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Varicose Veins
Summary
Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that you can see just under the skin. They usually occur in the legs, but also can form in other parts of the body. Hemorrhoids are a type of varicose vein.
Your veins have one-way valves that help keep blood flowing toward your heart. If the valves are weak or damaged, blood can back up and pool in your veins. This causes the veins to swell, which can lead to varicose veins.
Varicose veins are very common. You are more at risk if you are older, are female, have obesity, don’t exercise, or have a family history of varicose veins. They can also be more common in pregnancy.
Doctors often diagnose varicose veins from a physical exam. Sometimes you may need additional tests.
Exercising, losing weight, elevating your legs when resting, and not crossing them when sitting can help keep varicose veins from getting worse. Wearing loose clothing and avoiding long periods of standing can also help. If varicose veins are painful or you don’t like the way they look, your doctor may recommend procedures to remove them.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Treatments and Therapies
- Ambulatory Phlebectomy American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
- Horse Chestnut National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Sclerotherapy of Varicose Veins and Spider Veins Radiological Society of North America
- Varicose Vein Treatment (Endovenous Ablation of Varicose Veins) Radiological Society of North America
- Varicose Veins: Diagnosis and Treatment Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Find an Expert
- American Society for Dermatologic Surgery American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
- Find a Dermatologic Surgeon American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
- Find an Interventional Radiologist Society of Interventional Radiology
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Start Here
- Bulging Veins: What to Do About Varicose Veins National Institutes of Health
- Varicose Veins National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Varicose Veins and Spider Veins Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
Related Issues
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency Vascular Cures
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Telangiectasis National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Varicose Veins National Institutes of Health
Reference Desk
- Glossary Vascular Cures
Journal Articles
Specifics
- Spider Veins American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
Patient Handouts
- Telangiectasia Medical Encyclopedia
- Varicocele Medical Encyclopedia
- Varicose and other vein problems – self-care Medical Encyclopedia
- Varicose vein – noninvasive treatment Medical Encyclopedia
- Varicose vein stripping Medical Encyclopedia
- Varicose veins Medical Encyclopedia
Images
- Telangiectasias VisualDX
- Varicosities VisualDX
Men
- Varicocele Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Varicocele Embolization Radiological Society of North America
Teenagers
- Varicocele (For Teens) Nemours Foundation
Encyclopedia
- Varicose veins – what to ask your doctor Medical Encyclopedia
- Venous insufficiency Medical Encyclopedia
Diagnosis and Tests
- Venography Radiological Society of North America
- Venous Ultrasound Radiological Society of North America
Children
- What Are Varicose Veins? (For Kids) Nemours Foundation
Women
- Why Do Some Pregnant Women Get Varicose Veins? Nemours Foundation