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What Causes Prominent Superficial Veins Over Chest And Across The Body?

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Posted on Tue, 24 Nov 2015
Question: Good morning doctor

I am a 25 year old no health problems.

1) I have noticed a few superficial veins on my chest two or three going to the right by the arm pit and a few on the other side. I have very light skin and have recently put on a lot of weight due to sitting down at work and not moving around as much.

I got these checked by my doctor on Saturday morning. He said absolutly no problem at all and they are in the correct position he also checked my liver and said no problems and said people are wired different and some people have bigger veins.

They are more visible when light is on I just wanted to confirm as a specialist do you come across these cases, and is it normal in your eyes. I also have no hair on chest could weight gain be a cause my doctor has Said it is nothing but I thought I will get opinion from a specialist of why veins are visible could it be because of light skin.

I have tried to take a photo but they are not visible when I take photo at all. Just curious and anxious I suppose there a no symptoms.

I did have a antibiotic course on ciprofloxacin this was for a UTI this was months ago could this be the cause, my doctor has Said everything is in the right place what are your thoughts sir



doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (47 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!

Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that your attending doctor has acted in the right way.

As the two main causes of prominent superficial veins over the chest and across the body as well are:

- portal hypertension
- right heart failure

Your doctor through physical exam and lab tests should have excluded any adverse liver implications in this regard.

Liver function tests and an abdominal ultrasound would be useful to exclude a possible liver dysfunction due to a portal hypertension, as well as a direct evaluation of an increased portal vein diameter. Other associated signs would be investigated (ascites, liver structure abnormalities, etc).

This option has been excluded by your doctor.

The second option, that it right heart failure would be responsible for a systemic venous congestion, generalized declive edema and typical symptomatology of heart failure (dyspnea if derived by a left heat cardiomyopathy, profound weakness, potential arrhythmia, and possible pulmonary disease).

For properly investigating this alternative a careful physical exam to rule in/out systemic congestion, explore pulmonary and cardiac function, resting ECG, chest X ray study, and especially a cardiac ultrasound would be helpful.

The above mentioned tests could be part of a routine medical checkup, or if suspicions are raised performed to clarify this issue.

Sometimes, acute phlebitis or phlebo-thrombosis could be responsible for local vein symptomatology, nut ib such case findings of local inflammation would be present (pain, local edema, rubor,etc).

As your are completely asymptomatic, and by the medical check up liver and cardiac implications are excluded, seems that no any health disorders could be hidden after those prominent veins.

So, relax and don't worry!

Depending by the level of skin pigmentation superficial veins may be more or less proeminent.

As those veins are not visible by taking on a photo, it doesn't seem that congestion to be responsible, nor phlebitis or liver dysfunction collaterals.

Hope to have been helpful to you!

If you have any further uncertainties, do not hesitate to ask me!

Best regards,

Dr. Iliri


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (16 minutes later)
HI Dr follow up question

Thank you for the reassurance after my Check up by doctor I will put this behind me.

I have sent you a picture for you to view that is taken in light and nothing is showing when I take the pictures?

What are your views on weight gain and the appearance of these veins? I need to loose about 3 stone.

Also can ciprofloxacin cause such side effects?

Also manual liver examination was performed.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Everything looks fine.

Detailed Answer:

Hi again,

I would explain that Ciprofloxacin has not any similar reported side effect so far.

So relax!

Your photo cannot reveal any obvious abnormality.

Nothing to worry about!

Regards,

Dr. Iliri
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ilir Sharka

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9539 Questions

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What Causes Prominent Superficial Veins Over Chest And Across The Body?

Brief Answer: I would explain as follows: Detailed Answer: Hello! Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM! Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that your attending doctor has acted in the right way. As the two main causes of prominent superficial veins over the chest and across the body as well are: - portal hypertension - right heart failure Your doctor through physical exam and lab tests should have excluded any adverse liver implications in this regard. Liver function tests and an abdominal ultrasound would be useful to exclude a possible liver dysfunction due to a portal hypertension, as well as a direct evaluation of an increased portal vein diameter. Other associated signs would be investigated (ascites, liver structure abnormalities, etc). This option has been excluded by your doctor. The second option, that it right heart failure would be responsible for a systemic venous congestion, generalized declive edema and typical symptomatology of heart failure (dyspnea if derived by a left heat cardiomyopathy, profound weakness, potential arrhythmia, and possible pulmonary disease). For properly investigating this alternative a careful physical exam to rule in/out systemic congestion, explore pulmonary and cardiac function, resting ECG, chest X ray study, and especially a cardiac ultrasound would be helpful. The above mentioned tests could be part of a routine medical checkup, or if suspicions are raised performed to clarify this issue. Sometimes, acute phlebitis or phlebo-thrombosis could be responsible for local vein symptomatology, nut ib such case findings of local inflammation would be present (pain, local edema, rubor,etc). As your are completely asymptomatic, and by the medical check up liver and cardiac implications are excluded, seems that no any health disorders could be hidden after those prominent veins. So, relax and don't worry! Depending by the level of skin pigmentation superficial veins may be more or less proeminent. As those veins are not visible by taking on a photo, it doesn't seem that congestion to be responsible, nor phlebitis or liver dysfunction collaterals. Hope to have been helpful to you! If you have any further uncertainties, do not hesitate to ask me! Best regards, Dr. Iliri