Healthy Veins
Varicose veins can be a cosmetic problem or cause aching pain and discomfort in the area affected. They happen most commonly in the legs but can occur in area that undergoes increasing venus pressure, such as the feet, testicles, anus and vaginal area. One variation of varicose veins are spider veins.
In order to better understand what varicose veins are, it is important to have a general understanding of how of the venous and arterial blood system works. Our bodies are fed oxygen by the arteries. Oxygen enters the lungs and is transferred into arterial blood supply. The heart then pumps this blood around to the rest of the body. At some point the blood loses all of the oxygen available to it and returns through the venous system back to the heart.
The arterial blood supply is pushed around the body by the function and power of the heart. However, the venous blood must move back up through the body without the benefit of the heart muscle. When we are in an upright position the blood works against gravity to return to the heart. Leg muscles will squeeze the deep veins of the legs and feet and one-way valves keep the blood from flowing back down in the wrong direction. Continue reading
Varicose veins are veins which are abnormally and irregularly swollen. Veins are the segment of the arterial system that returns blood to the heart after oxygen has been delivered to the tissues. Varicose veins can occur in multiple different areas of the body on both men and women.
The most common form goes occurs in either one or both of two large veins near the surface of the leg. Varicose veins can also occur inside the anus, the vagina and the testicles, as well as smaller varicosities called spider veins, which can occur on the face and upper arms.
The signs and symptoms of varicose veins will depend upon the area of the body which is experiencing the varicose veins. In the legs, individuals will recognize symptoms such as itchy or heavy legs, especially if they have been sitting or standing for any length of time. Varicose veins will also appear blue and twisted. If they are severe the skin covering the leg can also become dry, itchy and swollen. (1) Continue reading
