LA CROSSE, Wis. ― Patients experiencing an achy, heavy feeling or a burning sensation in their legs may be feeling the symptoms of varicose veins. These twisted, enlarged veins often develop as people age, but they also can begin when people are younger. Any vein that is close to the skin's surface — called a superficial vein — can become a varicose vein.
"For most people, varicose veins simply are a cosmetic concern," says Christopher Huiras, M.D., a general and vascular surgeon at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse and Sparta. "But for others, varicose veins may lead to more serious health issues, such as significant life-limiting ulcers or blood clots."
Dr. Huiras says symptoms of varicose veins include:
