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Varicose Veins
October 14, 2009 |
It may sound like a transistor radio, but this device isn’t searching for a radio
station, it’s tuning in to varicose veins.
“Varicose veins are when the superficial veins in the legs bulge,” says Lee Memorial
Health System general and vascular surgeon, Dr. John Moss. These gnarled-looking
veins develop when the valves in those veins malfunction. This causes pressure to
build up, which causes them to enlarge and rise to the surface of our skin.
“Most people complain of heaviness, achiness, swelling in the legs which gets worse
over the course of a workday,” adds
Dr. Moss. He says varicose veins affect people
differently. For some, it’s just a cosmetic issue. For others, these veins can be
painful.
“The veins themselves can be painful, especially if there’s ever any clots
associated with them. Anytime there is a change in the flow within a blood vessel,
clots can occur so when the flow in a vein is abnormal, certainly clots can occur
with varicose veins,” says Dr. Moss.
While researchers say some cases of varicose veins are hereditary, he believes you
can take some preventative measures to keep varicose veins at bay such
as avoiding
long periods of standing or sitting in one position and wearing elastic compressions
or stockings.
If veins are still bothersome, let your physician know.
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