Varicose veins are swollen, enlarged blood vessels that predominantly appear in your lower legs and feet. The main cause of the discolouration and swelling of your blood vessels is due to a build-up in blood pressure. Standing up for extended periods of time is a common cause for a vein to become varicose, hence why they most likely appear in your feet and legs.
The extent of the condition can range from a purely cosmetic concern to a condition that causes great discomfort and pain. Sometimes these conditions can lead to more serious problems for your health. They are a signal for circulatory problems and must be addressed to uncover the full extent that they may have on your body.
The symptoms
There are many different types of symptoms when it comes to this type of condition. Here is a rundown of the ones that are most likely to appear.
Blood vessels turn dark purple and blue
The blood vessels in your body enlarge because blood isn’t flowing as well as it normally does. Less oxygen is transported around the body and this affects your blood.
The blue or purple colour is because the blood has little-to-no oxygen in it. When your blood vessels are backed up it is common to see some discolouration.
Twisted blood vessels
The build-up of pressure in your blood causes the blood vesselsto enlarge and appear twisted. Since they have swollen in size it is common for them to be visible from outside your skin.
Spider veins
Spider veins are not the same as those that are varicose. These veins become noticeable on your face and legs with a blue or red colour. The swelling is a lot smaller and the pattern resembles a spider web.
They are more likely to develop the older you become and aren’t a serious health problem. Most of the time they will become itchy and you may experience the occasional burning sensation from the affected areas.
Painful blood vessels
When you start to feel pain the following symptoms can occur;
· A heavy, aching feeling in your legs
· Muscles cramping, burning and throbbing in your legs
· Pain tends to be worse after you sitting or standing for a while
· Your blood vessels become itchy
· Red discolouration of your skin
More serious symptoms include;
· Bleeding from varicose veins
If you notice that your blood vessels start to bleed internally you must seek medical attention immediately. The bleeding from this condition can be a signal of a larger problem and can also lead to the development of ulcers. It’s important to make sure that nothing worse happens and that you take extra precautionary steps.
· Vein hardening, colour changes or ulcer development
All these symptoms can be signs of vascular disease that must be addressed immediately. There are vein clinics and specialised doctors available to help with all these types of symptoms. Knowing when to seek medical attention is important and there’s no shame in doing so.
When to seek help
There are many different types of home remedies to assist in living with varicose veins. To relieve the pain common remedies include elevating your legs and wearing compression socks to help restrict the blood to the affected areas.
If you’re concerned with how your blood vessels look and your home remedies don’t provide adequate relief you should seek a medical professional. Vein clinics specialise in providing treatment options that effectively remove the problem blood vessels by using an advanced laser treatment that collapses the blood vessels.
If the symptoms described here sound familiar you should seek a varicose vein specialist at a vein clinic that is close to you.
Shruti Gupta is a writer, digital marketer and outreaching expert .She writes about technology, startups & other niches. She has contributed to a number of famous websites like Thenextweb, Deccanchronicle and Crazyegg. Stay tuned with her at:@shruti_gupta01 or via Skype : shrutigupta2811
