Causes

 

 

Blood flowing down the legs to the feet is assisted by gravity, but blood flowing up to the heart needs to work against the force of gravity. All veins contain valves to allow the blood to flow towards the heart and prevent backflow. When there is damage to a valve the blood pools. The deep purple/blue colour associated with varicose veins is due to the reduced amount of oxygen in the blood as it returns to the heart. The pooling of blood also causes the bulging appearance.

 

Spider veins are a form of varicose veins which usually form in the smaller more superficial blood vessels and take their name because of the spread appearance of them similar to that of a spider’s web.

 

Most people with varicose veins do not experience any discomfort from the condition. The portion of suffers who do experience discomfort report:-

 

(a) An achy or heavy feeling in the legs, burning, throbbing, muscle cramping or swelling in the lower legs which is aggravated by prolonged sitting or standing;

 

(b) Itching around one or more of the veins;

(c) Skin ulcers on the site of the vein, most commonly near the ankle.