What are Varicose Veins?

Arteries take blood from the heart to the extremities while veins channel the blood back to the heart. Veins contain a number of one-way valves in order to help the veins to carry the blood in one direction. The prolonged pressure in the lumen of the veins results in veins to stretch and therefore the valves no longer close properly. The result is blood flow slows down with veins becoming elongated and dilated leading to varicose veins.