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Understanding Varicose Veins Approximately 25 million Americans have varicose veins. For some, they're simply a cosmetic concern. But for many others, varicose veins can cause significant pain and discomfort. Sometimes they even lead to more serious problems. Exercise does not cause varicose veins. In fact, exercise may help prevent the problem, while excessive sitting or standing is more likely to aggravate it. The underlying cause is malfunction of the Fortunately, treatment usually doesn't mean a hospital stay or a long, uncomfortable recovery. New and less invasive techniques generally allow varicose veins to be dealt with on an outpatient basis. Inside your veins Arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body
tissues. Veins return blood from your body to your heart so the
blood can be repumped. As you get older, though, your veins can lose elasticity, causing them to stretch and balloon out. When that happens, the one-way valves may not function properly. Blood that should be moving toward your heart may flow backward, stretching the walls of the veins that may then become visible as varicose veins (varicose comes from the Latin root varix for "twisted"). Varicose veins usually appear between ages 30 and 70 and progressively get worse. Frequently they're hereditary. Women are more likely than men to have them, in part because female hormones tend to relax vein walls. Other contributing factors can include pregnancy, illness, injury and being overweight. Signs and symptoms You may have symptoms even before varicose veins appear.
Symptoms can include an achy or heavy feeling in your legs and
burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in your lower
legs. Prolonged sitting or standing tends to make your legs feel
worse.
In addition, any sudden leg swelling that may or Blood clots in the leg Unfortunately, once varicose veins start, they don't get better on their own. The best advice if you have them (even small ones), or suspect you have them, is see your doctor.
Self-help treatments
Weight control — Shedding excess pounds
takes unnecessary pressure off your veins. Elevating your legs — Take three or four 10- to 15-minute breaks daily to elevate your legs above the level of your heart (for example, by lying down with your legs resting on three or four pillows). Avoiding long periods of sitting or standing — Make a point of changing your position frequently to encourage blood flow. Originally published in Mayo Clinic Health Letter, May 1998 Natural Treatments: Using supplements to treat varicose veins is not standard medical practice, but some doctors feel that certain nutrients are helpful. Here's what they recommend.NUTRIENTS, DAILY AMOUNTS, AND APPLICATIONS
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Most varicose veins
develop in the legs near the surface of the skin; they are more common in
women than in men. Factors that may contribute to their
development include an inherited tendency to defective valves,
increased pressure in the veins during pregnancy, obesity and past episodes of clots in the
veins (thrombophlebitis). 
To return blood to your heart, the veins in your legs must work
against the natural effect of gravity. This is accomplished with the
help of muscle contractions in your lower legs (which act as
pumps), toned, elastic vein walls and tiny one-way valves in your
veins. The valves open as blood flows toward your heart and close
to stop blood from flowing backwards.
The
Whole Story