Varicose veins are expanded, often wormed, shallow veins. Causes of the varicose veins are defective venous valves that do not run the blood like watergates to the “top” to the heart anymore and we assume that your heart is above your legs. Part of the blood falls “down” again so that the blood dams that comes from below. The permanent transport of the blood from the feet to the heart is disturbed, the pressure in the veins increases, they go baggy to varicose veins and later they also let water go into the tissue. Then swelling of the legs develops.

There are various causes for varicose veins. In a large part they probably develop because of an inherent or native weakness of the connective tissue that lead to the described disturbes function of the venous valves. This is enhanced by promotive factors like occupations that require standing, lack of exercise, pregnancy, or being overweight. Another reason for varicose veins is the lack of drainage in the deeper vein system, e.g. caused by thrombosis tumours (secondary sufferings of varicose veins).

Three kinds of varicose veins can be distinguished starbust varices, stam varicose veins and …

When the varicose veins have already progressed, the patients suffer from a heavy feeling of the legs, nightly cramps in the calf, swelling of the legs, especially at the lowest point of the body in the ankle area, and changes of the skin colour occur. Often the first indications are blue shallow varicose veins under the skin that cause a cosmetic damage.

The diagnosis is an examination of the whole body and a special ultra-sound examination of the veins of the legs, the colour-duplex-sonography.

The treatment is decided by cause and extent of the varicose veins: wearing elastic stockings, sclerosis of the sickened vein or various surgical procedures can be the treatment.