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 that are apparent in her lower legs.Which condition is reflected by these findings?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The dilated and tortuous veins in the patient's lower legs suggest varicose veins, which are a common condition in pregnancy due to increased pressure on the veins by the uterus. This can cause symptoms such as heaviness in the legs and foot cramps. Deep-vein thrombophlebitis would present with localized pain, swelling, and redness in the affected area, while lymphedema would present with swelling and an accumulation of fluid in the affected limb. Raynaud's phenomenon would present with episodes of cold and numbness in the fingers and toes.

During a Visit to the Clinic, a Woman in Her