Pregnancy is a rollercoaster journey, full of strange symptoms and body changes. One such weird preg...

Spider veins are blue or purple veins that can occur during pregnancy on a woman’s ankles, legs, or face. Learn what causes spider veins and how to manage them.

What Causes Spider Veins & How to Manage Them?

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Spider Veins: Meaning, Causes & Management

What Causes Varicose Veins?Your legs are more likely to show signs of varicose veins. They are usu...

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What Are Varicose Veins and How to Prevent Them During Your Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a rollercoaster journey, full of strange symptoms and body changes. One such weird pregnancy symptom you may notice during your pregnancy is spider veins. These thread-like veins, usually on your thighs or the back of your legs, are scary to look at but mostly harmless. In this article, we will discuss what are spider veins, what causes spider veins and how to manage them.

<h2 style="text-align:justify">What are Spider Veins?</h2>

Spider veins are blue or purple veins that can occur during pregnancy on a woman&rsquo;s ankles, legs, or face. They don&#39;t cause any serious pain but can make your legs feel heavier. The skin around the spots created by spider veins can also feel itchy. Spider veins, like varicose veins, are very common during pregnancy and around 3-4 women out of 10 develop spider veins when they are pregnant. 

<h2 style="text-align:justify">Are Spider and Varicose veins the same thing? </h2>

A common way to differentiate between Spider and Varicose veins is that Varicose veins are more swollen, larger, and can be seen and felt right under the surface of your skin in comparison Spider veins are smaller and not nearly as swollen and cannot be felt. Varicose veins are caused by malfunctioning valves in your veins while spider veins can be caused due to a variety of factors. 

<h2 style="text-align:justify">What causes spider veins during pregnancy?</h2>

Usually, the valves in our veins push blood towards the heart. However, sometimes the valves weaken and don&#39;t close correctly. This can cause the blood to leak back into the bottom of the veins and build up. Over time, the wall of the veins weakens and grows larger, causing spider veins to appear. 

During pregnancy, the blood volume inside the body increases and creates significant pressure on the blood vessels. Additionally, the expanding uterus also adds pressure on the veins. This can cause the small veins to swell, putting pregnant women at a greater risk for spider veins. Moreover, genetics also play an important role. if your mother or sister had spider veins or varicose veins, then you&#39;re likely to develop them too. 

<h2>How can you prevent or manage spider veins? </h2>

Here are some steps you can follow to minimize the development and spread of spider veins:

<h3 style="text-align:justify">1. Increase fibre in your diet </h3>

Ensure that you get enough high-fibre foods in your diet as constipation can contribute to swollen veins. A healthy digestion system will prevent any unwanted pressure on your circulatory system which is a major cause of spider veins. If you&#39;re not able to add enough fibre naturally consider a fibre supplement like psyllium husk. 

<h3 style="text-align:justify">2. Eat Vitamin-C rich foods </h3>

Your body uses Vitamin C to manufacture elastin and collagen which help your body to repair and maintain veins. Collagen and elastin are two important connective tissues that help repair and maintain veins. 

<h3 style="text-align:justify">3. Light workouts are important </h3>

While strenuous activities should be avoided during your pregnancy, light workouts like walking help improve and maintain muscle strength, blood circulation, and the health of your veins. Exercise also helps you control your weight gain and keep it gradual. 

<h3 style="text-align:justify">4. Sit comfortably </h3>

Avoid sitting with your legs crossed, or putting your legs on your floor without any support as this restricts blood flow. Instead, try to keep your legs at an elevation that helps circulation in your legs and body. 

<h3 style="text-align:justify">5. Walking is beneficial, standing is not </h3>

Light exercise like walking is beneficial but simply standing on your feet is not. Avoid standing by either walking or taking a seat. 

<h3 style="text-align:justify">6. Sleeping differently </h3>

Sleeping on the left side with a pillow wedged between your legs and behind your back is known to increase the blood flow back to your heart.

While during your pregnancy spider veins may be troubling. Therefore, keep in mind that spider veins are usually a temporary side effect of the pregnancy and after 3-4 months of delivery, they go away.

<h2>What Causes Varicose Veins?</h2>

Your legs are more likely to show signs of varicose veins. They are usually blue or purple and may feel immediately under the surface.

There are no strong muscles in the veins. Therefore, they depend on one-way valves and leg muscles to transport blood back toward the heart. Blood might build up in the leg veins if the valves aren&#39;t functioning correctly. In addition, vascular walls swell as a result of the increasing pressure.

If you haven&#39;t previously had a baby, varicose veins pregnancy may produce a wide range of physical changes. Varicose veins may develop as a result of some of these alterations. ii

During pregnancy, the production of progesterone is enhanced. There are several benefits to using it, including a healthy pregnancy. Relaxed veins make blood flow more slowly. As the vein fills with blood, the pressure within the vein expands, causing the vein to grow in size.

Pregnant women increase blood volume because of the increased demand for oxygen. As a result of increased blood in the circulatory system, the valves and walls of the veins are put under additional stress.

Organs and blood arteries in the abdomen are being put under pressure by the uterus as the baby grows. Before returning to the heart, blood passes from the leg veins to the pelvis or lower abdomen veins. Because of the uterus&#39;s strain on these pelvic veins, blood cannot leave the body via the legs.

Pregnant women are more prone to develop varicose veins because of the hormonal changes during pregnancy. To cure, you can take laser treatment for varicose veins.

<h2>During pregnancy, are varicoceles serious?</h2>

In the short term, varicose veins may itch or sting, but they are generally harmless. You may be able to postpone varicose veins treatment, if necessary, until after giving birth.

People with varicose veins may also develop tiny blood clots at the skin&#39;s surface (superficial venous thrombosis). Clotted blood may cause a vein to become stiff and cord-like and the region surrounding it to become inflamed or even painful.

If you suspect you have one of these clots, contact your doctor or midwife immediately. You may use warm compresses to treat them during pregnancy, and they usually go away in a few days or weeks. However, a clot&#39;s surrounding region might get contaminated from time to time. As a result, you may get a fever or chills and need immediate antibiotic varicose veins surgery.

If you see any of the following:

<ul>
	<li>
	Either limb swells up to a dangerous size.
	</li>
	<li>
	Your leg becomes infected with sores.
	</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>
	The color of the skin around the veins changes.
	</li>
</ul>

DVT is a more severe disorder in which a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs, generally in the lower legs. It may be life-threatening if the clot becomes irritated or travels to the lungs and becomes infected.

When pregnant, DVT is more prevalent regardless of whether or not you have varicose veins: You have a 1 in 1,600 risk of getting it, whether you have it while pregnant or after giving birth. Pregnant women who are obese, have blood clotting issues, or are carrying multiples, and those on bed rest, are at greater risk.)

The symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may range from no signs to sudden, excruciating pain in the ankle, leg, and thigh. In addition, a slight temperature may accompany the pain, which may be worse while your foot is flexed or when you&#39;re standing. Call your doctor right away if you experience any of these signs to get the best treatment for varicose veins.

Ultrasound imaging of the afflicted region may be required. In addition, you will require hospitalization and blood-thinning medication for everyone who has one of these blood clots.

References

National Clinical Guideline Centre (UK). (2013). Varicose Veins in the Legs: The Diagnosis and Management of Varicose Veins. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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