Varicose veins are the twisted and enlarged veins which appear bulging and bluish on the surface of the skin. Generally, some superficial vein may also be seen as varicosed. However, it mainly affects the veins of your legs due to excessive pressure from standing and walking for a prolonged period.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should consult a doctor and get yourself checked for varicose veins: pain, muscle cramps and heaviness in the legs, bulging of the veins which are bluish or purplish, Spider veins which are smaller than varicose veins and appear red or blue, and discolouration and itchy feeling around the skin.

Veins are responsible for carrying the blood from different parts of the body to the heart. Veins in the legs have to work against gravity to carry the blood to the heart. Weakened and damaged valves cause the backflow of the blood to the legs causing pooling of the blood in the veins of the legs.

Physical examination of the affected and swollen area is the first step in the diagnosis of varicose veins. Doctor may recommend ultrasound imaging to identify if there is any damage to the valves and pooling of the blood in the veins.

Yes, application of ice or ice packs can be useful in relieving the symptoms such as pain, redness and swelling. But this relief is temporary, and ice application does not help cure this condition.