Health Advice
- Weight Management
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- First aid
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- Leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic
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- Addiction
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- Adenoids and adenoidectomy
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- Alexander technique
- Rhinitis, allergic
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- Mountain sickness
- Alzheimer's disease
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- Weight loss surgery
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- Behçet’s disease
- Facial paralysis
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- Prostate enlargement
- Beta-blockers
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- Binge eating
- Biopsy
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- Spider bite
- Eye, black
- Bladder cancer
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- Blood donation
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- Blood tests
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- Bone cyst
- DXA scan
- Bone marrow donation
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- Borderline personality disorder
- Bottle feeding
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- Brain abscess
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- Male breast cancer
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- Bronchitis
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- Thrush, oral - adults
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- Carbon monoxide poisoning
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- Rib, cervical
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- Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC or transferrin) test
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- Vitamins, minerals and supplements
- Vomiting in adults
- Warfarin
- Weight loss (unexpected and unplanned)
- Whiplash
- Wisdom tooth removal
- X-ray
- Yellow fever
- Bowel cancer screening
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Read moreLife Pharmacy Ireland – Live Better
Bringing you the best health advice for your family
NHS Choices - Symptoms of varicose veins
(22/10/2014)
Varicose veins are dark purple or blue in colour and usually twisted and bulging in appearance. Some people with varicose veins may experience pain or discomfort.
As well as their distinctive appearance, symptoms of varicose veins can include:
- aching, heavy and uncomfortable legs
- swollen feet and ankles
- burning or throbbing in your legs
- muscle cramp in your legs, particularly at night
- dry, itchy and thin skin over the affected vein
These symptoms are usually worse during warm weather or if you've been standing up for long periods of time. They may improve when you walk around or if you rest and raise your legs. Pillows are a good way to raise your legs comfortably.
Varicose veins usually develop on the legs, either on the back of your calf or on the inside of your leg. However, they can also sometimes occur in other parts of your body, such as your:
- gullet (oesophagus)
- womb (uterus)
- vagina
- pelvis
- rectum (back passage)
If you are worried about the appearance of your veins, see your GP.
Back to Varicose veins
