
LA CROSSE, Wis. ― Patients experiencing an achy, heavy feeling or a burning sensation in their legs may be feeling the symptoms of varicose veins. These twisted, enlarged veins often develop as people age, but they also can begin when people are younger. Any vein that is close to the skin's surface — called a superficial vein — can become a varicose vein.
"For most people, varicose veins simply are a cosmetic concern," says Christopher Huiras, M.D., a general and vascular surgeon at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse and Sparta. "But for others, varicose veins may lead to more serious health issues, such as significant life-limiting ulcers or blood clots."
Dr. Huiras says symptoms of varicose veins include:
Varicose veins are usually dark purple or blue in color, and they tend to appear twisted or bulge.
"Exercising, limiting sodium intake, losing weight and elevating your legs are some self-care options to stop varicose veins from worsening," explains Dr. Huiras. "Purchasing compression stockings often is the first approach your health care team will suggest before trying other treatment options."
Compression stockings can be worn during the day to improve blood flow in the legs, and reduce swelling and aching.
If these self-care options don't ease the pain, Dr. Huiras says options that might provide quick recovery with minimal pain include:
"Sometimes, one or more procedures can be combined for best results," Dr. Huiras says.
###
About Mayo Clinic Health System
Mayo Clinic Health System consists of clinics, hospitals and other facilities that serve the health care needs of people in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The community-based providers, paired with the resources and expertise of Mayo Clinic, enable patients in the region to receive highest-quality physical and virtual health care close to home.
About Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse
Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse was the only health care facility in Southwest Wisconsin in 2021 that received the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid's 5-Star Quality Rating and Leapfrog Grade A for Safety, and was named in Healthgrades America's "250 Best Hospitals" and Newsweek's "Best Hospitals in the U.S."
Media contact:
The holiday season can invite unwelcome guests into your life, such as loneliness, money problems, family demands and unrealistic expectations. The stress and anxiety that ...
National Handwashing Awareness Week will be observed Dec. 3–9, so this is a good time for a reminder that washing your hands is one of the ...
The Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide by Dec. 8 on a new therapy to treat sickle cell disease using gene editing technology called CRISPR, ...