Vascular condition
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that are often visible under the skin of the legs. This page is educational. Visible veins or leg aching are not a diagnosis by themselves, and this website cannot determine the cause of your symptoms.
What varicose veins are
Veins return blood toward the heart. When vein valves do not work as they should, blood can pool and the vein can enlarge. Varicose veins are a venous condition. They are not the same as PAD, which involves arteries.
Some people also notice smaller surface veins. Those findings still need a physician’s assessment if they are new, painful, or changing.
Symptoms are not a diagnosis
Heaviness, aching, swelling, itching, or skin changes in the legs can occur with venous problems and with many other conditions. This page does not conclude that those symptoms mean you have varicose veins or vein disease.
A cardiovascular evaluation can help determine whether a venous condition may be contributing.
How evaluation may proceed
A physician may review your history, examine the legs, and, when appropriate, recommend additional testing. Heart rhythm and other cardiac questions may also be relevant for some patients.
Do not use photographs on the internet to self-diagnose vein disease.
Care discussions vary
If a venous condition is diagnosed, options depend on the individual. This page does not list office procedures or promise cosmetic or medical results.
Ask the physician what, if anything, is recommended for you.
When to contact a physician
Call the office to ask about evaluation. Seek urgent or emergency care for sudden one-sided swelling, severe pain, chest pain, or trouble breathing, which can have causes that need prompt medical attention.
Outside education links are provided for additional reading. Those organizations do not endorse Dr. Polosajian or Cardiac Rhythm Specialists.