Symptoms

Aching, heavy and uncomfortable legs
Swollen Feet
Swollen ankles
Muscle cramp in your legs
Itching
Dry, itching and thin skin over the affected vein
Swollen veins
Blue lumpy veins
Bulging veins
Twisted veins

What To Expect

If the elasticity of the vascular walls decreases or the venous valves are damaged, the venous blood accumulates. Then the vascular walls can overstretch and sag - varicose veins develop. If there is a lack of exercise or after a long day of standing up, more blood collects in the leg veins. Patients then often complain about heavy legs and feelings of tension.

Made Worse By

If you suffer from varicose veins you should move a lot. Regular walking, hiking, jogging, cycling, swimming, dancing or even gymnastics can prevent and improve varicose veins. You should avoid overweight, longer periods of sitting or even standing. However, if you have an office job and are only sitting at your desk, you should remember to keep your legs elevated, maybe do some toe exercises, get up and move around. It is also very important to eat healthy food and drink at least two Liters of water per day. Lifting and carrying heavy loads can also lead to varicose veins.

How Common

Varicose veins are common: Every fifth adult has at least minor changes in the superficial veins. Women are affected three times as often as men.

Diagnosed By

The right person to contact if varicose veins are suspected is a specialist in vascular surgery or phlebology. In an initial consultation, the doctor will ask you about current symptoms and any previous illnesses (anamnesis). He may ask you the following questions, for example: How old are you? Do you smoke and if so, how much? Do you suffer from a feeling of tension in your legs in the evening? Have you recently had the feeling in the evening that your legs are very heavy? With women: How many pregnancies have you had so far? Do other family members suffer from varicose veins? The doctor will then examine you physically for signs of varicose veins. He will look at both legs and feet in a side-by-side comparison to identify any swelling, skin discoloration or ulcers.