Data shows that 50% of people with varicose veins are affected by varicose veins in the legs. Varicose veins are veins that have become enlarge, twisted, and discolored on the surface of the skin. It isn’t only a cosmetic problem. Many people are afflicted with swelling, throbbing pain, and muscle cramping. Learn how you can identify the causes, symptoms and treatment for leg varicose veins.
Although veins are found all over the body, the legs is the most frequent site for formation of varicose veins. The calf is the most affected part of the leg.
What are varicose veins & how do they form in my legs?
Veins are thin, loose tubes located all over the body that transport blood back toward the heart. There are veins on the surface, superficial veins, veins in muscles, deep veins, and veins that allow both superficial and deep veins to share blood flow, the communicating veins. Varicose veins form due to the increasing blood sitting in the vein, increasing pressure, and stretching the walls of the vein. As the veins stretches, the valves that facilitate the movement of blood back toward the heart, get pulled apart and do not close all the way, allowing for blood to flow backwards.
What is affected? Calf, Thighs & Behind the Knee
Although veins are found all over the body, the legs is the most frequent site for formation of varicose veins. The calf is the most affected area due to this portion of the leg being farther away from the body with the potential for blood to backup in certain circumstances. Even though the calf is a popular site for varicose veins, the thigh is still a highly affected area, over all, in the body.
The largest of the superficial veins in the legs is the Great Saphenous vein, which supplies smaller veins in the leg. At the location for branches of veins, these sites have a high incidence for blood backing up and the formation of varicose veins and are commonly found in the mid thigh and behind the knee.
What factors increase the chance of getting varicose veins in the leg and what can be done to decrease?
There are certain factors that can increase your chance for developing varicose veins:
1. Genetics, being overweight or obese, standing or sitting for long periods of time, pregnancy, gender, and age. Some of these factors are modifiable, but others cannot be changed.
2. Working to reduce the modifiable risk factors by losing weight and changing positions can reduce the chance for leg varicose veins.
3. There are other treatments for varicose veins, such as daily exercise to help squeeze the muscles and pump blood, compression stockings that compress the muscle and veins to move blood, and elevating the legs to allow gravity to move the blood from your legs.
What to do if conservative treatments do not work?
If all else fails and you want to experience the long, lean, sleek legs that you desire, or if you want to have pain free legs, book a consultation with Dr. Mackay, a vein specialist in Tampa, Florida with three different locations. A visit with your doctor will help you discover more options to treat your varicose veins once and for all.
Meet ABMS Board Certified Surgeon, Dr. Mackay
Contact the office of Dr. Edward Mackay, a board certified vascular surgeon providing services to patients in the Tampa area.
