Varicose veins of the legs
Also known as: Lower limb varicose veins, not further specified
General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
In short
Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that can be seen just under the skin, usually occurring in the legs but also capable of forming in other parts of the body. They are caused when weak or damaged one-way valves allow blood to back up and pool in the veins, causing them to swell. The risk is higher for individuals who are older, are female, have obesity, do not exercise, have a family history of varicose veins, or are pregnant. Exercising, losing weight, elevating the legs when resting, not crossing them when sitting, wearing loose clothing, and avoiding long periods of standing can help keep them from getting worse.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that you can see just under the skin. They usually occur in the legs, but also can form in other parts of the body. Hemorrhoids are a type of varicose vein.
Your veins have one-way valves that help keep blood flowing toward your heart. If the valves are weak or damaged, blood can back up and pool in your veins. This causes the veins to swell, which can lead to varicose veins.
Varicose veins are very common. You are more at risk if you are older, are female, have obesity, don't exercise, or have a family history of varicose veins. They can also be more common in pregnancy.
Doctors often diagnose varicose veins from a physical exam. Sometimes you may need additional tests.
Exercising, losing weight, elevating your legs when resting, and not crossing them when sitting can help keep varicose veins from getting worse. Wearing loose clothing and avoiding long periods of standing can also help. If varicose veins are painful or you don't like the way they look, your doctor may recommend procedures to remove them.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Next to it in ICD-10
- I71Aortic aneurysm or dissection, unspecified
- I72Aneurysm and dissection of unspecified artery
- I81Portal vein thrombosis
- I86Venous varicosities of unspecified site
- I88Non-specific swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenitis)
- I89Lymphoedema and other lymphatic disorders
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Varicose veins of the legs?
I83 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Varicose veins of the legs?
BD74.1Z: Lower limb varicose veins, not further specified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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