Connie Knox, age 12, of North Brunswick, N.J., for her question:
WHAT ARE VARICOSE VEINS?
A "spider burst'' cluster of small purple veins that sometimes appears on the calves and thighs is often caused by restrictions of circulation in the legs. It rarely requires medical care. A brownish discoloration of the skin around the ankles and lower leg, however, can be a common symptom of varicose veins caused by tiny hemorrhages in damaged blood vessels under pressure.
One of the most common circulatory problems of the legs is varicose veins. It has been estimated that one out of every 10 adults today has this problem.
The pumping action of the heart forces the return of blood through the veins back toward the heart. As the muscles of the leg go through their main function of moving the limb, they contract and squeeze the veins, helping to push the blood upward. A one way system of valves is found in the veins which stops the blood from flowing downward.
Sometimes, as a result of hereditary tendencies, disease or aging, the valves in the veins of the legs will not close properly. When this happens, the blood is given a chance to flow backward and the efficiency of the pumping action is greatly reduced.
When the blood doesn't flow properly up the legs toward the heart, the pull of gravity starts to pull the blood in the veins, exerting great pressure on the vessel walls. The vein may start to enlarge and 'a bulging blue varicosed vein will appear on the leg. The bluish color is caused by the lack of oxygen in the slow moving blood.
A swollen vein in the leg will further distort the valves within them, permitting even more blood to leak backward and impairing the efficiency of the muscle pumping action even more. It's a vicious cycle as congested blood vessels fail to provide enough oxygen and other nourishment to the leg muscles.
As the veins stretch and enlarge, they become twisted through the leg which further contributes to poor movement of the blood.
Too much standing with little movement of the leg muscles will often keep the blood in the legs by the very force of gravity. If a person must stand a lot, it is wise for him to move his legs around from time to time. He should also sit and rest occasionally.
Doctors also recommend that the feet be elevated several times during the day. This action takes the gravity strain off the leg veins and gives them an opportunity to recover from too much sitting or standing. This is a good way of preventing varicose veins.
Doctors often suggest elastic stockings for people with varicose veins and also for those who show a tendency toward the problem. The stockings act in a fashion similar to the muscles by pressing the blood upward.
Sometimes conservative measures don't bring relief and it becomes necessary for the doctor to remove some of the veins. This procedure is called stripping. Drugs are sometimes used, but too often they have a hardening effect on the veins.