When the weather’s hot, it’s good to ditch tights in favor of bare legs. But some people would rather stay covered up. It’s estimated that up to 25 percent of women and 15 percent of men have varicose veins on their legs and sometimes feet – swollen blue or purple veins that often look lumpy and twisted.
They can become painful, causing leg swelling, skin damage, and even ulcers. And they also leave people at higher risk of thrombophlebitis or potentially dangerous deep vein thrombosis. Yet the NHS is cutting back on treatment – typically involving surgery – as it is regarded as ‘nonessential’ or ‘cosmetic’, while effective new treatments are being ignored.
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Varicose veins are overstretched blood vessels. Weakness in the vein walls and stretching of the valves means that instead of the blood making its way back up to the heart, some of it pools in the veins. The failing valves further increase the pressure in the stretched veins.
The possibility of developing the condition is increased if you have to stand for long periods, are overweight, or pregnant; there is also a genetic link. Some people have few, if any symptoms, but many suffer aching, throbbing, swelling, and heaviness in the legs, and sometimes itchiness around the affected area.
Mild symptoms can be eased by resting, raising your legs, or wearing support stockings. However, over time poor blood flow can result in thinning and inflammation in the surrounding skin, as well as increased fluid in the legs.
