Varicose Veins: Description & Causes
Veins have one-way valves that channel blood back to the heart from the extremities, and if the valves malfunction, blood flow becomes erratic, congesting the veins and creating what's known as either varicose or spider veins — large, deep, ropey and distended veins referred to as varicose veins or small red, blue or purple veins on the surface of the skin known as spider veins.
These dysfunctional vessels may cause pain in the legs. Symptoms are often made worse by prolonged standing and may include fatigue, heaviness, aching, burning, throbbing, itching, cramping, swelling and restlessness of the legs. Severe varicose veins can compromise the nutrition of the skin, leading to eczema, inflammation or even ulceration of the lower leg.
The primary predisposing factor for varicose veins is heredity. Other causes include aging, too much standing at work, obesity and leg injury. Women are more likely than men to suffer from varicose and spider veins and have a 50 percent chance of developing them in their lifetime. Hormonal factors include puberty, pregnancy, menopause, the use of birth control pills and increased levels of estrogen and progesterone. Varicose veins that result from the increased hormone levels, blood volume and pressure from the enlarged uterus experienced during pregnancy generally dissipate within three months of delivery. However, abnormal veins become more entrenched with each successive pregnancy.
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