Varicose veins are an unfortunate-looking physical feature that many men and women suffer from, particularly as they get older. While part of this is just natural aging, it can be exacerbated by several things that you do in your day-to-day life. With millions of American's currently suffering from some degree of varicose veins, there has been more and more research done into the phenomenon and now medical science has a pretty good understanding of the condition and how to treat it.

Here is a brief overview of what they are and how you can avoid them or address varicose veins. 

So, What Are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are a symptom of the circulatory system not working as intended. As the legs are the furthest part of the body from the heart, pumping blood to and from them is the hardest and, as you get older, sometimes some veins struggle to keep this going as effectively as they did before. Instead, the blood will slowly build up in the veins, instead of getting pushed back to the heart as it should. These can range from small, wriggly veins that jut out of your skin to huge rows of veins that seem to dominate the upper part of your leg and thigh. 

What Causes Them?

Varicose veins seem to be a largely genetic condition, with some mitigating environmental circumstances that can increase your odds of getting it. If you are overweight, for example, your odds of getting varicose veins are much higher. This also extends to people who largely stay in the same place all day and do no extra movement on their own (such as walking to the bus or going for a bike ride now and then). A little bit of activity goes a long way to stimulating those veins and making sure everything works right, but even still you may develop varicose veins. 

How Do You Get Rid Of Varicose Veins?

There are a few options you can take for varicose vein removal, and all should be explained to you by an expert at a vein clinic. These vein care clinics also often do the procedures themselves, so going to them first can save a lot of time. Surgery is sometimes preferable, and the vein can be removed entirely if it is not a vital one (you would be amazed at how many veins the body can do without). There is also a common procedure known as sclerotherapy, which is less invasive than surgery and involves using specific chemicals to break down the vein, causing it to straighten out eventually. Always see a doctor at a vein clinic before you make up your mind.