Varicose veins are enlarged veins that are swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. They can be dark purple or blue, and look twisted and bulging. Varicose veins are commonly found on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the leg. They develop when valves in the veins that allow blood to flow toward the heart stop working properly. As a result, blood pools in the veins and causes them to get larger. Veins have an estimated prevalence between 5% to 30% in the adult population, with a female to male predominance of 3 to 1. The technical name for varicose veins is Chronic Venous Insufficiency(CVI).

Although the most common manifestations of CVI are dilated veins, such as telangiectases, reticular veins, and varicose veins ,CVI also includes problematic veins that are not visible to the eye causing a condition that is called venous hypertension. Venous hypertension can cause various pathologies including pain with standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, achiness, heaviness, swelling, cramps at night, edema, skin changes, and ulcerations.

Risk factors found to be associated with CVI include age, sex, a family history of varicose veins, obesity, pregnancy, phlebitis, and previous leg injury. There also may be environmental or behavioral factors associated with CVI such as prolonged standing and perhaps a sitting posture at work. Varicose veins have a significant impact on lifestyles, with millions of people seeking medical attention for their symptomatic and cosmetic problems annually.