Glossary of Health Terms

According to The British Medical Association, "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."

National Women's Health Information Center reports that as many as 41 percent of all women will have abnormal leg veins by the time they reach their 50s. 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 can appear anywhere from the ankle into to the groin area. During pregnancy, varicose veins called hemorrhoids can form in the vagina or around the anus.

The heart pumps blood to supply oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. Arteries carry blood from the heart towards the body parts, while veins carry blood from the body parts back to the heart. As the blood is pumped back to the heart, veins are there to act as one-way valves to prevent the blood from flowing backwards. If the one-way valve becomes weak, some of the blood can leak back into the vein. There it collects and then becomes congested or clogged. This congestion will cause the vein to abnormally enlarge. These enlarged veins will be the cause of varicose veins or spider veins.

Varicose veins are very swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. They are dark purple or blue in color, and can look like very twisted and bulging cords. No one knows the exact cause of spider and varicose veins, but there are several factors that may cause a person to be more likely to develop them. Heredity, or being born with weak vein valves, is the greatest factor. Hormones also play a role. The hormonal changes that occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, as well as taking estrogen, progesterone, and birth control pills can cause a woman to develop varicose veins or spider veins. During pregnancy, besides the increases in hormone levels, there also is a great increase in the volume of blood in the body that can cause veins to enlarge. The enlarged uterus also puts more pressure on the veins. (Within 3 months after delivery, varicose veins usually improve. However, more abnormal veins are likely to develop and remain after additional pregnancies.)

Other factors that weaken vein valves and that may cause varicose or spider veins include aging, obesity, leg injury, and prolonged standing. Spider veins on the cheeks or nose of a fair-skinned person may occur from sun exposure.

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