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Take the testIt can be difficult at times to recognise varicose veins, particularly if you are unsure about the visual symptoms of the condition – do you truly have varicose veins or are they simply just spider veins? Well today I’m here to talk about what varicose veins look like, how you can recognise them and the stages that you should watch out for.
Suffering from varicose veins can be a daunting experience punctuated by aches and pains, swelling and itchiness and restless legs. However, many find that the most unfortunate symptom of varicose veins is in fact their appearance, which can vary quite a bit!
It is perhaps because of this variation that most sufferers of varicose veins struggle to recognise the condition – not a good situation when you realise that up to 30% of adults may develop the condition and getting treatment quickly can really make a difference!
So let’s start with the basics; what causes the appearance of varicose veins? Well it’s all to do with the small valves inside your veins. When these stop working or become weakened then it allows blood to collect, causing your veins to become swollen and distorted.
That’s a very generic and brief description though – in truth there are different types of varicose veins and they can all appear differently. Let’s take a look at these different types to give you a better understanding!
Varicose veins usually manifest around your legs – they love your lower legs, the backs of your knees and around your calves. This makes sense when you think about it – gravity is pushing the blood downwards and placing more pressure on the blood vessels around your feet and legs.
Usually these types of varicose veins are inflamed and resemble blue-purplish cords bulging just beneath the surface of your skin. They can be swollen and knotted and sensitive to the touch – often they are also accompanied by ‘spider veins.’
Spider veins are tiny blue-red blood vessels that can appear close to the surface of your skin anywhere on your body, although they do tend to favour your legs! On their own they are usually considered to be only a superficial problem.
As we have mentioned varicose veins tend to favour your legs, although they can actually appear in other areas of your body too! This is considered to be unusual but it is not always a cause for concern.
For example, when varicose veins appear in your arms, it is normally no more dangerous than them manifesting on your legs. Quite often they appear as a result of a sudden trauma damaging your blood vessels although sometimes there may be a circulatory problem stimulating them.
Another less common but not unheard of place that varicose veins can manifest is your upper legs, around your thighs and even your genitals. This can be unpleasant and normally pregnancy and a change in hormones are to blame.
As your body starts to expand during this time, more pressure is placed on the veins around your pelvis which can restrict the flow of blood to your legs. The changes in hormones during this time can also cause your veins to relax – a similar situation can develop in men around puberty which is known as varticoceles.
Varticoceles appear around the scrotum as a result of the testes enlarging and while they are not considered to be a serious problem, it may still be worthwhile getting them checked out by your GP.
You should always try to keep an eye on the shape and colour of your varicose veins and discuss any changes in size or appearance with your doctor. If you notice that they are reddening and becoming particularly painful, it could be a sign that a blood clot is forming so I’d definitely go to your doctor ASAP.
You may also notice a rash developing on your skin as it becomes drier and flakier. This could be related to varicose eczema, a skin condition which can develop if you have varicose veins. It normally affects your lower legs and can be very uncomfortable and itchy so make sure you get it checked out by your GP.
Finally, ulcers should definitely be on your look-out list. Venous ulcers can develop around varicose veins as a result of malfunctioning valves, which creates too much pressure, causing fluid to leak out of your veins and upset your skin.
Not very nice, this can cause swelling and damage to your skin so it really is best avoided.
Now you might be reading this and thinking it’s all very well knowing what the veins look like and how they are caused but what can I do to help myself? Well fortunately there’s a lot to be said for self-help when it comes to varicose veins as simple lifestyle changes can make a real difference!
Quick and simple tests to assess how well your working memory, short-term memory and long-term memory are working.
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