Varicose veins are defined as swollen, distended veins, usually occurring in the legs. They are quite unsightly as I am sure you already know, but more than that, they can be painful. First we must know the normal functioning of the circulatory system.
Arteries bring oxyegen rich blood from the heart to the entire body.
Then veins bring unoxyegenated blood back up to the heart. Under normal conditions, the actions of your leg muscles causing movement, help circulate the blood through the veins and back toward the heart. But with varicose veins, the walls of the veins in the legs are weakened. Usually, these veins are superficial, or near the skin's surface where they protrude and are more easily visible. You also have tiny valves inside the veins, just as you have valves inside your heart.