By Stella Gay


It is a condition that most every woman will face within her lifetime, though it is rarely spoken of in the media, or even medical circles. For women who develop them, they are an embarrassing eyesore which can result in some women avoiding any clothing which would reveal the legs. From Austin, TX to Ontario, Canada, women have learned to endure their varicose veins in silence.

This condition is sometimes called a spider vein, and occurs when there is pressure to the lower body preventing blood from traveling back up to the heart. The blood pools in the vein causing it to enlarge and turn blue. For this reason, most of these varicosities are located in the legs and feet, often advancing to the stage of being an eyesore that results in a negative body image.

The procedures recommended for self-care include exercise, changing standing or sitting positions every half hour, and sometimes the wearing of compression stockings or hose. When the woman is suffering discomfort or painful throbbing in her legs, her doctor may have some surgical alternatives. However, she must be willing to discuss the presence of this pain and find out what her options really are.

In rare cases one might develop a rash or sores around the ankles. This can be a signal of a much more serious vascular disease known as venous insufficiency, and medical care should be sought. The fact of the matter is, this is sometimes more than a matter of vanity or mild discomfort, and women who ignore the more severe symptoms can suffer strokes or aneurysms, and in extreme but rare cases may have to undergo an amputation.

With pregnancy or advancing age, many women will begin to see the first signs of varicosities. When a vein loses elasticity, it can become unable to successfully bring blood all the way back to the heart. Some blood can fall back and pool in the vein, causing it to become enlarged and discolored. Pregnancy varicosities often repair themselves fairly quickly.

This primarily impacts women, although men do suffer in this way too. Age and hormonal changes play a definite factor, but working jobs which require total standing in one place or sitting for hours can be a culprit as well. The blue rope-like vein is regarded as an eyesore on the legs of women in a society which places beauty at the top of her value, expecting her to be perfect and unmarred by time.

To add insult to injury, being upright and on her feet is a position which most people would agree indicates a healthy lifestyle choice. Unfortunately, it is this position, held for too long, which actually contributes to this. It seems she can disfigure herself at a time when she most needs to feel attractive.

Compression stockings, if properly fitted, can improve this condition, as can shifting position frequently and improving muscle tone in the legs. For herbalists, horse chestnut seed extract can help with the circulation as well. For women suffering pain or bleeding ulcers, there are options such as laser treatments or sclerotherapy which may be recommended by her physician.




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