Are Varicose Veins Unhealthy?
If you experience bulging leg veins, aching and pain in the legs, heaviness, tiredness of the legs, itching and burning along bulging veins, restless legs or leg swelling, you may have symptomatic varicose veins that warrant evaluation and treatment. Varicose veins can become enlarged and in some cases quite prominent. They can be seen in some individuals as serpiginous (snakelike), raised lumps in the thighs, legs, calves and ankles. The major superficial veins in the lower extremities include the greater and lesser (short) saphenous veins. Other veins include the superior epigastric vein, superior external pudendal vein (groin area), posterior arch vein, anteriolateral branch of the greater saphenous vein, anterior tributary vein and dorsal venous arch. As well, the posteromedial vein, vein of Giacomini, intersaphenous vein and posterior lateral tributary veins. All of these veins and their branches can become varicose. The only place in the lower extremities where a vein should be v