Accompanying symptoms of vein weakness
The accompanying symptoms of a vein weakness are caused by the accumulation of blood in the legs. The legs swell up, become heavy and tire more easily. A feeling of tension, itching or pain, in the form of calf cramps, can occur.
Since the return flow to the heart is more difficult in standing and sitting than in lying down, the symptoms usually worsen during the day and reach their pain maximum in the evening. In contrast, the pain improves quickly when the legs are elevated. The blood that is “stuck” in the veins of the legs also accumulates in small side branches of the veins.
This results in small spider veins that shimmer through the skin like thin spider webs. Large protruding varicose veins can also occur. In addition, high pressure in the veins causes fluid to leak from the blood into the tissue.
As a result, water accumulations, also called oedema, form, which are usually found on the ankles. When it is warm, the veins dilate and more blood can collect in them. This can also worsen the pain.
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Edemas are accumulations of fluid in the tissue that can occur for various reasons. A weakness of the veins can also lead to the formation of oedema in the area of the lower legs and ankles. Here, blood accumulates in the leg veins.
Although these vessels are elastic, they can only absorb a certain amount of blood. If the pressure inside the veins becomes too high due to the accumulation of blood, fluid will leak from the vessels. It accumulates in the surrounding tissue.
Since the flow of fluid is also subject to gravity, leg edema usually occurs at the ankles. Pain is often experienced when the veins are weakened. These can take the form of a feeling of tension in the lower legs or calf cramps.
Since the accumulation of blood in the legs increases when standing for a long time, during the day or at high temperatures, pain is more frequent, especially in the legs. Long-lasting pain can be a sign that the disease has worsened. A slight vein weakness has no disease value except for the cosmetic aspect.
However, the disease can develop into chronic venous insufficiency if it worsens. Therefore, if pain persists, the family doctor should clarify whether treatment is necessary.
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Itching can occur as a symptom of vein weakness.
It is a sign of the irritation of the leg veins caused by blood accumulation. Fluid also leaks from the leg veins, which can lead to a feeling of tension combined with itching. Furthermore, a venous weakness can be accompanied by an inflammatory reaction, which manifests itself in the form of swelling, redness, pain and itching.
Usually only the lower leg is affected by itching and, in the case of severe symptoms, the feet as well. Brown spots can appear as symptoms of venous weakness in early and late stages. Although they are cosmetically noticeable, they are not dangerous.
At the beginning of the disease, the irritation of the veins and the increased permeability lead to an increased incidence of bruises, which – when they are broken down by the body – appear brown. In later stages, spots appear on the skin, which shimmer through the surface from brown to yellow. These spots are caused by the breakdown of substances that are important for the storage of iron. Iron is released during the decomposition process and this is how the brown color is created. The stains are called purpura jaune d’ocre.
