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Varicose Veins is a condition of permanently dilated veins. It occurs mainly in the lower limbs, the lowest part of the bowel (piles or haemorrhoids) or the spermatic cord (varicocele). The condition is caused by a hindrance of the flow of blood from the lower parts of the body to the heart, sometimes caused by a breadown of the valves.
The swollen veins can itch, ache, and bleed. They also cause leg cramps or swollen ankles and feet. Varicose veins may also lead to ulcers above the ankle and to blood clots in the legs that cause a condition known as phlebitis.
For many people, varicose veins do not cause any of these problems and are simply a cosmetic nuisance. The smaller veins close to the surface of the skin don't have valves, but they, too, can become swollen with blood. When this occurs, they appear as a dense, red, wavy network of so-called spider veins.
Although certain activities and habits add to the strain on the veins, researchers do not know what causes varicose or spider veins. It is widely believed it is a matter of heredity. About 25% of Americans have varicose veins on their legs. Only the superficial varicose veins can be seen. The deep veins, however, can develop the condition too.
The treatment for varicose veins ranges from simple exercise to a surgical procedure. Small spider veins and the ropy blue varicose veins are often treated with a procedure called sclerotherapy. The veins are injected with a strong irritating solution such as saline. The injection causes scarring that fuses the veins shut. Without blood circulating through them, they are no longer visible. Each vein needs to be injected individually. This procedure often needs to be repeated within a few years, as new varicose veins often develop. The most extreme technique for treating varicose veins provides permanent relief, but is not suitable for all patients. The procedure, called vein ligation and stripping, removes the superficial saphenous vein, which runs from the ankle to the groin.
 Research Varicose Veins
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