Varicose Veins

Find Relief for Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are enlarged, blue veins. They can appear anywhere in your body. But they usually show up on your legs.

In many cases, varicose veins don’t cause problems—you just may not like how they look. However, if these bulging veins cause discomfort and pain, you’ll need medical care.

The cardiovascular experts at Emory Heart & Vascular have the expertise to treat your varicose veins and relieve your symptoms. We’re dedicated to improving your quality of life and helping you get back to the activities you enjoy most.

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What Are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins happen when the one-way valves in your veins don’t work correctly. Usually, these valves close so blood doesn’t back up into your legs when you sit or stand. If your valves are weak, your blood can pool. This increases pressure on your leg veins, making them expand.

Spider veins are a milder type of varicose veins. They don’t bulge out. Instead, they’re closer to your skin’s surface and look like webs on your legs.

Symptoms of Varicose Veins

Varicose veins may or may not cause pain. Still, they produce other signs. You can experience these symptoms in your legs:

Achiness
Bulging, twisted veins
Burning
Dark blue or purple veins
Itching around the veins
Muscle cramps
Restlessness in your legs
Skin color change around the veins
Swelling
Throbbing
Worse pain when standing or sitting for a long time

If your condition continues to worsen, you can experience additional skin symptoms:

Eczema
Inflammation
Lower leg ulcers

Diagnosing Varicose Veins

Specialists at Emory Healthcare take a comprehensive approach to diagnosing your varicose veins. First, they will review your medical history and complete a physical exam. They look for signs of swelling in your legs while you stand. This is a good time to mention any achiness or discomfort you feel.

If our experts think you have varicose veins, they may order a venous Doppler ultrasound. This imaging test uses sound waves to get a real-time picture of how blood flows through your vein’s valves. This quick, painless test can also detect blood clots.

Risk Factors for Varicose Veins

Most cases of varicose veins are inherited. You’re at higher risk if some of your family members also have this condition. But putting more significant pressure on your legs and leg veins can also boost your risk.

These factors can increase the pressure on your legs:

Being female (females are 50 percent more likely to develop varicose veins)
Inactive lifestyle
Leg injury
Medications (oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy)
Older age
Overweight or obese
Pregnancy (increased hormone levels, blood volume and weight)
Previous deep vein thrombosis
Smoking

Frequently Asked Questions

What are varicose veins and what causes them?

Superficial venous reflux is a leading cause of varicose veins. This condition develops when the valves that usually keep blood flowing out of your legs become damaged or diseased. This causes blood to pool in your legs. Common symptoms include pain, swelling, leg heaviness and fatigue, as well as varicose veins in your legs.
What is the difference between spider veins and varicose veins?

Spider veins often get confused with varicose veins. However, spider veins are smaller veins that can appear red, blue or purple and may look like tree branches or spider webs just underneath the skin. They are also caused by venous insufficiency; however, spider veins are considered a cosmetic condition and treatment is not covered under insurance.
What is the first step to get started with treatment?
How can I find out more about varicose vein treatment at Emory Heart & Vascular?