Varicose Vein Pain: Why Do My Legs Hurt? | Health Hive
Varicose veins are a common condition that often goes undetected and untreated because people don't know how to recognize it. As a result, millions walk around with chronic varicose vein pain and never understand the underlying cause of their discomfort.
Varicose veins occur when the veins become enlarged and overfilled with blood –most frequently in the legs and feet. The condition affects approximately 25 percent of all adults and is especially common among women. Symptoms may include:
Symptoms generally occur around the affected veins. In severe cases, ulcers can form or the veins can swell, become discolored, or bleed excessively. Contrary to popular belief, varicose veins don't always bulge out, so it's important to be able to recognize them by the other symptoms they cause.
While many people mistakenly think varicose veins are only a cosmetic issue, they are actually very serious and can get progressively worse if treatment is not received.
Blood only travels in one direction in your veins, thanks to valves that prevent backward flow. However, the valves in your veins can weaken and become less effective, allowing blood to pool in the legs. As a result of weakened valves, blood begins to leak or flow the wrong way and accumulate in the veins, causing them to become swollen, enlarged, and painful.
Here are some of the potential risk factors for varicose veins:
While some of these risk factors can't be avoided (i.e., family history or age), others can (i.e., obesity). If you are concerned about varicose veins or have already started to experience minor symptoms, it is wise to make lifestyle changes and eliminate the risk factors you can control.
There are a few ways in which people try to minimize painful symptoms:
Avoiding sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time
However, the above are just temporary measures to reduce symptoms. If these remedies don't work or if your condition worsens, you should see a vein doctor right away to learn about minimally invasive options to cure these symptoms.
Keep in mind that most insurance companies cover varicose vein treatments because the condition is serious and can cause significant pain. Seek treatment and say goodbye to your varicose vein pain.