Through the arteries, blood flows from the heart to the legs and is then returned through the veins (or veins). In people with varicose veins, these leg veins do not function adequately. Because the valves inside the veins do not close sufficiently, the blood will partially flow back to the legs due to gravity.

 

As a result of this disrupted blood flow, congestion develops in the legs. This causes increased blood pressure in the venous system, called venous hypertension. This is the cause of almost all the symptoms of varicose vein disorders and eventually leads to chronic venous insufficiency.