To have beautiful legs is a common desire of every woman. But in our fast-paced rhythm of life, it is important to preserve not only the beauty, but also the health of the legs. High heels, the time spent on your feet, and even weight training in a fitness club can trigger the development of a serious disease called varicose veins. During the later stages, varicose veins cannot be confused with anything. However, at the initial stages, it is cunningly disguised as plain fatigue and heaviness in the legs. Let’s talk about the first signs of varicose veins because the sooner you know about the disease and start treating it, the easier it will be to deal with this disorder.
What is Varicose veins
Many people mistakenly believe that varicose veins are a disease that affects only the elderly. This is not correct: serious stages of varicose veins can occur even in a very young age. What is the varicose veins disorder?
Varicose veins are a pathology in which there is chronic venous insufficiency, which eventually causes the notorious symptoms – swollen and twisted veins in the legs. Veins become deep purple or even black in color; they get twisted and knotted under the skin, as the blood flow in the veins of the legs is violated, the heart valve does not work properly, blood stagnates, stretching the vessels and causing these symptoms. It is worth mentioning that at least 25% of the people living on our planet face with some degree of varicose veins. There is some bad news for the fair sex: women suffer from varicose veins more often than men. The ratio of men and women with varicose veins is one to three.
Doctors have named several causes of varicose veins:
- Genetic predisposition. Unfortunately, sometimes people are predisposed genetically, but that does not mean that you will necessarily experience all the unpleasant symptoms of the disorder. If you are careful about your health, you can prevent the development of varicose veins, even if the pathology appears;
- Hormonal changes. This reason explains why varicose veins are much more common in women than men: women’s hormonal balance is very unstable. The main periods of risk include puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause;
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- The work which requires constant standing on legs. Too much load can lead to the disruption of blood flow in the veins of legs.
The initial stage of varicose veins
As we have said, very few people know about the development of varicose veins, until the disease becomes serious enough. The thing is that the symptoms of the initial stage of varicose veins are so familiar to everyone that we simply fail to notice them. However, if you often observe early signs of varicose veins, it is best to turn to a phlebologist. Here are the symptoms that should make you worry:
Do you often feel heaviness and pain in the legs, especially after wearing high-heeled shoes or spending a lot of time on your feet? Of course, this symptom cannot suggest having varicose veins by itself, but you should pay attention to it.
Swelling. Of course, anyone can have swollen legs. But if they do not result from the abuse of salty food, heat or strenuous exercises, they can become your constant companion, and you may get the initial stage of varicose veins. Every morning and evening, measure the circumference of the lower leg, and if you notice that the difference between the morning and the evening volume exceeds 1 centimeter, you should be cautious. Varicose veins are characterized by swelling of the feet in the evening, which disappears till morning.
At the initial stages of varicose veins, you can experience nagging pain in your legs. However, some women may complain about numbness of the skin and a tingling sensation. From time to time, there may be spasms or convulsions.
Perhaps one of the most striking symptoms of varicose veins is that the veins in the legs begin to be noticeable through the skin. Veins do not bulge, but their color becomes more intense.
Spider veins. Many people believe that spider veins are identical to varicose veins. This is not quite true. Spider veins on the legs indicate weak blood vessels rather than varicose veins. However, if you have noticed this symptom, you should see a doctor.
Varicose veins are a common disease, which not only looks unsightly, but also causes a strong discomfort. Consult your doctor immediately after the manifestation of the first symptoms. Do not treat the disease with neglect, and you will preserve the beauty and health of your feet.
