What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are gnarled, enlarged veins. Veins are the blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. There are one-way valves in the veins that stop blood falling back to your feet when you stand up. These valves sometimes fail. When this happens blood pools in your legs, which gives symptoms of discomfort, aching, swelling, skin changes or more serious skin damage (ulcers). Any vein can become varicose, but the most commonly affected are veins in your legs and feet. Varicose veins left untreated will not improve but rather slow worsen over time.