Varicose veins are twisted and swollen veins that usually appear on the legs and feet. They are a form of vein disease or Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI).
Varicose veins are a very common medical condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Many people suffering with varicose veins find them unsightly and can impact them in day to day life. These swollen, twisted and sometimes painful veins often raise several questions for those dealing with them, but at UK Vein Clinic, we’re here to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about varicose veins.
Veins allow blood to flow back to your heart, ready to be oxygenated and pumped back around the body. To ensure that it only flows in the right direction, there’s a series of tiny valves inside each vein. Working a bit like a series of gates in a tunnel, these valves close behind the moving blood, to stop it flowing back down through the body.
When the valves inside the veins get damaged, blood circulation becomes restricted and it can start flowing back towards the lower parts of the body. This pooling of blood puts our veins under increased pressure and leads to the sudden or gradual appearance of varicose veins (large ‘trunk’ and smaller ‘reticular’ types) and thread or spider veins (‘telangiectasia’ varicose veins). This is why it’s important to keep an eye on changes in your skin.
Varicose veins will affect up to 20 million people in the UK at some point, maybe even your favourite celebrities.
Varicose veins are a common condition, affecting up to 3 in 10 adults. Women are more likely to develop them than men, but anyone can develop them. They most commonly develop in the legs and feet, particularly in the calves, but any vein in the body could become varicose.
When blood gets pooled in your veins, it can lead to a range of symptoms and related complications. Varicose veins can make the skin dry and itchy and can make our legs feel heavy or tired. They can cause chronic pain and become swollen. If the problem persists, they can also have a profound knock-on effect on other aspects of health and wellbeing: affecting how we exercise or socialise.
But Chronic Venous Insufficiency is a progressive disease: if left untreated altogether, varicose veins can ultimately cause a range of far more serious and lasting problems.
If the skin gets broken, for instance, it can take a long time for the bleeding to stop or for these wounds to heal. And if ulcers like these persist, there is a risk of infection and other serious complications like further infection in the bloodstream (septicaemia) or, in one of the worst case scenarios, limb loss
In addition, if the blood in the veins starts to clot, this can lead not just to extremely painful swelling (called phlebitis), but to potentially fatal complications like Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
DVT is associated with chronic pain, ulcers and swelling, but it also carries the risk that a blood clot ends up blocking part of your lungs (a ‘pulmonary embolism’). This blockage can cause permanent lung damage and can, in turn, trigger a heart attack and potentially death.
At the start of the disease cycle, you may develop mild symptoms such as itchy, burning or throbbing veins, a tingling sensation in the feet and legs, and sometimes even cramps. Your veins may then start bulging, aching and feeling warm to the touch. If left unattended, more serious (and fully preventable) symptoms such as bleeding may occur.
The most common symptom of varicose veins is their visibility on the body (most commonly on the legs) in that they are enlarged, twisted veins that are often visible through the skin. However, there are several other symptoms of varicose veins that include:
It is important to note that not everyone with varicose veins will experience all of these symptoms; the severity of symptoms can vary from person to person.
Click here for a more extensive list of symptoms.
When we think of varicose veins, we usually think of veins in the legs. However, they also frequently appear in your feet, ankles, heels and hands, and less commonly in the face (especially the nose), arms, wrist, abdomen, groin or genital area (penis, scrotum sack, foreskin, testicles, vagina, labia minora) and anus.
It's possible to manage living with varicose veins by changing what you eat, how often you exercise, and giving up smoking. However, it's not possible to reverse the development of varicose veins without some form of treatment. The evidence for lifestyle changes is very weak.
The latest clinical evidence clearly shows that non-invasive procedures using radiofrequency technology deliver by far the best outcomes for the majority of patients. They are precise and effective, offering lasting relief from symptoms while minimising possible downsides of treatment (like post-op pain and scarring).
Radiofrequency Ablation - Endovenous radiofrequency ablation (EVRF) is a thermal treatment that uses radio energy to generate and direct a precise source of heat to seal off the varicose vein, preventing blood from flowing through it. The vein eventually shrinks and disappears, reducing the appearance from the surface.
Foam sclerotherapy - Sclerotherapy is an ultrasound-guided procedure that uses a special foam to close damaged veins; it is injected directly into the vein, causing the varicose vein to collapse and close. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and is virtually painless.
Put simply, any of us can get varicose veins. One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding varicose veins is that their occurrence is limited to women and people over 40, and that younger people are safe. Though less common, men and people in their 30s, or even 20s, are also vulnerable.
Pregnant women (although they often subside following childbirth), overweight people and those with a relative who also suffers from varicose veins are at increased risk. The genetic aspect of varicose veins is of critical importance, as we can often inherit them.
Certain things can increase your chances of developing varicose veins, risk factors such as genetics, obesity, prolonged sitting or standing, age, gender (more common in women), and pregnancy can increase chances. As well as this, a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise or being overweight can increase the likelihood of developing varicose veins.
All veins have valves that prevent blood from flowing backwards (away from the heart) and over time, these valves can weaken which can allow blood to pool in the veins. The pooling of the blood can cause the veins to become swollen, enlarged, and painful, due to the build up of blood and pressure within the veins.
The good news is, there are several ways to relieve pain caused by varicose veins. Here are just a few of the ways you can help to minimise any discomfort:
Keep legs elevated
To relieve the pain and discomfort of varicose veins, raise your legs above your heart. You can do this by placing your feet on a table, stretching them up a wall, or lying down in bed with your legs elevated on pillows. This will help blood flow more easily towards your heart and improve the function of the venous valves.
It is recommended to keep your legs elevated for at least 15 minutes at a time as this should help reduce swelling and ease pain.
Avoid sitting or standing for long periods of timeSitting or standing for long periods of time can worsen varicose vein pain. If you have to sit or stand for long periods of time, it is important to take breaks and move around to encourage blood flow.
ExerciseExercise can help to improve circulation and reduce pain from varicose veins, however, it is important to avoid activities that put too much strain on the legs, such as running or jumping.
Wear compression stockingsCompression stockings help to improve circulation and reduce swelling. They can be worn all day or just during the day, depending on the severity of the pain.
Varicose vein treatment using minimally invasive techniques that have been clinically proven to have the best outcomes for patients are available here at UK Vein Clinic. Find out more about how foam sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation can get rid of varicose veins for good.
Varicose veins are a common condition that can affect anyone. While they may be primarily a cosmetic concern for some, others may find them painful and uncomfortable, so if you have any concerns about your varicose veins or experience symptoms such as pain, swelling, or heaviness, it is advisable to speak to a vascular specialist.
You can book an initial diagnostic assessment to speak with one of our specialists for a diagnosis and more information by clicking the link below:
Book your initial diagnostic assessment
Varicose veins can also appear in the scrotum. When this happens, they are known as ‘varicocele’ and they have been associated with erectile dysfunction. Varicose veins in the legs, on the other hand, are not known to affect male reproductive health
Varicose vein pain is often described as a dull ache or heaviness in the legs although it can also be a sharp, throbbing pain, or a feeling of tightness or swelling. The pain is usually worse after standing or sitting for long periods of time, and it can be relieved by elevating the legs.
Our leg muscles contract and relax throughout the day to help pump blood back to the heart. However, at night, when our muscles are inactive, blood can pool in the veins due to gravity which can cause increased pressure on the veins, swelling, and discomfort.
During menstruation, the level of progesterone in the body increases and this rise in progesterone relaxes the walls of veins, allowing them to carry more blood. This can put strain on the valves in the leg veins that help to transport blood back to the heart which can cause varicose veins to form or worsen, although after menstruation, the symptoms of varicose veins typically improve.
If you develop varicose veins, you will most likely encounter information online claiming that certain natural, at-home remedies can fully cure varicose veins. While some may have a “calming” effect, the only way to truly get rid of varicose veins is by seeking medical treatment.
Below is a list of popular (though not necessarily effective or recommended) home remedies for varicose veins:
Arnica cream, witch hazel, olive oil, red vine leaf, taking a hot bath, laying down on a hot tub, essential oils, certain types of massage, apple cider vinegar, haemorrhoid cream, aspirin, diosmin, ice or icing, horse chestnut, cypress oil, bay leaf, herbal supplements, turmeric, vicks vaporub and helichrysum oil
Yes, in theory you can. However, it's not recommended because tattoos can increase the risk of infection and/or ulceration, which in turn can lead to further medical complications.
Yes. However, having varicose veins increases risk of thrombosis and flying can increase that risk further. It is possible to mitigate these risks by either wearing compression stockings or seeking medical treatment.
There is no association between having varicose veins and cancer. However, severe vein disease may lead to ulceration in the foot and ankle, and there is some evidence that cancerous changes have occurred in some patients. Presently, it has not been possible to confirm causality or if it may just be coincidental.
If your varicose veins are left untreated and venous disease is allowed to progress, it is possible to experience pain in the affected areas when touched.
Adding certain exercises to our daily routines can certainly help prevent varicose veins from worsening, though they cannot prevent them altogether nor substitute treatment. Running, walking, swimming and yoga are some of the most popular options for patients showing mild symptoms of varicose veins.
If you regularly go to the gym and practice weightlifting, you may want to change your workout regime as this may worsen your symptoms of varicose veins.
Certain foods such as avocado, tomato, beetroot, chia seeds and wild berries are also known to improve vein health. However, they cannot substitute medical treatment and, in the best case scenario, only contribute to a delay in the worsening of symptoms, rather than preventing them.
Adding certain exercises to our daily routines can certainly help prevent varicose veins from worsening, though they cannot prevent them altogether nor substitute treatment. Running, walking, swimming and yoga are some of the most popular options for patients showing mild symptoms of varicose veins.
If you regularly go to the gym and practice weightlifting, you may want to change your workout regime as this may worsen your symptoms of varicose veins.
Certain foods such as avocado, tomato, beetroot, chia seeds and wild berries are also known to improve vein health. However, they cannot substitute medical treatment and, in the best case scenario, only contribute to a delay in the worsening of symptoms, rather than preventing them.
Take our 2-minute self-assessment to find out how you could benefit from a varicose vein treatment
We're pleased to be able to provide our world-class varicose vein treatment in a variety of places throughout the United Kingdom. Learn more about your treatment options, including endovenous radio-frequency ablation (EVRF) and foam sclerotherapy, at the clinic closest to you
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