Varicose
veins are most often swollen, gnarled veins that most
frequently occur in the legs, ankles and feet. They are
produced by a condition known as venous
insufficiency or
venous reflux, in which blood circulating through the
lower limbs does not properly return to the heart but
instead pools up in the distended veins.
More than 25 million
Americans suffer from venous reflux disease. The symptoms
can include pain and fatigue in the legs, swollen ankles and
calves, burning or itching skin, skin discoloration and leg
ulcers. In less severe cases, thin, discolored vessels –
“spider veins” – may be the only symptom.
Gender and age are two
primary risk factors in the development of venous reflux. An
estimated 72% of American women and 42% of men will
experience varicose veins symptoms by the time they reach
their sixties. Women who have been pregnant more than once
and people who are obese, have a family history of varicose
veins or spend a great deal of time standing have an
elevated risk for the condition, but it can occur in almost
anyone at almost any age. Varicose veins never go away
without treatment and frequently progress and worsen over
time.
Severe varicose veins can
have a significant impact on the lives of people who work on
their feet – nurses, teachers, flight attendants et al.
Research has shown that more than two million workdays are
lost each year in the US, and annual expenditures for
treatment total $1.4 billion.
