What are varicose veins?
One-way valves normally allow blood to travel in the veins from the foot back to the heart without flowing back down in the other direction (‘refluxing’). If the valves stop working properly (become leaky or ‘incompetent’) blood pools in the surface leg veins which then swell up over time and become ‘varicose’.
Healthy Vein Valves & Correct Blood Flow
Damaged Vein Valve & Incorrect Blood Flow
Video appointments
I am now booking FREE initial consultations via video which are proving highly effective. This enables us to meet, virtually, face to face and for me to diagnose your condition and answer any specific questions.
During the current situation I am concentrating all my efforts within the vascular and transplant units in the NHS and hence why I am unable to carry out treatments or face to face consultations.
Consequences of varicose veins
- Varicose veins commonly cause localised pain in the area of the veins, and also aching or heaviness in the whole of the leg, especially after prolonged periods of standing. Walking can sometimes reduce the aching, making symptoms more noticeable when sufferers rest at the end of the day
- Varicose veins often interfere with the ability to undertake strenuous exercise and can cause problems through rubbing on clothing
- The severity of varicose vein symptoms varies enormously and bears little relation to size. Some people with huge varicose veins suffer very little discomfort, whereas some with relatively small veins suffer greatly
- Pooling of blood increases the pressure within the veins. This causes a ‘bursting’ sensation in the legs at times, leading to fluid, toxins and fragments of old blood cells to cross the tiny vessels (capillaries) in the tissues and build up within the skin
- Excess fluid can cause the leg to swell, and toxins can cause itching and redness, often felt at the ankle and also along the length of the varicose veins. Red patches known as ‘varicose eczema’ can also occur
…other FAQ’s
This video is a compilation of all 18 FAQs which runs for just under 13 minutes. Alternatively you can select individual questions by clicking on the videos below.
18 FAQs videos
Hover over the main video and then use the arrows left and right to cycle through them