WHAT CAUSES VARICOSE VEINS?

To understand why varicose veins occur, it is helpful to know how healthy veins in the legs do their work.
  • Veins return used blood from the legs to the heart.
  • When you walk, leg muscles squeeze the deep veins, moving the blood along.
  • One-way valves inside the veins keep the blood flowing in one direction - towards the heart - and prevent backflow.

Varicose veins occur because valves between the deep and superficial veins of the leg can no longer do their job.

When a valve between the deep system and surface system fails, blood flows the wrong way. Instead of draining the surface veins, the deep veins may be pumping some of their blood into them. Pressure the increases within the surface veins.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

As blood builds up in the surface veins and pressure increases, the many valves in the surface veins can't cope. Over a period of time, oftern years, one valve after another fails, allowing blood to flow in the wrong direction.

More and more of the surface veins swell from the excess blood and high pressure.
If the problem begins with the valve behind the knee, then the veins in the back half of the calf will be affected. Failure of the valve at the top of the thigh affects the veins down the inner side of the thight and calf.
WHY DO VALVES FAIL?
There may be a defect in the valve itself.
A blood clot may damage a valve. The clot dissolves on its own, but scarring leaves the valve defective.
You may have inherited a defective valve system.
When young adults get varicose veins, it is usually because a tendency runs in the family. Either the valves are not properly formed, or there may be to few of them.
Sometimes the vein may be at fault.
Too much pressure on a vein can cause the wall to bulge. The gap may then become too large to close off the vein completely, and sometimes blood seeps back.

Please contact us if you have any questions about Varicose Veins and would like more information or schedule and examination.