(HealthDay is the new name for HealthScoutNews.)
SUNDAY, July 20, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Sixty percent of American men and women will have some form of a vein disorder some time in their lives. Women tend to be affected more often than men.
As many as 41 percent of all women will have abnormal leg veins by the time they reach their 50s, according to the National Women's Health Information Center. Many of these vein problems will be varicose veins, which are raised, dark purple or blue veins in the leg. They usually appear on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the leg, but they can appear anywhere from the ankle all the way up to the groin area.
Varicose veins are really just veins that have become enlarged with extra blood. Normally, the heart pumps blood through the arteries to other parts of the body. The veins send the blood back to the heart. Veins are supposed to act as one-way valves and shouldn't allow blood to flow back down the legs. But if a vein becomes weak, blood may flow backwards and collect in the vein, causing it to swell. These swollen veins are either spider or varicose veins. Spider veins are smaller and are usually red or blue in color.
Researchers aren't sure why some veins become varicose. Heredity is believed to play a part, as are hormones. That's one of the reasons varicose veins may be more common in pregnancy. Varicose veins usually don't require medical treatment, but there are surgical options available if your varicose veins are painful or unsightly.
To prevent varicose veins, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, don't stand for long periods at a time, and don't cross your legs when sitting.
More information
The U.K.'s Family Doctor Web site offers this detailed explanation of varicose veins.
