Vein gymnastics in the barefoot park Dornstetten, Germany.

An Indian Railways worker affected by varicose veins in Karnataka, India.

Varicose veins are veins on the leg which are large, twisted, and ropelike, and can cause pain, swelling, or itching. They are an extreme form of telangiectasia, or spider veins. The following codes are used with International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. ... The following is a list of codes for International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. ... Vein gymnastics in the barefoot park Dornstetten, GFDL, Pic taken by Lorenz Kerscher File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Vein gymnastics in the barefoot park Dornstetten, GFDL, Pic taken by Lorenz Kerscher File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Indian ladder in the barefoot park Nienhagen, Germany. ... Image File history File links Varicose-veins. ... Image File history File links Varicose-veins. ... Indian Railways (IR) is the state-owned railway company of India. ... It has been suggested that Divisions of Karnataka be merged into this article or section. ... In biology, a vein is a blood vessel which carries blood toward the heart. ... Shaved female legs In common usage, a human leg is the lower limb of the body, extending from the hip to the ankle, and including the thigh, the knee, and the cnemis. ... Telangiectasias Are small enlarged blood vessels near the surface of the skin, usually they measure only a few millimetres. ...

Other symptoms of varicose veins include:

• Aching, heavy legs (often worse at night)
• Ankle swelling
• A brownish-blue shiny skin discoloration around the veins
• Skin over the vein may become dry, itchy and thin, leading to eczema (venous eczema)
• The skin may darken (stasis dermatitis), because of the waste products building up in the legs
• Minor injuries to the area may bleed more than normal and/or take a long time to heal
• Rarely, there is a large amount of bleeding from a ruptured vein
• In some people the skin above the ankle may shrink (lipodermatosclerosis) because the fat underneath the skin becomes hard.

Varicose veins are more common in women than in men, and are linked with heredity. Other related factors are pregnancy, obesity, menopause, aging, prolonged standing, leg injury and abdominal straining. Varicose veins are bulging veins that are larger than spider veins, typically 3 mm or more in diameter. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Stasis dermatitis refers to the skin changes that occur in the leg as a result of stasis or blood pooling from insufficient venous return. ... Heredity (the adjective is hereditary) is the transfer of characteristics from parent to offspring, either through their genes or through the social institution called inheritance (for example, a title of nobility is passed from individual to individual according to relevant customs and/or laws). ... Pregnancy is the carrying of one or more embryos or fetuses by female mammals, including humans, inside their bodies. ... Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age in species that experience such cycles. ... In biology, senescence is the combination of processes of deterioration which follow the period of development of an organism. ...

The irritation -- especially the itching -- of varicose veins can be controlled to an extent with either of the following:

• anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or aspirin -- but there is a risk of intestinal bleeding.
• regular exercise, including vein gymnastics, wading through water and going barefoot.

Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) widely marketed under various trademarks including Act-3, Advil (A portmanteau of Advise and Pill)[citation needed], Brufen, Motrin, Nuprin, and Nurofen. ... Aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid is a drug in the family of salicylates, often used as an analgesic (against minor pains and aches), antipyretic (against fever), and anti-inflammatory. ... Walking barefoot Going barefoot is the practice of walking without shoes or socks. ...

External links

• What are Varicose Veins?
• Varicose Vein overview
• eMedicine health Varicose Vein causes
• NHS Direct - Varicose Veins