Varicose veins typically look like swollen veins raised above the surface of the skin. They are dark blue or purple in color and may look twisted. They can be flat or bulging. In some cases they itch or ache, but for some people the only concern is cosmetic. The veins are found most often on the calves or the thighs, anywhere from the groin to the ankle.

As your baby grows and your weight increases, you become more prone to developing them. For one thing, increasing levels of progesterone cause the walls of your blood vessels to relax. Also, an increase in the volume of blood in your body can cause veins to enlarge.

Many women get varicose veins simply from the carrying pregnancy-related weight. However, a number of other factors also may affect whether you get varicose veins, including family history, obesity, and whether your work requires you to stand for long periods of time.

Unfortunately, there is no proven way to prevent varicose veins from developing. But there are several things you can do to make you less prone to getting them or to keep them from worsening.

•Exercise. Remember, varicose veins are essentially a circulatory problem, so the better you can keep your blood circulating, the greater your chances of avoiding them. Walk, swim, ride a bike -- any kind of aerobic exercise approved by your practitioner will do.

•Elevate your legs. Any time you can, prop your legs up on your desk, a stool, whatever's handy. When you're watching TV, pile up a couple of pillows on the coffee table and rest your legs on them. The higher the better -- whenever you can, experts say, raise your feet above your heart. That helps stimulate blood flow back in the direction of the heart.

•Wear support hose. The stronger or more elasticized, the better. There are even prescription-strength hose, known as graduated-compression stockings, available from medical supply stores and pharmacies.

•Don't wear knee-high socks or hose. You don't want a band of elastic cutting off circulation in the middle of your leg. So skip socks altogether or wear ankle socks with loose elastic tops.

•Don't cross your legs. You may feel comfortable sitting this way, but crossing your legs puts pressure on the veins and cuts off circulation.

•Avoid standing for long periods. Unless it's absolutely required for your job, avoid standing whenever possible. If standing is unavoidable, try to keep moving; your goal is to keep your circulation strong and prevent blood from pooling in your legs and feet. Don't be afraid to ask someone to move to give you a seat on the bus, or to talk to your employer about changing procedures so you can sit rather than stand.

In almost all cases, varicose veins are just a nuisance. They can itch, they can hurt, or they may just make you self-conscious. In a very tiny fraction of cases, people may develop an ulcer or a blood clot from the poor circulation associated with varicose veins. If you develop a tender spot, a dark-colored area, or a fever, tell your doctor about it.

Wait until your baby is born before concerning yourself with treatment, since many women find their varicose veins go away within a few months after the pregnancy is over. If not, and your varicose veins are really bothering you, there are several treatment options. However, if you're planning to have more children, you might want to wait until you're done with childbearing, since varicose veins tend to recur with each pregnancy. They increase with age even if you don't have another baby.

-- Melanie Haiken, MA, is the former health editor of Parenting magazine and specializes in health, business, and parenting issues. She has served as managing editor of San Francisco magazine and as an editor at Industry Standard magazine, and has written for Time Inc. Health, The Washington Post, and many other publications.

References

First published September 20, 2005
Last updated April 1, 2008

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