During a visit to the clinic,a woman in her seventh month of pregnancy complains that her legs feel "heavy in the calf" and that she often has foot cramps at night.The nurse notices that the patient has dilated,tortuous veins apparent in her lower legs.Which condition is reflected by these findings?

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Superficial varicose veins are caused by incompetent distant valves in the veins,which results in the reflux of blood,producing dilated,tortuous veins.Varicose veins are more common in women,and pregnancy can also be a cause.Symptoms include aching,heaviness in the calf,easy fatigability,and night leg or foot cramps.Dilated,tortuous veins are observed on assessment.(See Table 20-5 for the description of deep-vein thrombophlebitis.See Table 20-2 for descriptions of Raynaud phenomenon and lymphedema.)

During a Visit to the Clinic,a Woman in Her Seventh