View syndicated health information from Mayo Clinic.
They can hurt terribly, are unsightly and very common. Millions of people -- mostly women -- have varicose veins. They swell, bulge, can make your legs ache, and can embarrass you enough that you always cover your legs. The most common treatment is a surgery that literally strips the veins, an operation that knocks you off your feet for several days and makes you uncomfortable for a couple weeks. But a new technology helps patients get rid of varicose veins and get back to work living in about three days.