




What are varicose veins?
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Enlarged, sometimes twisted veins that are close to the surface of the skin.
How do normal veins work?
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Hundreds of one way veins valves direct blood up the leg toward the heart.
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Gravity pulls blood back down the leg in reverse direction over the normal valve, causing the valve to close.
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Normal valves keep downward-pulled blood from passing below the closed valve.
What causes varicose veins?
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Gravity pulls venous blood down the leg in a reverse direction over the abnormal vein valve.
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The vein valve does not close normally due to vein valve injury, vein valve defects, or enlarged vein size.
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Downward-pulled blood passes below the vein valve, and is called “venous reflux” or venous insufficiency.
What causes varicose vein symptoms?
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Increased blood and pressure in the veins force fluid into surrounding tissue, causing edema.
What are varicose vein symptoms ?
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Leg swelling, heaviness, aching, pain, or fatigue.
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Skin itching, burning, redness, discoloration, bleeding or ulceration.
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Sometimes varicose veins may be present without symptoms.
