New Delhi, April 16
If you are having ice-cold feet and feel heaviness in the legs it may indicate the presence of varicose veins -- swollen, twisted, and enlarged veins in legs or ankles, according to a study.
Varicose veins are usually caused by impaired functioning of the deep or superficial veins, and the perforator veins (short veins that link the superficial and deep venous systems in the legs).
The prevalence of varicose veins ranges from 2 to 30 per cent in adults, with women at higher risk. Typical symptoms include sensations of heaviness, aching, throbbing, and itching; restlessness in the legs; fluid retention and swelling; muscle cramps; and leg ulcers in severe cases.
Cold hypersensitivity is often underestimated as a subjective symptom, said researchers from Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan.
Their study, published in the open-access journal Open Heart, showed that moderate to severe cold hypersensitivity was associated with a 49-89 per cent heightened likelihood of varicose veins compared with no hypersensitivity.
Similarly, four times as many people with varicose veins had heavy legs as those without the condition.
Notably, job type was an influential factor in developing the condition. Jobs involving prolonged standing were associated with a 45 per cent higher likelihood of varicose veins.
The association between cold hypersensitivity and heavy legs was significant.