Sometimes at the end of a hard working day we may experience complaints such as swelling, heaviness and fatigue in the legs. Besides varicose veins, these can also be signs of a number of other conditions (heart failure, many kidney diseases, and diseases of the lymphatic system).
For this reason, we should pay special attention to several signs in order to distinguish varicose veins from these conditions.
Varicose veins of the legs, in which swelling may affect one or both legs, are characterized by swelling that appears mostly in the afternoon. Swelling due to varicose veins often forms below the knee and especially around the ankles. During examination, other symptoms of varicose veins, such as bluish discoloration visible on the skin surface, should also be identified.
People often accept the feeling of fatigue and heaviness in the legs in the evening as normal at the end of a working day. In fact, these important symptoms are the first signs of varicose veins and indicate that they are developing.
It is true that fatigue and heaviness in the legs can also occur in various musculoskeletal disorders and in impaired lymphatic drainage. However, the main difference between varicose veins and these conditions is that with varicose veins, swelling and fatigue decrease significantly when lying down.
Varicose veins present with bruising on the legs, a network of visible veins ("bulging veins"), and pain and heaviness in the legs. Blood stagnates in the dilated veins and their permeability increases. As a result, blood leaks into the surrounding tissues and bruises appear on the skin.
Information on this site is general and does not replace an examination by a doctor.