Leg veins are responsible for carrying blood up and out of the legs, back to the heart, against the pull of gravity. Varicose veins are superficial veins that have lost their ability to appropriately carry blood up and out of the leg, thus allowing the blood to flow backward toward the feet. Also known as venous insufficiency or venous reflux, this is a result of broken valves inside the veins. Once a vein has become varicose, it won’t go back to normal and should be treated if causing symptoms.
Risk Factors of Varicose Veins
There are a number of factors that can raise your risk of developing varicose veins. Since aging causes wear and tear on the valves in your veins, the older you are, the more likely you are to develop this condition. Also, hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause may play a role in varicose veins so they are more common in women than men.