Those painful blue lines
“My legs hurt”. How many times have we heard this from someone that we know. It is because of those thick lines, blue or purple, that can be seen under the skin and that are actually affected veins that usually cause pain and tiredness, better known as varicose veins.
Varicose veins usually appear on the legs, ankles and feet. That is, in the areas of the body farthest from the heart. However, varicose veins can also be found in other areas of the body, such as the esophagus (esophageal varices) or in the rectum (hemorrhoids).
Regarding sex, women are five times more likely than men to have them. Four out of every ten women will suffer one day, although in general they do not usually present a health risk.
There are some factors that increase one’s predisposition:
- Age: the years go by for everyone.
- Obesity: it is always recommended to lose weight.
- Sedentary life: it is important to exercise, according to your own capabilities.
- Contraceptives.
- Pregnancy.
Some symptoms that you can experience when you have varicose veins are: heaviness of legs, accumulation of fluids, inflammation, pain or feeling tired. And in advanced stages, the skin of the area can darken and other lesions may appear as ulcers. It is recommended to visit a specialist doctor.
Can varicose veins be prevented or treated?
It is usually very useful to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid being overweight. It’s treatment is to relieve symptoms and avoid complications. Some of the available therapies are:
- Sclerotherapy: injections that block the circulation in the altered veins.
- Laser therapy: elimination of varicose veins with laser light.
- Compression garments: they compress the veins and prevent pain.
- Surgery: it is the most radical option and only for severe cases.
What can I do from home?
There are things we can do in our daily life to alleviate the effects of varicose veins:
- Avoid exposure to the sun for prolonged periods.
- Cold showers on the legs can be useful.
- Avoid standing for a long time.
- Sleeping with the legs slightly elevated can help.
- Reduce any overweightness.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
*Content validated by the mediQuo medical team.
