1. Veins Have Valves
To get blood to run "upstream" a total of almost four feet is not an easy job. That's what has to happen for blood to return from the feet to the heart. The body accomplishes this task with the use of "valves." These are flaps of tissue that point upstream, towards the heart. When blood tries to sink back down, the valves drop down from the side of the veins and essentially close off blood from moving backwards. As more blood comes into the vein, it pushes the blood held by the valve, it opens and pushes the blood it was supporting to the next level of valves. Varicose veins occur when there are not enough valves.
2. Too Much Pressure
If a person has a low number of valves for every inch of vein, the amount of blood each valve must support can be so great that the pressure of the blood being supported dilates the vein. When it remains dilated all the time, it becomes a varicose vein. Increased back pressure can also cause varicosities. Obesity, tumor or scarring of an organ can all create significant back pressure.
3. All Kinds of Ugly: Those are Ugly Veins!
The most common symptom of varicose veins is their appearance. They can be very large, looking like a cluster of bad grapes. These veins can also cause a breakdown of skin because of blood pooling. The term for this skin breakdown is "venous ulcer." There may also be swelling in surrounding tissues.
4. They Can be Other Places Than Legs
Varicose veins are not always in the legs. One of the most common non-extremity areas are the veins outside the vagina of pregnant women. Obstruction of venous return by the enlarged uterus causes these so called "vaginal varicose veins." They usually resolve after the pregnancy.
5. My Legs are Killing Me!
Varicose veins can be painful. Distortion of the veins and a stretching of nerves in their lining cause the pain. Inflammation and tissue swelling add to its intensity. Elevating the legs when possible and wearing support stockings are the two best ways of reducing that pain. Surgical removal of the veins is another option, but the reoccurrence rate for varicose veins is high. Sometimes the varicosities that develop following surgery are worse than the originals because there are fewer veins to carry the same amount of blood.
