravity to return to your heart. To accomplish this
A varicose vein is a failed vein, the contents of which are stagnant or refluxing. Either way, this blood is out of circulation. The function of your veins is to channel blood back to the heart. The larger veins have valves which direct the flow of blood. When any of these valves fail, blood can accumulate under pressure, engorging and distorting the veins in your leg. Varicose veins appear as either bulging and rope-like, or small and thread-like. They can result in aching, tired, and swollen legs; create a burning, throbbing, or itching sensation; and cause muscle cramps and a general restlessness in your legs. Varicose veins are a vascular disorder requiring treatment for medical reasons.
A varicose vein is a failed vein, the contents of which are stagnant or refluxing. Either way, this blood is out of circulation. The function of your veins is to channel blood back to the heart. The larger veins have valves which direct the flow of blood. When any of these valves fail, blood can accumulate under pressure, engorging and distorting the veins in your leg. Varicose veins appear as either bulging and rope-like, or small and thread-like. They can result in aching, tired and swollen legs; create a burning, throbbing, or itching sensation; and cause muscle cramps and a general restlessness in your legs. Varicose veins are a vascular disorder requiring treatment for medical reasons.
