LOVELY LEGS PUT TING AN END TO UNSIGHTLY VEINS


Varicose veins are a common problem affecting 1 in 3 men and women. As well as looking unsightly, they can cause troublesome symptoms such as aching, throbbing, swelling and itching. In severe cases, discolouration of the skin of the lower leg develops.


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The majority of people with this condition only ever experience mild symptoms, but serious complications can occur. In this article, we take a closer look at the topics below to answer the question: are varicose veins dangerous?


HOW DO VARICOSE VEINS FORM? Varicose veins occur when the vein walls lose elasticity, causing the one-way valves that pump blood back to the heart to weaken. Blood pools in the vein, creating high pressure and making the vein swell and enlarge.


WHAT SERIOUS CONDITIONS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH VARICOSE VEINS? A person with varicose veins may, in rare cases, develop one or more of the conditions described below.


Bleeding - a cut or knock to the leg may cause a surface varicose vein to rupture. In most cases, you can stem the bleeding by applying basic first aid. However, the high pressure in the vein can make it difficult to stop the flow. When this happens, immediate medical advice should be sought.


Blood clots - when blood pools in veins and stops flowing, there is a risk of it thickening and clotting, which can lead to complications:


Superficial thrombophlebitis – a clot in a vein close to the skin’s surface that causes it to become inflamed, hot, hard and lumpy. If the clot migrates to a deep vein, it can progress to become a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).


Deep vein thrombosis – a painful clot within a deep vein in the leg. This condition is serious. There is the potential for a piece of the clot to break off into the bloodstream and migrate to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), which can be life-threatening.


CAN VARICOSE VEINS CAUSE ANY OTHER CONDITIONS? Yes. The pooling of blood in varicose veins can cause something called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). This is when the oxygen, nutrients and waste exchange between your skin and blood is disrupted over a long period. CVI can lead to:


Varicose eczema – patches of skin over the affected vein that become red, itchy and scaly.


Lipodermatosclerosis – the development of fragile, pink or brown skin above the affected vein. These areas of skin are scarred and hard to the touch, vulnerable to injury and can progress to become leg ulcers.


WHO IS AT RISK? There is significant scientific evidence to indicate that the following factors can increase a person’s risk of developing varicose veins: A family history of varicose veins Being overweight Pregnancy Sitting or standing for long periods Smoking Further research is needed to establish whether the link be- tween varicose veins and other conditions is due to a common set of risk factors.


SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR The earlier you have your varicose veins diagnosed and treated, the less likely you are to develop complications.


If you have any of the following symptoms, you may have varicose LIVE24-SEVEN.COM


FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUT Y VARICOS E VE INS


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