In healthy veins, blood is prevented from flowing backwards by a series of tiny valves opening and closing. If these weaken, the blood flows backwards, causing swellings called varicosities. Any vein in the body can become varicose.
Risk factors include being female, having a family history, being older or overweight, having a job involving long periods of standing and during pregnancy.
Symptoms include lumpy, bulging or twisted blue or dark purple patches, aching, heavy uncomfortable legs, swollen ankles, burning or throbbing in your legs, and night-time muscle cramps. The dry, itchy, thin skin over the affected veins is called varicose eczema.
Symptoms are usually worse during warm weather or if standing or sitting for a long time. There is little evidence that you can stop varicose veins developing or worsening.…
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Woman's Weekly (Digital) - 1 Issue, 15-Mar-2022