The cause of varicose veins remains unknown, but some believe that the problem lies in the wall of the vessels or the superficial veins, which are the veins that are located directly under the skin.

This weakness may be hereditary, and over time this weakness may cause the veins to lose their elasticity, becoming longer and wider, resembling a snake under the skin.

Women may be more susceptible than men to this matter, and it may first appear during pregnancy or in cases where have risk factors for developing these varicose veins, such as obese patients and for long periods.

Arteries transport oxygen-laden blood from the cardiac to all parts of the body, veins return blood from the veins to the heart, and valves inside it maintain blood flow toward the heart and prevent backward flow.

Therefore, in people who have varicose vessels, the valves are ineffective and blood accumulates in the vessels, which leads to their enlargement, and this also leads to the formation of spider vessels, which are enlarged capillaries.

What are varicose veins caused by?

Varicose veins occur when they enlarge, expand, and fill with blood, appearing through the skin swollen, prominent, bluish-purple or red, and often painful.

It is a common condition that affects 25% of ladies and usually appears on the lower legs.

The veins contain a group of one-way valves, which prevents blood from flowing backward, but when these valves malfunction or something occurs in the veins, or if the walls of the vein become tight and inflexible, blood begins to accumulate in the veins and not return to the heart again.

In a weakened valve, blood leaks backward or eventually flows in the opposite direction, resulting in enlarged or twisted varicose veins.

Varicose vessels usually appear in the legs because the leg is under a lot of compression to return blood to the heart.

There are many factors that increase the chances of developing varicose vessels, comprising:

• Pregnancy.
• Menopause.
• Advanced aging (increased incidence over 50 years old).
• Standing for a long period.

Family history of varicose veins.

Varicose veins usually appear at an early age as many factors, comprising:

• Obesity: It is one of the most important reasons associated with the occurrence of varicose veins, as excess weight increases and squeezes them into the legs, the expansion of the wall of the veins and appear of the varicose vessels usually appear on the surface.
• Poor clothing choices: The quality of clothing might affect the health of the vessels greatly. Wearing excessively tight clothes or wearing high heels with movement or running might cause the wall of blood vessels to dilate, which over time might cause varicose veins to usually appear on the surface.
• Stability in a certain position for a long period: standing for a long period is one of the most important reasons for varicose veins, as well as sitting for long hours in the same position leads to swollen veins and varicosity.
• Genetic: If the parents have varicosity, the possibility of their children being infected is great, and in this case, it can be avoided by following healthy daily habits, if varicose veins are hereditary, they usually appear at a young age, and it is necessary if varicose vein are widespread in the family.

Many ones with varicose veins have spider veins, which are twisted or enlarged capillaries.

What are types of varicose veins?

Two types of them impact the body, the most prominent of which are the following:

• The first type: occurs suddenly without reasons or disease that led to its appearance, and is often associated with genetic factors related to the weakness of the interfacial tissue of the body, and includes that impact the testicles and anal hemorrhoids, in addition to hernias.

Flat feet, which increase the chance of developing this type of varicose (spider) veins are standing for long periods.

• The second type: This occurs as a result of a previous disease, or occurs as a complication of other diseases, and includes those that impact pregnant, legs and swollen pelvic areas.

Can birth control cause varicose veins?

No, in general, contraceptive methods do not cause varicose veins in the feet, whether they are birth control pills or other methods.

What are symptoms of varicose veins?

In most cases of varicose vessels, the affected person does not feel pain or not experience any symptoms.

The veins usually appear twisted, swollen, and blue.

Other symptoms that some cases with varicose in leg may feel comprise:

• Leg pain.
• Feeling that the legs are heavy from varicose vessels, especially after exercising or at night.
• Bleeding continues for longer than usual when the area affected by the varicose vein suffers a slight injury.
• Lipocutaneous sclerosis: The subcutaneous fat just above the withers can become hard causing the skin surface of the leg to shrink.
• Telangiectasia in a leg is affected by varicosity, and these dilated hairs are called spider veins.
• Bright discoloration near twisted or enlarged varicose vessel, usually bluish or brownish in color.
• The appearance of venous eczema or the so-called stasis dermatitis, where the skin in the affected zone becomes red, dry, and itchy.
• Leg cramp occurs in some cases who suffer from the enlarged varicose vein of the leg when standing up suddenly.
• Restless Leg  Syndrome occurs in a high percentage of cases who suffer from twisted or enlarged varicose veins.
• The appearance of white, irregular, scar-like spots on the ankles, these spots are Atrophie Blanche.
• Swollen ankle.

Does smoking cause varicose veins?

• Effect on vein valve: Smoking can damage vessels and vein valves.  This damage can increase the possibility of the vein valve being ineffective in preventing fl9w from blocking in the wrong direction, which can contribute to dilated vessels and the appearance of varicose veins.
• Effect on flowing: Smoking reduces flow and causes constriction of vessels, which can lead to increased pressure inside the vessels and dilation.
• Increase vascular inflammation: Smoking contributes to increased vascular inflammation, a factor that can lead to weakening and dilatation of vessel walls.
• Effect on collagen and elastin: Smoking can damage collagen and elastin, which play an important role in the strength of vessel walls.

How to diagnose varicose veins?

The surgeon usually examines the legs and visible vessels while the patient is standing or sitting to diagnose varicose veins in the legs, and he also asks him about the presence of any symptoms or pain.

• The physician also performs an ultrasound to check flow.

This test is a non-invasive procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves and allows the physician to see how they flow in the veins.

• A venogram also be done to better evaluate the veins.

During this procedure, the physician injects a special dye into the patient’s legs and makes an x-ray of the zone.

The varicose veins of the legs in which the dye was injected are shown through the X-rays, which helps the physician see better flow.

• Ultrasound and venography help make sure that there is no other disorder (such as a clot or embolism) causing the ache in the legs.

What is varicose veins treatment?

In general, doctors advise when treating enlarged varicose vessels to make lifestyle changes rather than trying treatments at first.

A wide range of options are available for enlarged varicose vessel, include:

• Use of liquid or foam chemical injections to resolve varicose vessels.
• Microsurgery system, using a liquid chemical injection to prevent narrowing of twisted or enlarged varicose veins
• Laser therapy.
• Venous ablation, using heat waves and radiofrequency waves to prevent vessel swell.
• Laparoscopic vein therapy.

You should always talk to your doctor about treatment and risks before choosing an appropriate method, which depends on your symptoms and the size and location of enlarged varicose veins.

How to prevent varicose veins?

The following changes may help prevent varicose veins from getting worse and include:

• Avoid standing for long periods.
• Lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercising to improve circulation.
• Use or wear compression stockings on the affected zone to reduce swelling.
• Elevation of your legs when resting or when sleeping.
• Surgical procedures enlarged varicose vessels.
• If lifestyle changes don’t work, or if your varicose vessels are causing a lot of aches or harming your general health, your physician may try a surgical procedure, which is done by ligation and striping the vessel under anesthesia.

During vascular surgery, the surgeon cuts the affected vessel and removes it.

Through incisions, although vessel stripping surgeries have been developed, it is less common due to the lack of modern medical treatment.

Can varicose veins disappear on their own without surgeries?

Treatment of varicose veins may include a number of measures aimed at alleviating the severity of symptoms or limiting their development, including:

• Wearing compression stockings as an initial treatment solution before resorting to other treatments, as pressure on the veins and muscles of the legs improves flow.
• Sclerotherapy (injecting enlarged small and medium veins with a solution that stimulates scarring and blockage of it and its fading after several weeks).
• Laser treatment (exposing the enlarged vessel to laser rays to stimulate the gradual disappearance of the vessel) without the need to make any surgical incisions.
• Catheterization of the veins by inserting a thin tube whose tips raise the temperature to stimulate damage to the vessel and seal it. This procedure is performed for large enlarged leg veins.
• Exposing the veins by pulling the enlarged long veins through a small skin incision.
• Pulling small enlarged veins through microdermal puncture.
• Venoscopy surgeries in advanced cases of varicose veins in the legs to close the enlarged vessel.  “If it doesn’t work, you may have to have surgeries.”