Varicose veins are unsightly veins that are most commonly found in the legs. Veins become enlarged due to building blood pressure and dysfunction of one-way valves found in leg veins that help deoxygenated blood return to the heart, against gravity. Leaking or weak valves, which are found every few inches in the legs, prevent blood from draining properly. In most cases, varicose veins are caused by prolonged standing, vein disease such as thrombophlebitis, or sometimes pressure on veins caused by pregnancy. While adults of both males and females may suffer from varicose veins, it is more prevalent in women than men. Learning to recognize and identify symptoms of varicose veins may help to prevent complications such as ulcers, deep-vein clots and insufficient blood flow.
Instructions
1. Examine lower limbs, ankles, calves, and behind the knees frequently. Also check for signs of veins that bulge in the ankle, calf or around the knee, which are often the first symptoms of varicose veins. These veins are highly visible and may appear dark blue in color, because they carry deoxygenated blood from the extremities back to the heart. Often, bluish veins are visible just beneath the surface of the skin.
