Blue Veins
Have you ever wondered while watching your thighs’ wrist where the veins are most distinctly visible appear blue? Blue Veins doest does not mean that you have blood that has turned from red to blue. In ancient times people used to think that blood when in the body is blue and only turn when it breaks out through the body get exposed and reacts with air and turns red.
Why does veins appear blue ?
But in reality, blood is always red. Be it inside or outside of our body. But veins do seem to be tinged as blue, green, and some times purple in color. Veins are not blue, but in reality, the veins are colorless and transparent.
Blue Veins appear due to an optical illusion caused by the phenomenon of scattering of lights.
Blood is always red, but the shade of red depends on the oxygen levels in the blood. The blood has its red color due to the iron-containing substance called the hemoglobin, which reacts with oxygen and turns red. Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart. Which is bright red and that blood moves to different body parts, dispersing oxygen to every organ, gets deoxygenated, and returns to the lungs via veins to get more oxygen. At that time, deoxygenated blood turns bit marron or purple, but it never gets blue.
The Blue Veins that we see a result from the ability of different wavelengths of the white light, including blue and red wavelength, to be reflected in our eyes. The reason that we see Blue Veins is that the skin absorbs all the red in the light because red having a longer wavelength and penetrates more as compared with blue light. Hence, almost all of the blue light gets scattered by our skin and reflects the blue color.
Causes of Blue Veins
We see Blue Veins because most of the blue light reaches our eyes.
Regardless of skin color, veins absorb most of the red color. Veins closer to the skin retain most of the red color absorbed from the light and refect most blue light. But it is found that paler the skins are the veins look bluer because of the refective illusion.
Blue Veins are noticeable to everyone, and everyone around the world has it. Blue Veins are most prominent in the wrist, chest, knees, and legs. Blue Veins do not indicate any health problems. However, in some cases, it can reflect signs toward poor blood circulation, resulting in Kidney issues, Varicose Vein problems, and other diseases.
Blue Veins are most common for Varicose veins.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are the condition where blood vessels get swollen, usually affects the leg, particularly near the feet. They are sometimes surrounded by spider veins, which are small blood vessels located around the skin. Veins carry deoxygenated blood and have one-way valves. When the deoxygenated blood flow gets obstructed due to a weak and damaged vein valve, blood gets accumulated, and pool in your veins causes swelling, leading to Varicose veins.
Itchy Veins
Varicose veins sometimes called Itchy veins because it tends to ich. That condition is known as ‘Venous Stasis Dermatitis.’ When Venous blood builds up in the varicose vein, the internal pressure is generated, eventually leaking into the skin. The leaky blood vessels cause inflammation; thus, the skin over the veins becomes red and itchy.
Are Varicose Veins Dangerous?
Varicose veins are primarily cosmetic and do not pose any threat to the body, but they can indicate an underlying disease. Since veins carry deoxygenated blood, so the accumulation of venous blood in the Varicose veins within the skin causes to release of iron, which leads to itching, that itching will lead to non- healing ulcers. If not treated, these non -healing ulcers can also lead to skin cancer.
Sometimes these varicose veins could burst and bleed since they are distended with blood.
Varicose veins can also experience Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) or Thrombophlebitis if not treated for a long time.
Varicose Veins Causes
Varicose veins are more common in women than in men.
- Age: Older people are more prone to get varicose veins because there is more wear and tear in the veins’ valves.
- Obesity: Overweight, increases the pressure in the veins.
- Chronic Constipation
- Sitting and standing in one position for an extended period.
- Large prostate
- Constant Cough
- Family History
- Pregnancy
Varicose Veins Symptoms
- Pain in the legs
- Heaviness
- Itching
- Pain while standing
- Cramps in the night
Varicose Veins Treatment
There are many treatments available for treating Blue Veins caused by varicose veins.
Laser Therapy
Blue Veins that are slightly deeper are treated with the help of laser therapy. There are two types of non-surgical laser treatments to treat varicose veins. YAG (yttrium-aluminum-garnet) and Pulsed Dye Laser.
Sclero Therapy
In this therapy, a serum is injected in the Blue veins to make them collapse and disappear
Varicose Veins Home Remedies
Fullers Earth
- Apply half a teaspoon of turmeric in fuller’s earth ( also known as Multani), then
- Mix a little water and make a paste of it.
- Apply this paste in the affected area and leave it overnight. Wash it with warm water in the morning.
Marigold Petals
Make a paste from the marigold petals, apply it in the affected area, and leave it overnight.
Oil Massage
Massaging increases blood circulation. You can apply almost any herbal oil. Slightly warm the oil massage the veins for several minutes. You can also put some vitamin E in the oil for better results.
Varicose Veins Prevention
- Try to avoid wearing tight or high heeled shoes.
- Regular exercise
- Loose weight: for relieving extra pressure in the legs
- Avoid sitting cross-legged: because it hinders proper blood circulation.
- Avoid sitting and standing for an extended period.
- Eat Vitamin K rich foods such as green leafy vegetables like(spinach, kale, lettuce, etc.)
Conclusion: Blue Veins do not always mean Varicose veins, veins are seen as blue due to optical illusion, but the Blue Veins, which is found bulging and swelled, especially at the legs near knees and thigh, can be due to varicose veins.