While some instances of varicose veins can be a part of a larger wellness issue, most people who have varicosities are otherwise very healthy. The appearance of these protrusions on the legs, hands, and extremities is really just an aspect of the body’s physiology at work.
In order to accommodate the flow of blood to and from the heart, the vessels of the circulatory system are highly elastic. This allows for expansion during exercise and warm weather, and contraction during relaxation and cooler temperatures. All of this is really a part of being healthy, and while the vessels have a lot of flexibility, they can become worn out.
This is even more apparent in the veins of the extremities, because the valves in these vessels need to work harder against gravity while returning the blood to the heart. As a result, when the valves begin to fail, the blood will begin to pool in these areas. The elasticity of the vessels lets them expand to accommodate this possibility, but it can also lead to the protrusion that most people associate with varicose veins.
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