varicose veins
vein disease with swollen, twisted veins visible under the skin
AI overview
Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that become visible under the skin, usually in the legs. They develop when vein disease occurs and can cause discomfort or other health concerns, which is why doctors monitor and treat them.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Research
23,090 papers- Varicose veins.Vascular medicine (London, England) · 2015
- Varicose veins.Circulation · 2014
- Varicose Veins: Approach, Assessment, and Management to the Patient with Chronic Venous Disease.The Medical clinics of North America · 2023
- Varicose veins.Disease-a-month : DM · 2009
- Pathogenesis of varicose veins - lessons from biomechanics.VASA. Zeitschrift fur Gefasskrankheiten · 2014
via PubMed
Article
Varicose veins, also known as varicoses, are a medical condition in which superficial veins become enlarged and twisted. Although usually just a cosmetic ailment, in some cases they cause fatigue, pain, itching, and nighttime leg cramps. These veins typically develop in the legs, just under the skin. Their complications can include bleeding, skin ulcers, and superficial thrombophlebitis. Varices in the scrotum are known as varicocele, while those around the anus are known as hemorrhoids. The physical, social, and psychological effects of varicose veins can lower their bearers' quality of life.
Varicose veins have no specific cause. Risk factors include obesity, lack of exercise, leg trauma, and family history of the condition. They also develop more commonly during pregnancy. Occasionally they result from chronic venous insufficiency. Underlying causes include weak or damaged valves in the veins. They are typically diagnosed by examination, including observation by ultrasound.