| Varicose veins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leg affected by varicose veins | |
| Pronunciation |
|
| Specialty | Vascular surgery, dermatology [1] |
| Symptoms | None, fullness, pain in the area [2] |
| Complications | Bleeding, superficial thrombophlebitis [2] [1] |
| Risk factors | Obesity, not enough exercise, leg trauma, family history, pregnancy [3] |
| Diagnostic method | Based on examination [2] |
| Differential diagnosis | Arterial insufficiency, peripheral neuritis [4] |
| Treatment | Compression stockings, exercise, sclerotherapy, surgery [2] [3] |
| Prognosis | Commonly reoccur [2] |
| Frequency | Very common [3] |
Varicose veins are superficial veins that have become enlarged and twisted. [2] [1] Typically they occur just under the skin in the legs. [3] Usually they result in few symptoms but some may experience fullness or pain in the area. [2] Complications may include bleeding or superficial thrombophlebitis. [2] [1] When varices occur in the scrotum it is known as a varicocele while those around the anus are known as hemorrhoids. [1] Varicose veins may negatively affect quality of life due to their physical, social and psychological effects. [5]
Often there is no specific cause. [2] Risk factors include obesity, not enough exercise, leg trauma, and a family history of the condition. [3] They also occur more commonly in pregnancy. [3] Occasionally they result from chronic venous insufficiency. [2] The underlying mechanism involves weak or damaged valves in the veins. [1] Diagnosis is typically by examination and may be supported by ultrasound. [2] In contrast spider veins involve the capillaries and are smaller. [1] [6]
Treatment may involve life-style changes or medical procedures with the goal of improving symptoms and appearance. [1] Life-style changes may include compression stockings, exercise, elevating the legs, and weight loss. [1] Medical procedures include sclerotherapy, laser surgery, and vein stripping. [2] [1] Following treatment there is often reoccurrence. [2]
Varicose veins are very common, affecting about 30% of people at some point in time. [3] [7] They become more common with age. [3] Women are affected about twice as often as men. [6] Varicose veins have been described throughout history and have been treated with surgery since at least A.D. 400. [8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Varicose Veins". National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Varicose Veins - Cardiovascular Disorders". Merck Manuals Professional Edition. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Varicose Veins". medlineplus.gov. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^ Buttaro, Terry Mahan; Trybulski, JoAnn; Polgar-Bailey, Patricia; Sandberg-Cook, Joanne (2016). BOPOD - Primary Care: A Collaborative Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 609. ISBN 9780323355216. Archived from the original on 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
- ^ Lumley, E; Phillips, P; Aber, A; Buckley-Woods, H; Jones, GL; Michaels, JA (April 2019). "Experiences of living with varicose veins: A systematic review of qualitative research". Journal of clinical nursing. 28 (7–8): 1085–1099. doi: 10.1111/jocn.14720. PMID 30461103.
- ^ a b "Varicose veins and spider veins". womenshealth.gov. 15 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
- ^ "Varicose veins Introduction - Health encyclopaedia". NHS Direct. 8 November 2007. Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^ Gloviczki, Peter (2008). Handbook of Venous Disorders : Guidelines of the American Venous Forum Third Edition. CRC Press. p. 6. ISBN 9781444109689. Archived from the original on 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
| Varicose veins | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Leg affected by varicose veins | |
| Pronunciation |
|
| Specialty | Vascular surgery, dermatology [1] |
| Symptoms | None, fullness, pain in the area [2] |
| Complications | Bleeding, superficial thrombophlebitis [2] [1] |
| Risk factors | Obesity, not enough exercise, leg trauma, family history, pregnancy [3] |
| Diagnostic method | Based on examination [2] |
| Differential diagnosis | Arterial insufficiency, peripheral neuritis [4] |
| Treatment | Compression stockings, exercise, sclerotherapy, surgery [2] [3] |
| Prognosis | Commonly reoccur [2] |
| Frequency | Very common [3] |
Varicose veins are superficial veins that have become enlarged and twisted. [2] [1] Typically they occur just under the skin in the legs. [3] Usually they result in few symptoms but some may experience fullness or pain in the area. [2] Complications may include bleeding or superficial thrombophlebitis. [2] [1] When varices occur in the scrotum it is known as a varicocele while those around the anus are known as hemorrhoids. [1] Varicose veins may negatively affect quality of life due to their physical, social and psychological effects. [5]
Often there is no specific cause. [2] Risk factors include obesity, not enough exercise, leg trauma, and a family history of the condition. [3] They also occur more commonly in pregnancy. [3] Occasionally they result from chronic venous insufficiency. [2] The underlying mechanism involves weak or damaged valves in the veins. [1] Diagnosis is typically by examination and may be supported by ultrasound. [2] In contrast spider veins involve the capillaries and are smaller. [1] [6]
Treatment may involve life-style changes or medical procedures with the goal of improving symptoms and appearance. [1] Life-style changes may include compression stockings, exercise, elevating the legs, and weight loss. [1] Medical procedures include sclerotherapy, laser surgery, and vein stripping. [2] [1] Following treatment there is often reoccurrence. [2]
Varicose veins are very common, affecting about 30% of people at some point in time. [3] [7] They become more common with age. [3] Women are affected about twice as often as men. [6] Varicose veins have been described throughout history and have been treated with surgery since at least A.D. 400. [8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Varicose Veins". National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Varicose Veins - Cardiovascular Disorders". Merck Manuals Professional Edition. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Varicose Veins". medlineplus.gov. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^ Buttaro, Terry Mahan; Trybulski, JoAnn; Polgar-Bailey, Patricia; Sandberg-Cook, Joanne (2016). BOPOD - Primary Care: A Collaborative Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 609. ISBN 9780323355216. Archived from the original on 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
- ^ Lumley, E; Phillips, P; Aber, A; Buckley-Woods, H; Jones, GL; Michaels, JA (April 2019). "Experiences of living with varicose veins: A systematic review of qualitative research". Journal of clinical nursing. 28 (7–8): 1085–1099. doi: 10.1111/jocn.14720. PMID 30461103.
- ^ a b "Varicose veins and spider veins". womenshealth.gov. 15 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
- ^ "Varicose veins Introduction - Health encyclopaedia". NHS Direct. 8 November 2007. Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^ Gloviczki, Peter (2008). Handbook of Venous Disorders : Guidelines of the American Venous Forum Third Edition. CRC Press. p. 6. ISBN 9781444109689. Archived from the original on 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2019-01-21.