Facts to Know

Acupuncture Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Androgen Anxiety Disorders Asthma Atherosclerosis Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Bacterial Vaginosis Biofeedback Bipolar Disorder Birth Control Pills Blood Donation and Transfusion Breast Augmentation and Reduction Breast Cancer Breastfeeding Breast Reconstruction Caregiving Cervical Cancer Chiropractic Chlamydia Cholesterol Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Clinical Trials Colon Cancer Contraception Depression Diabetes Dry Eye Syndrome Eating Disorders Endometriosis Epilepsy Estrogen Fibroids Fibromyalgia Fitness Flu/Colds Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Genetic Testing Genital Herpes Glaucoma Gonorrhea Health Insurance Heart Disease Hepatitis High Blood Pressure HIV/AIDS Homeopathy Human Papillomavirus Hypnosis Hysterectomy Incontinence Infertility Irritable Bowel Syndrome Legal Health Tools Liposuction Lung Cancer Lupus Macular Degeneration Medication Safety Menopause Menstrual Disorders Metabolic Syndrome Migraine Multiple Sclerosis Naturopathy Nonsurgical Aesthetic Procedures Nutrition Obesity Ocular Allergies Oral Health Osteoarthritis Osteopathic Medicine Osteoporosis Ovarian Cancer Overactive Bladder Pain Management Pelvic Organ Prolapse Pelvic Pain Peripheral Arterial Disease Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Pregnancy Premenstrual Syndrome Preparing for Surgery Progesterone Rheumatoid Arthritis Schizophrenia Scleroderma Sexual Dysfunction Sinusitis Sjogren's Syndrome Skin Cancer Skin Health Sleep Disorders Smoking Stress Stroke Substance Abuse Tai Chi Teen Health Thyroid Disorders Trichomoniasis Urinary Tract Conditions Urinary Tract Infection Uterine Cancer Varicose Veins Violence Against Women Vulvodynia Weight Management Yeast Infections Yoga

1. Ninety percent of the "used" blood traveling from your legs back to your chest is carried by the deep veins located within the muscles. Vein abnormalities here aren't visible, but can be painful or even result in dangerous blood clots.

2. The other 10 percent of the blood returning to your heart travels through veins closer to the surface; varicose veins here can be visibly swollen, knotted, twisted or bulging.

3. According to the American College of Phlebology, about 80 million Americans have varicose veins or a related disorder, spider veins.

4. As women age, they are more likely to develop varicose veins: 41 percent of women aged 40 to 50 years old have varicose veins, increasing to 72 percent of women aged 60 to 70 (and 43 percent of men who are 70). Also as women age, varicose veins become more visibly pronounced.

5. Spider veins, also referred to as telangiectasia or broken capillaries, are formed by the dilation of a small group of blood vessels located close to the surface of the skin and are most commonly found on the legs and face. They look like red or purple sunbursts, branched or web patterns.

6. Women are up to four times more likely than men to develop varicose veins; up to 50 percent of American women may be affected, according to the American College of Phlebology.

7. Pregnant women often develop varicose veins for a number of reasons: In addition to hormonal changes, pregnancy causes both an increased volume of blood and increased pressure from the abdomen, which in turn cause veins to enlarge. The good news is varicose veins due to pregnancy often improve within three months after delivery. However, with successive pregnancies, these abnormal veins are more likely to remain.

8. Varicose veins aren't just a cosmetic concern. They can also pose a health risk and are associated with the development of skin ulcers; phlebitis, which is an inflammation of the vein; or blood clots.

9. Though it may require several sessions and the veins may fade only gradually, sclerotherapy, a procedure performed in a health care professional's office, can result in up to a 90 percent improvement in the appearance of varicose or spider veins.

10. While there are several treatment options for small varicose veins and spider veins, large varicose veins may require radiofrequency or laser-induced closure and/or surgery.