Home page Varicose Veins Blood flows thru your arteries, moved by the heart's beating and providing both nutrients and oxygen to all of the body tissues.
Blood returns to the heart by the veins.
Like the arteries, the veins are tube-shaped vessels in graduated sizes, but unlike the arteries, the veins have little valves on their inner walls to prevent the blood from flowing backward, toward the arteries. If these valves do not work properly, circulation is affected and blood accumulates in the veins causing them to stretch. Swelling, leg sores, itching, leg cramps, and a feeling of heaviness in the legs are characteristic of varicose veins. The poor circulation contributes to the formation of varicose veins and thus the problem is more common in people that sit or stand in one position for prolonged periods of time, people who habitually sit with their legs crossed, and those who are not getting regular exercise. Excess weight, heavy lifting, and pregnancy will increase pressure on the legs, increasing the risk of developing varicose veins.