As women age, their body undergoes a variety of different changes. One of these changes comes in the form of menopause, which occurs when a woman reaches middle age. However, various activities that she might have done in her younger years might resurface as physical irregularities later on in her life.
Varicose and spider veins are two such examples of common irregularities that women might encounter. Although they can appear on other parts of the body, the legs are the most common area where these kinds of veins occur.
Although varicose and spider veins are cosmetic nuisances, they vary from each other in terms of overall appearance. Varicose veins are more raised on the skin than the spider veins, and are thicker and puffier. They are also greenish, purplish, or bluish in color. In contrast, spider veins are thin, scraggly veins that are usually dark red in color.
Women can get one type of vein or the other, but regardless of the kind of vein that materializes, it is important to understand how varicose and spider veins are caused. One of the most prevalent ways that they are caused is through significant weight gain. This could be either because of a change in diet and lack of exercise, or because of the weight gain that is associated with pregnancy.
What happens anatomically in such a situation to cause these kinds of veins to occur is that the excess weight that a woman gains, weight that would categorize her as being obese, puts pressure on the detailed network of veins in the legs.
The blood that circulates through these veins thus have an especially hard time making their way through them. So, in an effort to accommodate the blood, the veins will swell and become varicose and spider veins, depending on what their original size was.
Believe it or not, poor fashion choices can lead to the presence of these kinds of veins as well. High heels make lovely fashion accessories, but they are also not good at all for circulation. Thus, women often end up with these kinds of veins because of long hours walking around or standing on high heels.
Another thing that can cause these kinds of veins is circulatory problems that exist because of heart disease. There are two main factors that can cause heart disease, those being high blood pressure and high cholesterol. These conditions place an excess amount of pressure on the heart, which can in turn cause the blood to thicken.
In such a scenario, the veins will once again have pressure placed upon them, and the thickened blood could result in dangerous clots. One way to tell if these kinds of veins are an indication of this serious condition is whether or not a rash (which could lead to an ulcerated vein) is present, or if the leg on which these kinds of veins are present is often stiff and aching. So, blood thinners, medicinal injections, or laser therapy are all various ways that these kinds of veins can be treated.
