Varicose Veins- the Result of Failed Valves!

Varicose veins are contorted, enlarged veins, usually located in the legs and feet. Varicose comes from the Latin word meaning "twisted"; varicose veins, although not pleasing aesthetically, usually are not a serious condition. However, varicose veins can be a symptom of a much more serious circulatory disorder, and they tend to affect women more than men, especially older females.

The arteries have the task of carrying your blood from your heart to the rest of your body, while veins return the blood to the heart so it can then be recirculated. In order for the veins in your legs to accomplish their job, against the pull of gravity, they depend on their elasticity. The muscle contractions in your lower legs act just like a pump, sending the blood up through the veins, as their elasticity aids the whole process. The veins are equipped with minute one-way valves that open as the blood makes it way to the heart, and close to prevent a back-flow of blood. When these valves fail to work, due to the fact that as you get older your veins lose elasticity, the blood flows backwards, pooling in the veins. This is how varicose veins develop as the veins become enlarged. They appear blue, because they are full of deoxygenated blood that is waiting to be recirculated into the heart.