Q. Varicose veins make my legs look terrible. Is there anything
I can do to prevent these ugly veins from getting worse or,
preferably, make them go away?  A. Varicose veins occur in about
25 percent of adults. They represent a failure of the veins to
keep blood flowing toward the heart. There is a genetic
component to varicose veins, but other risk factors include
prolonged standing, multiple pregnancies, and being overweight.
Varicose veins may cause legs to ache or throb.  Treatment
usually starts with compression stockings, which help squeeze
blood out of the legs and back toward the heart. The stockings
should exert force below the knee, where the pressure that
distends and disrupts veins is the greatest. We also recommend
weight loss and keeping the legs elevated. Medications are not
very useful.  If these measures don't stop the problem from
getting worse or provide enough relief from symptoms, a more
invasive intervention might be considered. These include
surgical removal of the veins (vein stripping