Common varicose veins symptoms include pain in the legs along with feelings of fullness, heaviness, visibly enlarged veins, mild swelling and discoloration of the ankles, and skin ulcers near the ankle. Most people may regard varicose veins as a minor disorder that is of low priority. Sometimes they may not even cause symptoms, other than the unpleasant appearance that is a great nuisance to many.

A Few Reasons Why Symptoms Worsen

Varicose veins symptoms like heaviness or tension in the legs that are accompanied by swelling, aching, restless legs, cramps and itching can worsen after a long day of standing. These symptoms tend to get worse during hot weather as well as after exercising, and many women experience a worsening of the symptoms during their menstrual periods. Varicose veins symptoms in pregnant women also seem to become more prominent, although many of the symptoms will subside after the birth of the baby.

Unfortunately, varicose veins symptoms are often rather non-specific and it can be hard to correlate the severity of the symptoms with those of the venous disease. Nevertheless, most varicose veins symptoms get resolved after some sort of varicose vein treatment. Even then, varicose veins symptoms are progressive and can worsen over time, and the more severe instances of varicose veins may lead to significant complications.

Varicose veins symptoms can also lead to feelings of chronic fatigue and lower energy levels. When the condition is more advanced, there can also be discoloration of the skin and leg ulcers will affect the patient when the blood begins to leak into the surrounding tissues. The symptoms may be mild to severe, and need to be discussed with a physician who specializes in venous care. There may also be continuous pain in one or both legs that may indicate the presence of thrombosis (blood clotting). This condition requires the immediate attention of a physician.

Normally, one may associate the symptoms with the legs only, but varicose veins can also be seen on the face or chest. No matter where they occur, there are a number of reasons for the development of varicose veins. It is typical for physicians to prescribe basic solutions to help alleviate the varicose veins symptoms first, and these include using compression stockings that squeeze the leg and thus provide relief. Another possible treatment option is creams that can be applied topically to the affected area. These creams will generally condition the skin around the veins, leading to a diminished appearance of the varicose veins.