Varicose veins - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Normally, veins return blood from the rest of your body to your heart. The veins in legs have to work against gravity

• Varicose veins- May be caused by weakened valves (incompetent valves) within the veins that allow blood to pool in your veins instead of traveling to your heart
• Spider veins- Thin, red lines/web like networks of blood vessels on the surface of the skin. A mild form of varicose veins

Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins.Any superficial vein may become varicosed

Most common site is legs. Due to standing & walking upright increases the pressure in veins of the lower body.

Signs, when No Pain-

• Veins are dark purple or blue in color
• Appear twisted and bulging; they are often like cords on your legs

Signs, when Pain felt-

• An achy or heavy feeling in your legs
• Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in your lower legs
• Worsened pain after sitting or standing for a long time
• Itching around one or more of your veins
• Skin discoloration around a varicose vein

*Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, but smaller. Found closer to the skin's surface & are often red/blue.

They occur on legs, can also be found on the face. Vary in size and look like a spider's web.