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Varicose Veins
Maybe you've seen them before, blue or purple squiggles on the legs. It's
a vein that has become stretched and swollen with blood. You have veins and
arteries running through your whole body. They are tiny tubes that carry
blood to and from every part of your body, from your nose down to your toes.
The blood going out to your body in the arteries is full of oxygen, which
makes the blood bright red. But the blood coming back from your body in the
veins is like a purplish colour. As people get older, the bodies valves
might not work as well. When that happens, some blood can stay in a vein
instead of moving forward like it should. This makes the vein swell up, and
that swollen vein is a varicose vein.
Varicose veins are more common in women, and people who get them are
usually age 30 over. These veins can be genetic, if your mom or your sister
has them, you might get them. Things that put pressure on your legs and feet
- like being overweight or standing for a long time every day without
exercise - can also cause varicose veins.
Sometimes women who are pregnant get them.
To get rid of varicose veins, doctors can zap them with light from a
special laser. The doctor injects fluid into the vein that makes it shrivel
up. You can also help to prevent them with regular exercise. Also, don't put
a lot of pressure on your legs and feet by standing or sitting for too long
without moving around.
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