Why do varicose veins usually appear in the legs?
The force of gravity, the pressure of body weight, and the task of carrying blood from the bottom of the body up to the heart make legs the primary location for varicose veins. Compared with other veins in the body, leg veins have the toughest job of carrying blood back to the heart. They endure the most pressure. This pressure can be stronger than the veins’ one-way valves. Are varicose veins painful or dangerous? Spider veins usually do not need medical treatment, except for esthetic reasons. But varicose veins usually enlarge and worsen over time. Severe varicose veins can cause health problems. These include: • Severe venous insufficiency. This severe pooling of blood in the veins slows the return of blood to the heart. This condition can cause blood clots and severe infections. Blood clots can be very dangerous because they can move from leg veins and travel to the lungs. Blood clots in the lungs are life-threatening because they can block the heart and lungs from functioning. • S
