Symptoms of Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are defective veins that can form anywhere in your body, but most often appear in the legs. Varicose veins affects about 1 in every 4 women in America, and by the age of 60, nearly 70 percent of women and 40 percent of men will suffer from varicose veins. How can you tell if you have varicose veins, if you don't see the bulging and discolored veins? Although, the presence of protruded and pigmented veins is usually the obvious sign that you're suffering from varicose veins, some other signs and symptoms of varicose veins include:

• Pain, aches and weakness in the leg, particularly after sitting or standing for a long period.

   

• Night cramps or a muscles cramps, when you're tired or if you're a woman during your menstrual cycle.

   

• Restless legs, which makes standing difficult

   

• Itching or burning sensation in the legs

   

• Swollen ankles or legs

   

• Discolored pigmentation (brownish or bluish) on the skin

   

• Appearance of bulging veins

  It's important to note that normal veins can also enlarge, but unlike varicose veins, they disappear when a person elevates their legs or lies down. Similarly, swollen ankles can be caused by wearing tight shoes or socks, as well as by medical conditions such as blood clots in the leg's deep vein, hearth failures, anemia, and high venous pressure.

  Men can also be affected differently by the symptoms of varicose veins than women. For instance, in men protruding varicose vein may not cause pain and other uncomfortable conditions that women with varicose veins often experience. In fact, during pregnancy and menstruation, the symptoms of varicose veins intensify. However, some women and men may have varicose veins but not any symptoms of it. Making varicose veins largely a cosmetic concern.