Varicose veins

Overview

Varicose veins (varices) are enlarged veins that most commonly appear in the legs. During the day they swell up and cause a feeling of heaviness in the legs. Preventive measures include doing regular exercise, avoiding excess weight and wearing support stockings.

Symptoms

Main symptoms

• The veins under the skin are visibly enlarged and lumpy
• Feeling of heaviness in the affected leg
• Fluid retention and swelling of the leg
  • Mostly at night

Complications

• Thrombosis
• Vein inflammation
• Lung embolism
• Brownish discolouration of skin
• Itching
• Wounds don’t heal well
• Leg ulcer (ulcus cruris)

Causes and treatment

Causes

• Congenital weakness of the connective tissue (weakness of vein wall or vein valves)
• Obesity
• Standing or sitting down for extended periods
• Dilation of vein walls caused by hormones during pregnancy
• After a blood clot (thrombosis) in the deep veins of the leg

Further treatment by your doctor / in hospital

Possible tests

• Ultrasound

Possible therapies

• Compression with bandages or support stockings
• Shrinking of veins (sclerotherapy) using medication or heat (the affected vein collapses and “sticks together”)
• Operation (removal of varicose veins)
  

What can I do myself?

• Sufficient and regular exercise
• Wear support stockings
• No hot baths or heat treatment
• Rest with the legs up as often as possible
• Avoid excess weight and prolonged sitting or standing

When to see a doctor?

• Extensive varicose veins
• Swollen legs, mainly at night
• Leg ulcers
• Lower leg or whole leg swells up, hurts and turns reddish blue (possible thrombosis!)