Why have the veins become very visible on the arms? How to make veins appear on your arms

Veins appear on the hands of many people. Men and women of different age categories do not always pay attention to this feature. Therefore, many do not even think about the source of the problem and the possible consequences.

How veins appear on the hands

Vessels protruding on the hands, as a rule, do not pose a threat to life and health, being only an aesthetic flaw. Most often they become noticeable on the lower parts of the arms and wrists; they are also possible on the forearms and shoulders. In men, the phenomenon occurs more often.

The vein may protrude slightly on the arm without causing discomfort. Or it can become very convex, even hard. In some cases, it begins to react painfully to touch. This is considered the first reason to seek advice from a specialist.

Causes

Protruding vessels can be a manifestation of a physiological norm or a pathological condition requiring medical intervention. Therefore, it is important to know the reasons why veins protrude strongly on the arms.

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In ordinary healthy people

In people who do not have any health problems, protruding large vessels are considered normal. This appears in the following cases:

1. Thin epidermis. A small layer of fatty tissue makes the skin translucent. Therefore, the vessels are clearly visible.
2. Injury. The affected area swells, the vein may swell and change color.
3. Physical exercise. With regular force overloads, the lumen of the arteries becomes wider, they increase in volume. The muscles harden from the weight and push the capillaries closer to the surface.
4. Anatomy or inherited location of large and small capillaries close to the surface of the skin.
5. Aging of the body. In older people, blood vessels are weakened. The walls do not retain their shape, and a tortuous pattern forms on the skin.
6. Increase in ambient temperature. In hot weather, blood is pumped into the extremities. The volume of blood vessels and small capillaries increases. They change shape and become noticeable.
7. Woman's pregnancy. During hormonal changes in a girl’s body, processes occur that promote capillary swelling.
8. Setting up injections, IVs, taking blood for analysis. After injury from a needle, a vein may swell, change color, and begin to hurt. If the pain does not go away for more than a day, this is a reason to consult a doctor.
9. Temporary instability of blood flow is indicated by a change in the state of the arteries: they appear and disappear. In this case, there is no talk of pathology. Trying to restore them with ointments and exercises is pointless. More often the problem occurs in adolescence.

In athletes

Athletes, especially male representatives, are more likely than others to encounter the problem of veins appearing on the hands.

Bodybuilders, bodybuilders and other “siloviki” constantly receive increased loads. This causes muscles to grow, blood vessels to dilate, and veins to become clearly visible, even when the arms are relaxed.

Due to illness

Among the factors why veins begin to bulge, there are also pathological processes. The most common:

1. Thrombophlebitis. The walls of the superficial vessels are inflamed, the color changes to dark blue. With a long course of the disease, the vessels hurt and become black.
2. Varicose veins The walls of blood vessels weaken, and blood stagnation begins. The lumen of the arteries becomes blocked, so they swell and bulge.
3. Thrombosis. A blockage appears in the deep veins and a blood clot forms. In the early stages, the problem does not manifest itself in any way and is difficult to diagnose.
4. Symptom complex of functional venous insufficiency or postphlebitic syndrome. Develops after thrombosis and requires long-term medical supervision.

Diseases in which protrusion of the subcutaneous pattern occurs require timely treatment.

It is dangerous to neglect the disease, since there is a possibility of complications such as paralysis of the limb and death of the bloodstream.

Associated symptoms

Pronounced vessels in the presence of pathology cause aesthetic and physical discomfort. They are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• swelling;
• pain syndrome in the limbs;
• heaviness;
• blue extremities;
• slight increase in temperature;
• muscle weakness;
• hyperemia;
• formation of ulcers;
• tubercles, compactions, bumps on the affected areas.

Differential diagnosis

Vascular examination is indicated as the main direction of diagnosis.

The procedure is necessary to exclude serious diseases or confirm them. For this purpose, ultrasound examination or venography is prescribed. Additionally, it is necessary to submit urine and blood samples for analysis.

When to see a doctor

If pathological processes are detected during diagnosis, a referral to the appropriate specialist will be given.

The patient should be alerted to the above symptoms that cause physical discomfort.

Treatment tactics

It is unwise to treat swollen arteries as a symptom. Therapeutic measures should be taken in relation to the source of the development of pathology. Most often, the doctor prescribes local medications, tablets, and compresses. In some cases, surgical intervention is required.

Drug therapy or surgical care must be supported by additional measures. To hide the visible tortuous pattern, you need to strengthen the body:

1. Avoid alcohol.
2. Limit your coffee consumption.
3. Drink plenty of still water. Moisture is necessary for the epidermis to improve its structure.
4. Use moisturizing creams.

Gymnastic exercises

A little gymnastics also helps eliminate the subcutaneous pattern.

The following exercises are considered effective:

1. Extend your thumbs in different directions.
2. Bend each finger in the opposite direction. Then repeat the exercise, bending all your fingers at once.
3. Squeeze your fingers, bend your hands up and down.
4. In the same position, twist your fists in different directions.
5. Bring your hands together in front of your sternum. Raise your elbows up, lowering your clenched palms to your stomach.
6. Squeeze your fingers and straighten them sharply.
7. Extend your arms to the side and make several circular movements left and right.
8. Depict playing the piano.

Exercises must be done daily. Perform each exercise 10 times.

Drug therapy

The source of the visible defect and its consequences can be eliminated with the help of conservative medical care. Most often, doctors prescribe the following drugs:

1. Troxevasin, Atenolol - significantly reduce pain.
2. Aspirin, Lopirel, Curantil - thin the blood, reduce the risk of blood clots.
3. Fibrinolysin, Urokinase, Trypsin are fibrinolytic drugs that help thin the plasma.
4. Ketonal, Loxidol, Ibuprofen are anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce pain.
5. Pentoxifylline, Vazonit - improve blood circulation, prevent vasoconstriction and blockage.

Important! Self-prescription of drug treatment is fraught with the development of serious consequences. Medicines have contraindications, which you need to familiarize yourself with in advance.

Physiotherapeutic procedures

Physiotherapeutic procedures have a beneficial effect.

Therefore, for the comprehensive elimination of venous bloating of the arms, it is recommended:

1. Contrast shower morning and evening. During the week, the time spent under water should be increased from 10 to 20 minutes.
2. Massage.
3. Baths with the addition of sea salt or a decoction of herbs (chamomile, lemon balm).
4. Magnetotherapy.

When is surgery required?

Surgical intervention is used only in two situations:

• the patient’s desire to get rid of cosmetic flaws (the female part of the population resorts to the procedure more often);
• the presence of pathologies requiring surgical intervention.

Operations based on the principle of influence are divided into several groups:

1. Laser therapy. A gentle method in which swollen vascular formations are removed with a laser, gluing them from the inside.
2. Phlebectomy. Special instruments are used to remove somuds affected by varicose veins.
3. Ultrasound thrombolysis. Ultrasound destroys the blood clot, which subsequently dissolves.
4. Sclerotherapy. The affected vessel is filled with a special liquid and excluded from the bloodstream.

The rehabilitation period after surgery depends on the chosen technique. Phlebectomy is the most difficult to tolerate. After the procedure, the patient is limited in movement, must follow a certain diet, and take medications.

Alternative Therapies

If there are no health threats, you can get rid of an aesthetic defect using alternative methods: acupuncture, treatment with leeches. Before this, you need to consult a specialist and take the necessary tests.

Folk recipes

You can get rid of the venous network using traditional methods. Among the effective methods are compresses, tinctures, and the use of vitamin teas:

1. Treatment with tomatoes. Divide the unripe tomato into slices. Place on the affected area. Secure with a bandage. Leave overnight. Repeat every other day.
2. The use of wormwood. Mix the flowers of the plant with sour milk in equal proportions. Lubricate problem areas. Wrap them in polyethylene. After 20-25 minutes. remove the compress. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth. Do the procedure daily.
3. Use tincture of birch buds, mixing it with apple cider vinegar in a ratio of 1 to 1. Rub problem areas in the morning and evening.
4. Garlic compress. Grate a few cloves. Mix them with the same amount of butter. Apply to swollen blood vessels. Insulate the compress. Repeat the procedure every evening for 2-3 months.
5. Consumption of herbal teas. You can enrich the body with vitamins, strengthen the immune system and remove blood vessels with tea made from red currants, mint leaves, St. John's wort flowers, and rowan fruits.

Folk remedies rarely have a negative effect. They have virtually no contraindications. Long-term, regular use is required to achieve results. You can combine several traditional methods or alternate them.

Hirudotherapy

Leeches help get rid of even very pronounced blood vessels. The medical Hirudo medicinalis is placed on a specific point on the patient’s body. During a bite, hirudin, a plasma thinning substance, is released into the bloodstream.

Results are visible after the first use. The subcutaneous pattern begins to quickly disappear, and the discomfort decreases.

Acupuncture

Well-known and effective method. Thin needles are inserted into special points on the body according to a certain pattern. The injection activates biological processes and normalizes blood flow.

Prevention

Healthy eating, rest, moderate exercise are the main preventive measures. To prevent the vessels from becoming swollen and painful, and to prevent an aesthetic defect from developing into a serious problem requiring the help of doctors, it is necessary:

1. Avoid alcohol and nicotine.
2. Reduce the amount of coffee you drink.
3. Take a contrast shower every day.
4. Do exercises or exercise.
5. Eat properly.

When troubleshooting the problem, it is important to follow the doctor’s recommendations. Adhere to the basics of complex therapy. Recovery after surgery takes a lot of effort and time, so it is better to avoid critical situations.

The condition in which the veins protrude on the arms is one of the most common problems, in most cases diagnosed in the fair sex. Enlarged veins that appear through the skin can also be found in men who engage in strenuous sports.

How veins appear on the hands

First of all, the blood vessels swell on the hands. This is explained by their closest location to the skin and the constant presence of the limbs in a lowered state, which contributes to the accumulation of blood fluid in them.

As the pathological process progresses, if the cause of bulging veins is the development of any disease, the condition affects the elbow area and forearm.

Causes

Most often, swollen veins in the arms appear as a result of exposure to provoking physiological factors. However, there are cases when dilated venous vessels may indicate serious vascular pathologies.

Physiological reasons include:

• Hereditary predisposition. This problem is mainly diagnosed in people whose relatives have protruding blood vessels on their hands.
• Lack of fatty tissue in the skin. If it is in small quantities, it can cause the veins to become noticeable.
• Age. As a person ages, blood vessels become less elastic and weakened. As a result, stagnation of blood fluid and dilation of veins occurs. In addition, aging leads to thinning of the skin, against which the blood vessels become more visible.
• Hot weather. Too high an air temperature can provoke vascular dilation and disrupt the functioning of venous valves. It is for this reason that blood vessels protrude strongly on the surface of the epidermis in the hot season.
• Hormonal imbalances. Often occurs during pregnancy or at the onset of menopause in women in adulthood.
• Intense physical activity. Protruding veins on the upper extremities are a fairly common occurrence in people involved in heavy work or sports. Such types of activities contribute to an increase in blood flow, increased hardness of muscle tissue, which can provoke an expansion of the venous lumen.

Pathological causes include:

1. Phlebeurysm. This is a pathological condition that leads to stretching of blood vessels as a result of increased pressure in them. The development of the disease can be facilitated by genetic predisposition and lifting heavy objects.
2. Thrombosis. It is characterized by blockage of the veins of the upper extremities by a formed blood clot. This disease may not manifest clinical symptoms for a long time. When a critical condition occurs, paralysis develops.
3. Thrombophlebitis. This is a disease characterized by inflammation of the vascular walls. Occurs as a result of partial or complete blockage of blood flow.
4. Postphlebitic syndrome. This is a consequence of complicated thrombosis. Characterized by damage to the vascular walls, which leads to inflammation of the veins.
5. Dermatitis and eczema. They refer to skin pathologies that are accompanied not only by rashes and peeling of the skin, but also by painful sensations in the veins of the upper extremities.

Timely identification of the factor that caused the veins to pop out allows you to get rid of the problem in the shortest possible period.

In guys, veins can bulge due to the development of various abnormalities in the health of the circulatory system. In addition, this problem also arises as a result of physiological factors, among which are:

• thin build;
• regular exercise;
• carrying and lifting heavy objects.

In girls, this condition develops for the same reasons as in representatives of the stronger sex.

Here you can also add hormonal levels, which can be disrupted during the period of bearing a child, as well as with the onset of menopause at a more mature age.

Diagnostics

Additional diagnostic studies are carried out when there is reasonable suspicion of the development of vascular pathologies in which the veins in the arms stand out.

First of all, the patient is prescribed an ultrasound examination, which makes it possible to visualize superficial and deep vessels, blood clots and other problems that cause blood flow disturbances.

Venography may also be done. Its essence lies in the introduction of a contrast agent into a vein and subsequent X-ray examination.

When to see a doctor

Swollen veins in the arms cause a lot of discomfort. As the problem progresses, if it is caused by various pathological factors, the condition worsens. The vessels begin to bulge strongly, the patient is concerned about increased pain and swelling of the limbs in the evening.

If the veins are visible, the following symptoms will be observed:

• heaviness and pain in the hands;
• numbness of fingers;
• frequent desire to throw the head back.

When a lesion appears against the background of thrombophlebitis or other vascular diseases, additional signs appear:

• redness of the epidermis;
• skin thickening;
• temperature increase;
• swelling.

If you identify one or more of the listed symptoms, you should immediately seek help from a specialist. This condition can cause heart disease.

Treatment

If the pathology is diagnosed in a timely manner, then in order to remove bulging veins, it will be enough to use drug therapy.

In this case, the following drugs may be prescribed:

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Ketonal, Ibuprofen. Allows you to eliminate pain and stop the inflammatory process.
2. Improving blood circulation - Vasoket, Actovegin, Trental. Minimize the likelihood of developing blood stagnation.
3. Anticoagulants such as Aspirin. Helps thin the blood and reduce the risk of blood clots.
4. Fibrinolytic enzymes - Fibrinolysin, Urokinase. Their action is aimed at thinning the blood.
5. Antiplatelet - Dipyridamole.
6. Local action - Dolgit, Troxevasin. Relieves pain syndrome.

Each drug has a different composition and mechanism of action. Therefore, only a doctor can prescribe medications based on the general condition of the patient.

ethnoscience

At an early stage of development of the inflammatory process affecting the veins in the arms, it is also possible to use folk remedies.

It is worth using one or more of the most effective recipes:

1. Concentrated apple cider vinegar. Before use, it must be diluted with the same volume of tincture prepared from birch buds. This composition is used to lubricate hands in the morning and evening.
2. Grate several heads of garlic, mix with butter in a 1:1 ratio. Apply the resulting mixture to a bandage and apply to the affected skin of your hands. Secure the bandage with adhesive tape. The course of treatment with this method lasts from three to five months.
3. Mix crushed wormwood flowers and yogurt in equal quantities. The product is applied to the skin for about a third of an hour. Residues of the medicine are removed under running water. Next, you need to apply high-fat sour cream to your hands for a couple of minutes.

It is important to remember that, no matter how effective this or that method of therapy is, especially for unconventional methods, it can only be used after consultation with a specialist.

Exercises

Certain exercises can help get rid of protruding veins:

• straighten your fingers back, first one by one, then together;
• tilt your thumb forward and backward with a slight movement;
• spread your fingers out to the sides as much as possible,
• walk your fingers across the table.

Such exercises help improve blood flow and restore joint function.

Procedures

The following measures are helpful in treating bulging veins:

1. Sclerotherapy. The impact on the affected area is carried out by introducing a special liquid that glues the vessel, which helps to completely stop blood circulation.
2. Hirudotherapy - treatment with leeches. It will only take a few sessions to normalize blood flow and improve blood vessels.
3. Ultrasound. Under the influence of waves, formed blood clots are destroyed.
4. Laser therapy. It is one of the most painless and safe methods. The vessels are irradiated with a special laser and glued together.

Your doctor will tell you which method to choose.

When is surgery necessary?

Surgical intervention is used in rare cases when the process is neglected. Its essence lies in the complete excision of the damaged vessel.

After the operation, a long rehabilitation period is required.

Prevention

To prevent veins from bloating, you need to follow some simple recommendations:

• control body weight;
• do not wear tight clothing;
• avoid lifting heavy objects;
• minimize physical activity;
• eat a balanced diet, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables;
• lead a healthy lifestyle.

Due to the fact that the veins in the arms can protrude for various reasons, you should not self-medicate.

At the first signs of deviations, it is better to consult a specialist. He will help identify the provoking factor that caused the problem and select the most optimal treatment option.

Article updated date: 04/17/2019

Protruding veins on the arms in most cases are only an aesthetic problem. As a rule, they are noticeable on the hands (especially on the middle, ring and index fingers), wrists and forearms, sometimes on the shoulders, and this phenomenon is observed more often in men than in women.

But the absence of physical discomfort does not always indicate the norm of such a symptom. If the veins in your arms protrude, this happens often, they are very visible, and even more so if they hurt, ache or pull, you need to consult a doctor to find out exactly the reasons for what is happening.

Why does this happen?

It is important to be able to distinguish in which case this symptom is a variant of the norm, a physiological condition, and in which it is pathological, requiring diagnosis and treatment.

This is what it looks like in the photo:

In ordinary healthy people

As a normal option, large swollen veins in the arms may appear in the following situations:

1. A person regularly performs strength physical activity on his arms. In this case, the pressure on the vessels increases, expanding their lumen, and at the same time, the arm muscles become hard - they also help push the veins out.
2. From the blow. The site of the bruise usually swells, the vessel becomes more noticeable and pronounced. If a person hits his hand right in the place where the vein passes, then it may swell, turn blue or purple, sometimes even turn black and a bruise will form around it.
3. Thin, translucent skin (especially in girls, teenage boys and children), with a small layer of subcutaneous fat that could hide blood vessels. Normally, this problem should not cause cosmetic defects in a child.
4. A hereditary feature is the superficial location of the veins. Most often, enlarged veins appear after too much physical exertion or when a person holds for a long time and then quickly lowers his hands. It occurs less frequently in boys than in girls.
5. Hot weather, significant increase in air temperature. This factor sometimes provokes increased blood pumping in the extremities, due to which the vessels and capillaries increase in size, inflate and become convex (on the legs this manifests itself as varicose veins and swelling in the evenings).
6. In older people, as a result of the aging of the body. With age, the elasticity of blood vessels begins to be lost, the walls of the veins are unable to maintain their shape, and the tortuous pattern on the hands becomes more noticeable.
7. Pregnancy, postpartum period. In this condition, bulging veins in women is a physiological process associated with hormonal changes in the body.
8. Blood collection, IV placement, anesthesia administration. In some people, the veins may swell after a blood donation procedure, or after a catheter is removed. In this case, the injection site often ache, itch, and there is redness and burning. This is an absolutely normal phenomenon that is associated with anatomy, there is no need to worry. But if there is also pain, you should consult a doctor, this may be a sign of post-injection phlebitis.
9. When you lower your hands. A similar phenomenon is usually observed in people with problems with blood pressure, with increased blood density. When the arms are lowered, especially if they had been raised for a long time or were tense, the blood does not have time to circulate normally and the veins become more visible.

If the veins swell and then disappear, this may indicate a temporary circulatory disorder. In this situation, there is no point in trying to reduce them; they must hide on their own.

In athletes

In people who are actively involved in sports, veins appear much more often than in others. For example, in bodybuilders and bodybuilders, increased venousness and pulsation is due to the fact that during training the athlete’s arms bear a huge load - the vessels from the inside bulge from the muscles, which grow rapidly.

Another option is if the vessels of the upper or lower extremities swell immediately after training. This happens because physical activity increased blood flow and expanded the lumen of the vessels, which then come to the surface.

Due to illness

Pathological reasons for swollen veins in the arms are less common than physiological ones, but they should not be ignored. It is important to exclude in time a possible disease that will cause not only aesthetic inconvenience, but also possible serious complications in the future.

Most often, diseases that provoke such a symptom are:

1. Varicose veins. It occurs when the walls of blood vessels weaken, causing congestion to clog them, causing them to swell and bulge under the skin.
2. Thrombosis. With this disease, blockages (one or more) appear in the deep veins, which form a blood clot. The pathology is quite difficult to identify in the early stages, while the superficial vessels have not yet emerged; it is practically not accompanied by symptoms. From time to time a person may feel heaviness in the limbs and pain when palpated.
3. Thrombophlebitis. This is an inflammatory process of the walls of superficial blood vessels. They become dark blue, in advanced cases they turn black and are very painful.
4. Postphlebitic syndrome. A pathology characterized by a complication of deep vessel thrombosis.

All these diseases require timely treatment. If neglected, they threaten serious damage to the arteries, atrophy of part of the bloodstream and paralysis of the limbs.

Associated symptoms

In the case of pathological provoking factors, pronounced veins usually cause not only aesthetic, but also physical discomfort.

This mainly manifests itself:

• heaviness and pain in the hands;
• swelling of the hands.

One of the common symptoms is a constant desire to fix the arms above the level of the head (in this position, the outflow of stagnant blood improves).

In difficult cases, when vein pathology is caused by serious circulatory disorders, as well as thrombophlebitis, the following is observed:

• slight increase in body temperature;
• hyperemia of the skin of the hands;
• lump, lump, lump, swelling or ball at the site of the lesion;
• swelling, blueness;
• change in skin color;
• muscle weakness;
• the appearance of ulcers on the skin.

Differential diagnosis

The main direction of diagnosis is the study of blood vessels, excluding severe diseases. For this, the patient is referred for venography or ultrasound.

To complete the diagnostic picture, the patient will need to undergo blood and urine tests. Only based on the results of the research will the doctor be able to prescribe adequate treatment.

If the examinations did not reveal any pathologies, then the specialist may recommend simply changing your lifestyle.

Treatment tactics

Treatment of any pathology depends on the cause that provoked it. Therapeutic measures for pronounced veins can be medicinal and surgical.

The latter option is resorted to in two cases: either if the disease progresses and there is a risk of a large blood clot, or if the patient simply wants to eliminate an aesthetic defect.

To enhance the effect of drug or surgical therapy, you need to help the body remove (hide) visible veins.

• Drink enough clean, non-carbonated water. This will improve the structure of the skin of your hands, it will become smoother and more elastic.
• Avoid coffee and alcohol. This will make the skin color uniform, without a “gray” tint.
• Use hand creams. This can be either a simple moisturizer or a special anti-varicose cream. The latter will improve the tone of blood vessels, and, if the problem has not gone far, will hide them.

Hand exercises

There is a whole list of exercises (pictured below) that will help eliminate large veins.

Here are the most effective:

1. Clasp your hands into fists, lower and raise them “all the way”, bending your hands - 10 times.
2. Alternately extend your fingers to the back, then together.
3. Gather the fingers of the right and left hands into a bun, lower them together downwards, bending the hand, return to the starting position - 10 times.
4. Work your thumbs: pull them back and forth and to the sides.
5. Clenching your hands into fists, twist them, bending your wrist.
6. Forcefully bend and straighten your fingers into fists – 10 times.
7. Place your palms together in front of your chest, bend your arms at the elbow joints, raise your elbows up, lowering your hands to your navel.
8. Walk along any surface with your fingers, imitating playing the piano.
9. Straighten your arms, point them in different directions, swing them in a circle - forward and backward.
10. In the same position, bend your elbows and make circular movements of your limbs, first to the right, then to the left.

Such exercises, performed daily, can really improve the aesthetic appearance of the hands by restoring the tone of the blood vessels.

Drug therapy

Conservative treatment is aimed not only at eliminating the visible defect, but also at stopping the cause that caused it.

Basically, doctors prescribe:

Remember that you should never prescribe medications and treatment for yourself! This label is provided for informational purposes only.

Physiotherapeutic procedures

Among the physiotherapeutic procedures that can help are taking a contrast shower twice a day for at least 10 minutes, and massage. It can even be done independently, at home, either with your hands or with the help of various massage devices. For dry skin, you should use cosmetic oil.

Hand baths (used in nail salons) are also used. Modern models are equipped with an infrared emitter; it is possible to conduct a session of magnetic therapy and vibration massage. Such comprehensive care will definitely improve the appearance of the hand area, relieve fatigue and relax them.

When is surgery required?

If, as a result of the course of the disease, the veins are very prominent, and drug treatment has no effect, then the patient will definitely undergo surgery. If there are no pathologies, but swelling is observed for some non-serious reasons, for example, as a result of heredity, then everything depends only on the desire of the patient himself.

There are several surgical options:

1. Phlebectomy. This is the complete removal of a vein affected by varicose veins using special instruments.
2. Sclerotherapy. This type of surgical intervention involves turning off the vein from the bloodstream (its functions are assigned to other vessels) and filling it with a special sclerotic fluid.
3. Laser therapy. Veins that are swollen disappear under the influence of a laser, which glues them together from the inside. This is the most painless and gentle operation.
4. Ultrasound thrombolysis. It is used if a blood clot has formed in the bloodstream. Then, with the help of a certain wavelength, it is destroyed.

Depending on the chosen surgical procedure, the rehabilitation period will vary. The shortest is with laser therapy, the longest is with phlebectomy. In the latter case, hands should not be subjected to heavy physical effort for a month.

Alternative Therapies

If the veins become very enlarged and protrude, but there are no blood clots or a threat to health, alternative medicine can come to the rescue. This is a whole set of folk recipes, treatment with leeches, acupuncture.

Important: Before deciding on unconventional methods of treatment, you need to consult a doctor and make sure that the chosen method will not harm or aggravate the situation. Poor patient tests will be the first contraindication for the use of alternative medicine methods.

Reviews from doctors about alternative medicine are mixed, but all experts agree that they can only be used when there are no blood clots or visible varicose veins.

Folk recipes

We bring to your attention popular recipes for folk remedies that can help with swollen veins in the hands:

• Take a green tomato (according to the degree of ripeness), cut it into slices, place it on your hand in the place where the veins emerge and swell, and wrap it with an elastic bandage overnight. In the morning, remove everything and spread the skin with a high-fat cream.
• Mix crushed wormwood (3 tablespoons) with the same amount of curdled milk, smear the resulting medicine on your hand and wrap it in cling film. After 20 minutes, remove the compress and spread the skin with rich cream or sour cream. This will take up to a month.
• Apple cider vinegar and birch bud tincture are mixed 1:1, rub your hands with the resulting mixture twice a day.
• Chopped garlic and butter in equal proportions are mixed and applied to the hands in places where the veins are swollen. The compress needs to be insulated as much as possible (using cling film and a towel on top). You will have to smear visible veins for up to 5 months.
• Drink herbal tea: rose hips, blueberry leaves, rowan berries and St. John's wort are mixed in equal parts. Take half a glass twice a day, brewing a tablespoon of the resulting tea with boiling water.

Hirudotherapy

Treatment with leeches is practiced even with pronounced veins, when the hands swell from insufficient blood outflow.

The essence of hirudotherapy is that a specially grown medical leech is placed on a patient at a certain point on the body. During the bite, a substance, hirudin, enters the blood, which thins it and prevents blood clots.

Patients note an improvement in the appearance of their hands and overall well-being after the first session. After manipulation, the leech is placed in medical alcohol.

Acupuncture

Using this method, certain points of the human body are affected by introducing special thin needles into them. They activate biological processes in the body, thereby restoring normal blood flow and preventing congestion.

This method is not recommended for everyone, as it has a number of contraindications. Before deciding to go to an acupuncture session, you need to take all the tests and notify your doctor.

Prevention

Preventive measures aimed at preventing the swelling of veins on the surface of the skin of the hands come down to reasonable exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

They include:

• charging;
• quitting smoking, alcohol and coffee;
• taking a contrast shower;
• balanced diet.

This article was produced by our experienced team of editors and researchers, who reviewed it for accuracy and completeness.

wikiHow's content management team carefully monitors the work of its editors to ensure that every article meets our high quality standards.

Protruding veins are a sign of a well-developed body. Bodybuilders, professional wrestlers and other athletes often have arms with prominent veins. The easiest way to achieve this effect is on your forearms - it will work even if you don't have that much muscle. To make your veins more visible, you should also get rid of excess subcutaneous fat.

The condition in which the veins protrude on the arms is one of the most common problems, in most cases diagnosed in the fair sex. Enlarged veins that appear through the skin can also be found in men who engage in strenuous sports.

How veins appear on the hands

First of all, the blood vessels swell on the hands. This is explained by their closest location to the skin and the constant presence of the limbs in a lowered state, which contributes to the accumulation of blood fluid in them.

As the pathological process progresses, if the cause of bulging veins is the development of any disease, the condition affects the elbow area and forearm.

Causes

Most often, swollen veins in the arms appear as a result of exposure to provoking physiological factors. However, there are cases when dilated venous vessels may indicate serious vascular pathologies.

Physiological reasons include:

• Hereditary predisposition. This problem is mainly diagnosed in people whose relatives have protruding blood vessels on their hands.
• Lack of fatty tissue in the skin. If it is in small quantities, it can cause the veins to become noticeable.
• Age. As a person ages, blood vessels become less elastic and weakened. As a result, stagnation of blood fluid and dilation of veins occurs. In addition, aging leads to thinning of the skin, against which the blood vessels become more visible.
• Hot weather. Too high an air temperature can provoke vascular dilation and disrupt the functioning of venous valves. It is for this reason that blood vessels protrude strongly on the surface of the epidermis in the hot season.
• Hormonal imbalances. Often occurs during pregnancy or at the onset of menopause in women in adulthood.
• Intense physical activity. Protruding veins on the upper extremities are a fairly common occurrence in people involved in heavy work or sports. Such types of activities contribute to an increase in blood flow, increased hardness of muscle tissue, which can provoke an expansion of the venous lumen.

Pathological causes include:

1. Phlebeurysm. This is a pathological condition that leads to stretching of blood vessels as a result of increased pressure in them. The development of the disease can be facilitated by genetic predisposition and lifting heavy objects.
2. Thrombosis. It is characterized by blockage of the veins of the upper extremities by a formed blood clot. This disease may not manifest clinical symptoms for a long time. When a critical condition occurs, paralysis develops.
3. Thrombophlebitis. This is a disease characterized by inflammation of the vascular walls. Occurs as a result of partial or complete blockage of blood flow.
4. Postphlebitic syndrome. This is a consequence of complicated thrombosis. Characterized by damage to the vascular walls, which leads to inflammation of the veins.
5. Dermatitis and eczema. They refer to skin pathologies that are accompanied not only by rashes and peeling of the skin, but also by painful sensations in the veins of the upper extremities.

Timely identification of the factor that caused the veins to pop out allows you to get rid of the problem in the shortest possible period.

In guys, veins can bulge due to the development of various abnormalities in the health of the circulatory system. In addition, this problem also arises as a result of physiological factors, among which are:

• thin build;
• regular exercise;
• carrying and lifting heavy objects.

In girls, this condition develops for the same reasons as in representatives of the stronger sex.

Here you can also add hormonal levels, which can be disrupted during the period of bearing a child, as well as with the onset of menopause at a more mature age.

Diagnostics

Additional diagnostic studies are carried out when there is reasonable suspicion of the development of vascular pathologies in which the veins in the arms stand out.

First of all, the patient is prescribed an ultrasound examination, which makes it possible to visualize superficial and deep vessels, blood clots and other problems that cause blood flow disturbances.

Venography may also be done. Its essence lies in the introduction of a contrast agent into a vein and subsequent X-ray examination.

When to see a doctor

Swollen veins in the arms cause a lot of discomfort. As the problem progresses, if it is caused by various pathological factors, the condition worsens. The vessels begin to bulge strongly, the patient is concerned about increased pain and swelling of the limbs in the evening.

If the veins are visible, the following symptoms will be observed:

• heaviness and pain in the hands;
• numbness of fingers;
• frequent desire to throw the head back.

When a lesion appears against the background of thrombophlebitis or other vascular diseases, additional signs appear:

• redness of the epidermis;
• skin thickening;
• temperature increase;
• swelling.

If you identify one or more of the listed symptoms, you should immediately seek help from a specialist. This condition can cause heart disease.

Treatment

If the pathology is diagnosed in a timely manner, then in order to remove bulging veins, it will be enough to use drug therapy.

In this case, the following drugs may be prescribed:

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – Ketonal, Ibuprofen. Allows you to eliminate pain and stop the inflammatory process.
2. Improving blood circulation - Vasoket, Actovegin, Trental. Minimize the likelihood of developing blood stagnation.
3. Anticoagulants such as Aspirin. Helps thin the blood and reduce the risk of blood clots.
4. Fibrinolytic enzymes – Fibrinolysin, Urokinase. Their action is aimed at thinning the blood.
5. Antiplatelet – Dipyridamole.
6. Local action - Dolgit, Troxevasin. Relieves pain syndrome.

Each drug has a different composition and mechanism of action. Therefore, only a doctor can prescribe medications based on the general condition of the patient.

ethnoscience

At an early stage of development of the inflammatory process affecting the veins in the arms, it is also possible to use folk remedies.

It is worth using one or more of the most effective recipes:

1. Concentrated apple cider vinegar. Before use, it must be diluted with the same volume of tincture prepared from birch buds. This composition is used to lubricate hands in the morning and evening.
2. Grate several heads of garlic, mix with butter in a 1:1 ratio. Apply the resulting mixture to a bandage and apply to the affected skin of your hands. Secure the bandage with adhesive tape. The course of treatment with this method lasts from three to five months.
3. Mix crushed wormwood flowers and yogurt in equal quantities. The product is applied to the skin for about a third of an hour. Residues of the medicine are removed under running water. Next, you need to apply high-fat sour cream to your hands for a couple of minutes.

It is important to remember that, no matter how effective this or that method of therapy is, especially for unconventional methods, it can only be used after consultation with a specialist.

Exercises

Certain exercises can help get rid of protruding veins:

• straighten your fingers back, first one by one, then together;
• tilt your thumb forward and backward with a slight movement;
• spread your fingers out to the sides as much as possible,
• walk your fingers across the table.

Such exercises help improve blood flow and restore joint function.

Procedures

The following measures are helpful in treating bulging veins:

1. Sclerotherapy. The impact on the affected area is carried out by introducing a special liquid that glues the vessel, which helps to completely stop blood circulation.
2. Hirudotherapy - treatment with leeches. It will only take a few sessions to normalize blood flow and improve blood vessels.
3. Ultrasound. Under the influence of waves, formed blood clots are destroyed.
4. Laser therapy. It is one of the most painless and safe methods. The vessels are irradiated with a special laser and glued together.

Your doctor will tell you which method to choose.

When is surgery necessary?

Surgical intervention is used in rare cases when the process is neglected. Its essence lies in the complete excision of the damaged vessel.

After the operation, a long rehabilitation period is required.

Prevention

To prevent veins from bloating, you need to follow some simple recommendations:

• control body weight;
• do not wear tight clothing;
• avoid lifting heavy objects;
• minimize physical activity;
• eat a balanced diet, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables;
• lead a healthy lifestyle.

Due to the fact that the veins in the arms can protrude for various reasons, you should not self-medicate.

At the first signs of deviations, it is better to consult a specialist. He will help identify the provoking factor that caused the problem and select the most optimal treatment option.

Protruding veins on the arms in most cases are only an aesthetic problem. As a rule, they are noticeable on the hands (especially on the middle, ring and index fingers), wrists and forearms, sometimes on the shoulders, and this phenomenon is observed more often in men than in women.

But the absence of physical discomfort does not always indicate the norm of such a symptom. If the veins in your arms protrude, this happens often, they are very visible, and even more so if they hurt, ache or pull, you need to consult a doctor to find out exactly the reasons for what is happening.

It is important to be able to distinguish in which case this symptom is a variant of the norm, a physiological condition, and in which it is pathological, requiring diagnosis and treatment.

This is what it looks like in the photo:

In ordinary healthy people

As a normal option, large swollen veins in the arms may appear in the following situations:

1. A person regularly performs strength physical activity on his arms. In this case, the pressure on the vessels increases, expanding their lumen, and at the same time, the arm muscles become hard - they also help push the veins out.
2. From the blow. The site of the bruise usually swells, the vessel becomes more noticeable and pronounced. If a person hits his hand right in the place where the vein passes, then it may swell, turn blue or purple, sometimes even turn black and a bruise will form around it.
3. Thin, translucent skin (especially in girls, teenage boys and children), with a small layer of subcutaneous fat that could hide blood vessels. Normally, this problem should not cause cosmetic defects in a child.
4. A hereditary feature is the superficial location of the veins. Most often, enlarged veins appear after too much physical exertion or when a person holds for a long time and then quickly lowers his hands. It occurs less frequently in boys than in girls.
5. Hot weather, significant increase in air temperature. This factor sometimes provokes increased blood pumping in the extremities, due to which the vessels and capillaries increase in size, inflate and become convex (on the legs this manifests itself as varicose veins and swelling in the evenings).
6. In older people, as a result of the aging of the body. With age, the elasticity of blood vessels begins to be lost, the walls of the veins are unable to maintain their shape, and the tortuous pattern on the hands becomes more noticeable.
7. Pregnancy, postpartum period. In this condition, bulging veins in women is a physiological process associated with hormonal changes in the body.
8. Blood collection, IV placement, anesthesia administration. In some people, the veins may swell after a blood donation procedure, or after a catheter is removed. In this case, the injection site often ache, itch, and there is redness and burning. This is an absolutely normal phenomenon that is associated with anatomy, there is no need to worry. But if there is also pain, you should consult a doctor, this may be a sign of post-injection phlebitis.
9. When you lower your hands. A similar phenomenon is usually observed in people with problems with blood pressure, with increased blood density. When the arms are lowered, especially if they had been raised for a long time or were tense, the blood does not have time to circulate normally and the veins become more visible.

If the veins swell and then disappear, this may indicate a temporary circulatory disorder. In this situation, there is no point in trying to reduce them; they must hide on their own.

In athletes

In people who are actively involved in sports, veins appear much more often than in others. For example, in bodybuilders and bodybuilders, increased venousness and pulsation is due to the fact that during training the athlete’s arms bear a huge load - the vessels from the inside bulge from the muscles, which grow rapidly.

Another option is if the vessels of the upper or lower extremities swell immediately after training. This happens because physical activity increased blood flow and expanded the lumen of the vessels, which then come to the surface.

Due to illness

Pathological reasons for swollen veins in the arms are less common than physiological ones, but they should not be ignored. It is important to exclude in time a possible disease that will cause not only aesthetic inconvenience, but also possible serious complications in the future.

Most often, diseases that provoke such a symptom are:

1. Varicose veins. It occurs when the walls of blood vessels weaken, causing congestion to clog them, causing them to swell and bulge under the skin.
2. Thrombosis. With this disease, blockages (one or more) appear in the deep veins, which form a blood clot. The pathology is quite difficult to identify in the early stages, while the superficial vessels have not yet emerged; it is practically not accompanied by symptoms. From time to time a person may feel heaviness in the limbs and pain when palpated.
3. Thrombophlebitis. This is an inflammatory process of the walls of superficial blood vessels. They become dark blue, in advanced cases they turn black and are very painful.
4. Postphlebitic syndrome. A pathology characterized by a complication of deep vessel thrombosis.

All these diseases require timely treatment. If neglected, they threaten serious damage to the arteries, atrophy of part of the bloodstream and paralysis of the limbs.

Associated symptoms

In the case of pathological provoking factors, pronounced veins usually cause not only aesthetic, but also physical discomfort.

This mainly manifests itself:

• heaviness and pain in the hands;
• swelling of the hands.

One of the common symptoms is a constant desire to fix the arms above the level of the head (in this position, the outflow of stagnant blood improves).

In difficult cases, when vein pathology is caused by serious circulatory disorders, as well as thrombophlebitis, the following is observed:

• slight increase in body temperature;
• hyperemia of the skin of the hands;
• lump, lump, lump, swelling or ball at the site of the lesion;
• swelling, blueness;
• change in skin color;
• muscle weakness;
• the appearance of ulcers on the skin.

Differential diagnosis

The main direction of diagnosis is the study of blood vessels, excluding severe diseases. For this, the patient is referred for venography or ultrasound.

To complete the diagnostic picture, the patient will need to undergo blood and urine tests. Only based on the results of the research will the doctor be able to prescribe adequate treatment.

If the examinations did not reveal any pathologies, then the specialist may recommend simply changing your lifestyle.

Treatment tactics

Treatment of any pathology depends on the cause that provoked it. Therapeutic measures for pronounced veins can be medicinal and surgical.

The latter option is resorted to in two cases: either if the disease progresses and there is a risk of a large blood clot, or if the patient simply wants to eliminate an aesthetic defect.

To enhance the effect of drug or surgical therapy, you need to help the body remove (hide) visible veins.

For this:

• Drink enough clean, non-carbonated water. This will improve the structure of the skin of your hands, it will become smoother and more elastic.
• Avoid coffee and alcohol. This will make the skin color uniform, without a “gray” tint.
• Use hand creams. This can be either a simple moisturizer or a special anti-varicose cream. The latter will improve the tone of blood vessels, and, if the problem has not gone far, will hide them.

Hand exercises

There is a whole list of exercises (pictured below) that will help eliminate large veins.

Here are the most effective:

1. Clasp your hands into fists, lower and raise them “all the way”, bending your hands - 10 times.
2. Alternately extend your fingers to the back, then together.
3. Gather the fingers of the right and left hands into a bun, lower them together downwards, bending the hand, return to the starting position - 10 times.
4. Work your thumbs: pull them back and forth and to the sides.
5. Clenching your hands into fists, twist them, bending your wrist.
6. Forcefully bend and straighten your fingers into fists – 10 times.
7. Place your palms together in front of your chest, bend your arms at the elbow joints, raise your elbows up, lowering your hands to your navel.
8. Walk along any surface with your fingers, imitating playing the piano.
9. Straighten your arms, point them in different directions, swing them in a circle - forward and backward.
10. In the same position, bend your elbows and make circular movements of your limbs, first to the right, then to the left.

Such exercises, performed daily, can really improve the aesthetic appearance of the hands by restoring the tone of the blood vessels.

Drug therapy

Conservative treatment is aimed not only at eliminating the visible defect, but also at stopping the cause that caused it.

Basically, doctors prescribe:

Remember that you should never prescribe medications and treatment for yourself! This label is provided for informational purposes only.

Physiotherapeutic procedures

Among the physiotherapeutic procedures that can help are taking a contrast shower twice a day for at least 10 minutes, and massage. It can even be done independently, at home, either with your hands or with the help of various massage devices. For dry skin, you should use cosmetic oil.

Hand baths (used in nail salons) are also used. Modern models are equipped with an infrared emitter; it is possible to conduct a session of magnetic therapy and vibration massage. Such comprehensive care will definitely improve the appearance of the hand area, relieve fatigue and relax them.

When is surgery required?

If, as a result of the course of the disease, the veins are very prominent, and drug treatment has no effect, then the patient will definitely undergo surgery. If there are no pathologies, but swelling is observed for some non-serious reasons, for example, as a result of heredity, then everything depends only on the desire of the patient himself.

There are several surgical options:

1. . This is the complete removal of a vein affected by varicose veins using special instruments.
2. . This type of surgical intervention involves turning off the vein from the bloodstream (its functions are assigned to other vessels) and filling it with a special sclerotic fluid.
3. Laser therapy. Veins that are swollen disappear under the influence of a laser, which glues them together from the inside. This is the most painless and gentle operation.
4. Ultrasound thrombolysis. It is used if a blood clot has formed in the bloodstream. Then, with the help of a certain wavelength, it is destroyed.

Depending on the chosen surgical procedure, the rehabilitation period will vary. The shortest is with laser therapy, the longest is with phlebectomy. In the latter case, hands should not be subjected to heavy physical effort for a month.

Alternative Therapies

If the veins become very enlarged and protrude, but there are no blood clots or a threat to health, alternative medicine can come to the rescue. This is a whole set of folk recipes, treatment with leeches, acupuncture.

Important: Before deciding on unconventional methods of treatment, you need to consult a doctor and make sure that the chosen method will not harm or aggravate the situation. Poor patient tests will be the first contraindication for the use of alternative medicine methods.

• 1. Causes of bulging veins
• 2. Vessels on the hands - causes of varicose veins
• 3. If veins hurt: treatment methods
  • 3.1. Hirudotherapy against varicose veins
  • 3.2. Vein laser treatment
  • 3.3. Vein surgery
  • 3.4. Medicine for enlarged veins
  • 3.5. Methods for preventing swollen veins

Why veins are visible even in young women is a question many girls ask phlebologists. And for good reason! Sometimes, protruding blood vessels are not a sign of aging at all; their appearance is due to other reasons.

In addition to natural changes, the beauty of women's hands is also negatively affected by many external factors, such as weather conditions: wind and sun, dust, household products used in the household, and much more.

If we talk about aging, then with age the hands lose their attractiveness, the skin ceases to be soft and smooth. The thing is that there are no sebaceous glands on the hands, which means that the skin becomes thinner over the years and becomes dry. Visible veins appear on the arms where the skin has lost its elasticity.

In addition, the arms are almost always directed downward, and venous blood, as you know, goes upward. If the walls of blood vessels are weakened, blood cannot move through the veins with the required consistency. There is stagnation of blood and excess pressure on the walls of blood vessels, which bring pain and spoil the beauty of women's hands. You should definitely consult a doctor the first time pronounced blood vessels appear on your hands. Enlarged veins may be the initial sign of the development of varicose veins.

Protruding blue “paths” appear in everyone, both women and men. Most often this occurs for reasons related to daily physical activity, such as work involving heavy lifting or strength sports.

Another factor that provokes the appearance of unsightly veins on the arms is constant physical activity - carrying heavy objects. As a result, over time, the veins inflate and expand, which in itself is a consequence of increased blood flow. Blood stagnates in the vessels, changing their shape, awakening various inflammatory processes. Regular strength training causes tension in the veins along the entire length of the arms (and not just on the hands), but the distortion of the shape of the vessels is not so significant.

People who have a wiry build tend to have more visible swollen veins in their arms. Men do not pay much attention to the appearance of their hands, but women, on the contrary, pay attention and wonder: what are the reasons for the enlargement of veins on the hands? The next question is how to prevent the appearance of protruding blood vessels, how to restore the natural attractiveness of your hands?

Unsightly, pronounced veins on the arms are often found in people of fragile build. This fact does not indicate any health problems, but is a consequence of the absence of a subcutaneous fat layer, as well as thin skin through which the vein tracks are visible. Perhaps enlarged blood vessels in a thin person indicate an insufficient amount of collagen in the body.

Vessels on the hands - causes of varicose veins

One of the signs of varicose veins is pain in the vessels. However, this pathology does not appear on its own. It is worth understanding a little about the causes of unsightly dilated veins.

Varicose veins are usually the main culprit behind bloated veins. With varicose veins, the walls of blood vessels become thinner, the diameter of the lumen expands, nodes and local deformations appear. This disease negatively affects the activity of valves in blood vessels, which means it prevents blood flow to the heart in the required amount. Impaired blood circulation in the vessels leads to increased pressure in the veins, which means loss of natural shape and twisting.

The process of changing the size and shape of blood vessels occurs quickly and is accompanied by severe pain. That is why you should not let the disease take its course. It develops very quickly, and it is necessary to immediately consult a specialist and begin therapy in order to avoid complications and the possible appearance of thrombophlebitis. Swollen veins can also indicate other diseases, atherosclerosis, aneurysm and others. In addition, varicose veins over time can cause irreversible changes in blood vessels, which can only be eliminated through surgery.

If your veins hurt: treatment methods

It is extremely important for women to have attractive hands that do not have protruding, unsightly veins. Let's talk a little about how to preserve their natural beauty.

As mentioned above, bloating of the veins is accompanied by painful sensations, often very strong. This is the result of changes in the functioning of vascular valves. Blood circulation to the heart is disrupted, pressure in the vessels increases, and veins twist, accompanied by pain. Of course, phlebologists do not recommend allowing such a development of events. At the first signs, you need to act so as not to bring the development of the disease to a more severe stage.

Today, experts offer several methods for treating varicose veins. Enlarged blood vessels in the arms can be removed using ultrasound therapy, surgery, laser treatment, sclerotherapy, and also by taking a course of medications.

Hirudotherapy against varicose veins

Incipient vein disease can be stopped with the help of hirudotherapy. The healing effect of leech saliva has long been known. It contains an enzyme that restores health and natural shape to blood vessels. After about five hirudotherapy procedures, the result is already noticeable.

Vein laser treatment

Laser therapy is considered the most painless method of treating varicose veins. Its essence is that, using a special device - a laser, a specialist glues the walls of blood vessels, as a result, the movement of blood stops, and soon the vein returns to its natural shape and size. Sclerotherapy is similar in effect. Only the result is achieved with the help of a special substance - sclerosant, which is injected into a vein.

Vein surgery

Veins that protrude too much are removed surgically. However, today, phlebologists do not often turn to this method.

Medicine for enlarged veins

Modern medications make it possible to restore the health of blood vessels without surgical intervention. Medicine offers a wide range of products: ointments, tablets, capsules, drops, which act externally and internally on blood vessels, bringing them to their natural state. Most medicines are based on horse chestnut, vitamin P, oleander, mistletoe, and lily of the valley extract. All of them are characterized by antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic effects.

Methods for preventing swollen veins

A comprehensive, serious approach to preventing the appearance of dilated veins will prevent the development of the disease and keep your hands healthy and beautiful. It is important, at the first signs of changes in the veins, to begin to monitor the stress that your hands experience during the day.

You must immediately give up heavy bags, lifting and rearranging weighty objects. During the day, you should perform exercises to improve blood flow in the vessels of the arms - any tasks in which the arms are at the top.

You should pay attention to the daily menu. The diet should contain a lot of fruits and vegetables. The beneficial substances contained in them help thin the blood, improve its quality, and also establish normal microcirculation and increase vascular tone.

Summarizing all of the above, I would like to note that careful attention to your health, timely preventive and treatment measures will not allow a serious disease to develop, which means beauty and health will remain for many years.

It is believed that the veins on the hands always reflect a person’s age much more objectively than the skin on the face. More often, this problem worries women who are accustomed to taking care of their appearance. However, for specialists familiar with the structure of the human venous system, swollen veins in the arms “tell” much more about physical activity, living conditions, past and existing chronic diseases.

The veins in the arms are the most convenient and accessible place for medical procedures (blood sampling for research, administration of medications). In emergency cases, the ability to provide assistance depends on the condition and accessibility of the veins. After applying a tourniquet in the shoulder area, blood in the underlying sections (hands, forearm) fills the venous vessels and causes them to protrude above the surface of the skin. This moment is used to insert the needle. The tourniquet is then released and the drug is injected into the blood.

Features of the structure of veins on the hands

Compared with the veins of the lower extremities, the veins of the arms have their own similar features and characteristics. General properties:

• location at two depth levels (surface system and deep);
• the presence of a valve apparatus that helps to delay the outflow of blood;
• the existence of anastomoses between deep and superficial vessels;
• the influence of innervation on the diameter of the vessel, general or local loss of the connecting link with nerve fibers contributes to the loss of tone.

• the wall of the veins in the arms is thinner, contains less muscle tissue and collagen, and therefore loses elasticity faster;
• the length of the arms is shorter than the legs, therefore the distance from the heart to the most peripheral point on the fingers is less significant, which means that the suction action of the right atrium, superior vena cava, and diaphragm helps more in pumping blood towards the heart;
• fewer valves on the inner wall (only 20 instead of 25 on the legs), this reduces the role of their participation in supporting blood circulation against hydrostatic pressure if the arms are in a lowered position;
• The veins in the arms are not surrounded by the same powerful muscles as those in the lower extremities that help push blood upward, so it is more difficult to overcome any obstacles from external pressure or internal structure.

The above mechanisms do not work the same for everyone.

The structure of the walls and valves is partially due to the hereditary transmission of the ability to synthesize collagen fibers

This explains why veins in the arms are visible differently in people of the same age:

• In some people, by the age of 40, dense convoluted cords are formed, swollen with visible venous lumps on the arms;
• in others, there are no protruding vessels, only blue veins under the skin are visible.

Why do the veins of the arms dilate?

The causes of dysfunction of the venous system in the arms do not necessarily depend on specific vessels. An adaptive reaction to frequent carrying of heavy weights and playing sports is increased blood flow to the muscles of the arms. Accordingly, an equally accelerated outflow is required. But the veins “work” much more slowly than the arteries, so some of the blood stagnates, causing the picture of vessels that “crawl out” out.

This traditional way of carrying weights does not cause early damage to the veins in the arms

Excessive tension of untrained muscles can be accompanied by rupture of veins. If a vein in the arm bursts, a burning sensation first appears, and then the bruise gradually increases (subcutaneous hematoma). In a person with good immunity and blood clotting, resorption will occur after a few days.

It has been noted that in trained people, tension is distributed along the entire vein, while in people who are not adapted to physical work, local “bumps” appear on the veins of the arms and large hematomas due to pronounced deformation of the vessels.

Another reason for an increase in the superficial venous pattern is loss of weight, fluid, asthenicity, and thinning of fatty tissue on the skin of the hands. This picture is typical for young women who want to lose weight. In their desire to achieve perfection, they forget about the advisability of maintaining the internal homeostasis of the body and end up with premature aging of the skin.

What causes the pathology?

Common diseases that contribute to atony and swelling of stagnant veins in the arms can be:

• manifestations of heart failure, especially of the right ventricular type, with a decrease in the suction force of the right chambers of the heart and the superior vena cava;
• focal changes in the brain during strokes, ischemic attacks, causing disruption of the innervation of the vein walls;
• diseases of the cervicothoracic spine, from where motor and sensory nerve fibers exit to the upper extremities.

Expansion of the venous network is observed during hormonal changes caused by pregnancy and the onset of menopause. The level of estrogen and progesterone influences.

A connection between psycho-emotional stress and a stressful situation with bloating of the veins has been revealed.

Varicose veins of the upper extremities are less common than those of the legs. The reasons combine hereditary predisposition with those acquired throughout life (excess weight, decreased physical activity). Varicose veins progress and take over swollen veins on the hands and forearms.

Clinical manifestations

Changed veins in the hands cause trouble with their unaesthetic appearance: the vessels are visible under the skin as wriggling strands, “balls”, the hands swell greatly, the fingers become thick and less fast.

If you have varicose veins, the patient is concerned about:

• pain and heaviness in the hands;
• numbness of fingers;
• I have to sleep at night with my arms up.

Chronic foci of infection (carious teeth, sinusitis, female diseases) contribute to the occurrence of inflammation of the vein wall (thrombophlebitis). In this case the following appears:

• local painful compactions;
• skin redness;
• local edema and swelling of the skin;
• body temperature rises.

A blood clot forms inside the vein.

The complication of thromboembolism in the superior vena cava is especially life-threatening for people with heart defects if the embolus is able to move into the left chambers through open holes between the atria or ventricles.

Thrombophlebitis often complicates the course of childbirth, infectious diseases, limb injuries, and cerebrovascular accidents.

A type of migratory thrombophlebitis is more typical for men. The affected veins are surrounded by areas of inflamed tissue, the process changes the localization, leaving behind brown spots on the skin.

In Parkes-Weber-Rubashov disease, vessels protrude under the skin in the form of pulsating nodes

Due to higher pressure, arterial blood is thrown into the veins and disrupts their structure, and the capillaries remain deprived of blood, oxygen and nutrients. Therefore, they do not enter the fabrics.

• the veins are very dense and do not collapse when the arm is elevated;
• the affected arm is elongated;
• Trophic disorders from ulcers to gangrene are possible on the fingers.

Vibration is felt by palpation in the area of ​​the nodes.

Only a phlebologist after an examination can finally decide on the diagnosis and nature of the altered veins.

How to treat arm veins?

Treatment of altered blood vessels is not limited to cosmetic procedures alone. It is necessary to adhere to the doctor’s recommendations regarding diet and diet.

A balanced diet (not hunger strikes) and feasible exercise will help you lose excess weight. Among the foods you should avoid, fatty and fried meat foods, hot sauces and seasonings, smoked foods, and confectionery products. It is recommended to include in the menu: vegetables, fruits, poultry and fish, dairy products.

Several times a day you need to do exercises for your hands, fingers in a raised position, shake your hands, massage from your fingertips to your shoulder. If there is an inflamed area of ​​skin above a vein or a bruise, massage of this area is contraindicated.

Contrast showers twice a day help maintain the necessary general vascular tone.

For pain and swelling, wearing a compression sleeve and special gloves helps. They are put on with the arm raised.

Medicines should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor. Ointments based on Troxerutin, horse chestnut, Phlebodia tablets, and Detralex have a good effect.

Medicinal leeches (hirudotherapy) can be used if there is a tendency to thrombosis or inflammation of the vascular wall. This type of traditional therapy is not considered effective by all doctors. There are enough contraindications and questionable effects.

The cosmetic results from sclerotherapy treatment last for several years

Laser therapy is a modern and affordable method of treatment. It is used both for physiological cosmetic imperfections and in the case of inflammation and varicose veins.

The sclerotherapy method has become widespread in recent years. Allows you to quickly eliminate twisting venous cords and improve the appearance and rejuvenate your hands. However, it should be remembered that it does not act on the cause of the disease. In this method, the result is achieved by stopping blood circulation through the vein by introducing sclerosant drugs inside, causing adhesion of the internal walls of the vessel.

For surgical removal of veins in the arms, serious indications are required. In the treatment of Parkes-Weber-Rubashov disease, ligation of anastomoses between arteries and veins is used. But this method is not very effective, since there are a lot of such anastomoses, it is impossible to bandage everything. If gangrene threatens, the arm must be amputated.

The prospects for treatment and the use of modern methods must be agreed upon with a phlebologist. Maintaining vascular tone in a normal state should be a prerequisite for general health, work activity, sports hobbies and housework.

We are accustomed to the fact that a prominent venous pattern is a sign of varicose veins in the legs. However, quite often swollen veins can appear on the arm, and not accompanied by any pathological symptoms. If a man has strongly protruding veins on his arm, and they are framed by a muscular corset, then it looks quite harmonious. At the same time, protruding veins on a woman’s arms, having an ugly curved pattern, can cause the lady a lot of psychological troubles. To avoid this happening, it is important to understand why the veins in the arms swell? This article will talk about this.

Many reasons

It is impossible to say for sure why the veins in the hands begin to swell. There are many reasons, some of which are not directly related to vascular pathology. Although it should be recognized that the most common reason that a vein in the arm is swollen and painful is varicose veins, which will be discussed below.

In addition to the reasons that cause changes in the veins in the hands, you should also know the factors that contribute to the appearance of a venous pattern on the hands and other areas of the upper limb:

1. Thinness of the venous wall. The venous wall of the vessels of the arms is quite thin: it contains a smaller number of muscle and elastic fibers, therefore, under the influence of external or internal factors, the elasticity of the vessels will be lost faster, which means they are more likely to swell than the veins of other areas.
2. Fewer valves. The work of the venous bed is directly related to the adequacy of the functioning of its valve apparatus, that is, the valves located inside the bed. It is the valves that help blood move against hydrostatic pressure.
3. A less pronounced muscular frame that helps the venous system “work”, that is, it promotes blood flow during the contraction process.

There are many reasons why blood vessels in the hands can swell, bulge and turn blue. The leading position in this list is occupied by varicose veins. The disease can develop as a result of various processes, but more often it appears due to a discrepancy between the state of the venous bed and the loads on the upper extremities.

Hormonal problems can contribute to the progression of varicose veins. A girl may notice a protruding venous pattern against the background or after taking oral contraceptives, during or after pregnancy, or with a number of hormonal diseases.

Varicose veins, even against the background of physical activity, rarely occur without a family history. Therefore, veins protrude more often in the arms of people who have a hereditary weakness of the venous wall. In such a situation, the swollen pattern of blood vessels can be seen not only on the arms, but also on the legs, genitals, etc.

In addition to varicose veins, the reason that a swollen node of veins or a venous pattern appears on the arm can be a person’s age. Confirmation of this can be found by looking at the hands of old people. Vessels that protrude with age are not a symptom of any disease, and the venous pattern is visible due to age-related changes in blood vessels and thinning of the skin.

Thin skin and thinness with little expression of subcutaneous fat lead to the formation of the contour of protruding veins on the arms, not only in older people. A similar thing is observed in young people with an asthenic constitution. Blue veins are clearly visible in small white-skinned children.

Bloated veins other than varicose veins can be caused by intense exercise that involves putting stress on your arms. Some men even try to “decorate” the muscle contour with structural venous vessels, but this should not be done. No one can guarantee that over time, swollen veins will not turn into varicose veins, which can be complicated by many unpleasant pathologies.

Many people begin to notice that their veins are swollen in the summer. Of course, hot weather can provoke varicose veins, but more often the veins act compensatory as a reaction to elevated ambient temperatures. The reason that a vein in the arm is swollen may be dehydration, and it is not necessary for a person to have an intestinal infection to lose fluid.

More rare factors that provoke pathology of blood vessels in the hands are:

• Congestive heart failure with dysfunction of the right heart. With this pathology, the suction ability of the right atrium and ventricle is significantly reduced, resulting in blood stagnation.
• Diseases of the brain that disrupt the innervation of the venous wall.
• Pathology of the cervicothoracic spine.
• Atherosclerosis, that is, the deposition of cholesterol plaques in the lumen of the vessel.
• Aneurysms (bulging and expansion of the lumen of the vein).
• Neuropsychic stress. According to recent information, psychological status can seriously affect the condition of the venous wall.

One of the rare pathologies that causes the veins in the arms to protrude is Parkes-Rubashov-Weber disease. The pathology develops due to a genetically determined defect in the development of blood vessels that provide peripheral blood supply. As a result, anastomoses are formed between the arteries and veins, leading to the reflux of blood from the arterial into the venous bed. The severity of symptoms will depend on the number of such anastomoses.

Considering the indicated reasons why the vessels in the hands swell and acquire unsightly contours, it cannot be said unequivocally that this is a sign that a person has bad veins and the condition requires mandatory drug treatment. Therefore, a doctor must treat each specific pathology after examining and examining the person. You should not take phlebotonics (for example, Doppelgerz, Phlebodia) on your own. It is possible that expensive drugs will not have the desired effect.

Other reasons can also cause swelling and inflammation of the vein. For example, quite often people go to the clinic to see a specialist because a blood vessel is swollen after taking blood from a vein, that is, after an injection into a vein. Indeed, this is possible. In this case, the vein protrudes above the surface of the skin, and a hematoma most often forms around it. A hematoma occurs as a result of improper penetration of a needle into a vein, disruption of the normal structure of the vascular wall, and increased fragility of blood vessels.

The hand can also swell and swell as a result of inflammation of the vein - phlebitis. Phlebitis develops more often against the background of varicose veins as a result of infection. In addition to the fact that the hand is swollen, patients with inflammation will complain of a local increase in skin temperature or a general increase in body temperature, hyperemia, pain in the hand or at the site of inflammation. Diagnosis and treatment in this case is carried out by a surgeon.

If phlebitis occurs against the background of thrombosis or is its consequence, then we can talk about the development of thrombophlebitis. The causes of the condition are:

1. Infectious processes.
2. Childbirth.
3. Phlebeurysm.
4. Injuries and burns.
5. Cerebral circulation disorders, etc.

Treatment approaches

Vessels can protrude and swell for various reasons, so the approach to treating the pathology will also differ. Let's consider general recommendations:

• Adequacy of physical activity as an elimination of the most common cause of protruding veins.
• Performing special exercises. The recommendation is especially relevant for people who have swollen blood vessels due to varicose veins, disruption of normal blood circulation and tone.
• Compression therapy. Also relevant for varicose veins. Special gloves with a compression effect will prevent blood flow into pathological vessels, veins that protrude will collapse and the progression of pathology will slow down.

Drug treatment of varicose veins consists of taking phlebotonics (Phlebodia, Detralex), drugs that improve blood circulation in the hands (Curantil, Pentoxifylline, Trental), and vitamin preparations.

If drug treatment is ineffective or if the veins are very swollen and protruding, surgical treatment may be recommended. Major surgical operations are rarely performed. To remove a cosmetic defect, sclerotherapy or laser correction is often recommended. The essence of sclerotherapy is the introduction into the vein, which is swollen and protruding, of a sclerosant - a substance that displaces blood and promotes the “collapse” of the altered vessel.

Laser correction involves inserting a conductor into the lumen of the vessel using a needle, and then a device with a laser irradiator at the end. The instrument is brought to the uppermost venous valve, and then, while turned on, is gradually moved up the vessel to the puncture site. During the procedure, the released energy causes the vein to “solder together”—the venous defect on the skin disappears.

Considering the variety of reasons why veins protrude on the arm, it is not worthwhile to independently search for the causes of the phenomenon. Treatment of many diseases accompanied by swelling of the blood vessels is best done in a timely manner. Delaying treatment can lead to the development of complications, so it is advisable to consult a doctor as soon as an unpleasant defect appears on your hand.

Sources

Watch the video: How to make veins visible on your body