Varicose Veins Definition

The varicose veins definition that will help you the most is one that will help you identify whether or not you should seek medical care. This article is our attempt to explain how what varicose veins are and why they may be of concern to you.

Varicose Veins Explained

One of the most universal laws that we are taught during school is the law of gravity. This law states that everything that goes up must go down. Everything is supposed to follow this model but of course, our incredible body is able to violate this law in its own way. You see, the job of our heart is to pump blood to allow it to circulate all around our body in order to provide oxygen to all of our tissues. Then, when the blood reaches our legs, our veins have to do the impossible. They must push the blood against gravity and bring it back to our lungs. Luckily, the veins have special pumps that will make this process possible. But when our veins are under a lot of pressure, things may not work the way they are supposed to. When this happens, varicose veins form.

Varicose Veins Definition

We can define Varicose Veins as ”Enlarged, swollen, and twisting veins, often appearing blue or dark purple. They happen when faulty valves in the veins allow blood to flow in the wrong direction or to pool.’’

Varicose veins occur when some of the blood that is supposed to be pumped back to the lungs stays behind. As it accumulates it ends up modifying the shape of the vein making it appear bigger. Also, since the blood has been depleted of oxygen, it appears blue, which is the color of blood with no oxygen.

In concept, all veins have the potential of becoming varicose but the ones that most commonly become varicose are the ones on the legs and ankles because of the pressure our body exerts on them. Spider veins are pretty much the same thing as varicose veins but differ mainly in the size (they are smaller).

Varicose Veins Frequency

Most of the time varicose veins carry no consequences, but sometimes they might be indicative of deeper circulatory problems. Usually, though, the main concerns with varicose veins are cosmetic. It is also important to know that they are more commonly found in women. Also, pregnant women are highly prone to developing varicose veins because of the extra pressure on the legs, the change in blood flow due to the varying needs of the fetus, and changes in hormone levels. As stated above, this condition is also hereditary, so if someone in your family has varicose veins, chances are that you might develop them, too.

Varicose Veins Treatment

There are some measures that you can take in order to get rid of varicose veins. These include wearing special stockings designed to facilitate the job of the veins. Also known as compression stockings, they promote better circulation that in turn will help the vein regain its original size. In addition, your doctor can provide you with other options like laser surgery. With this treatment, a beam of light is directed into the target vein and will remove varicose veins.

Surgery is another possible option that is used as a last resort to eradicate varicose veins. Keep in mind that varicose veins are preventable to some degree by maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly.