Treating varicose veins

Varicose veins. Photo: Shutterstock (courtesy of Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care Sdn Bhd)

Varicose veins – or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) – is common in the general population.

By definition, a varicose vein is a tortuous and dilated palpable vein in the lower limb caused by reversed blood flow or reflux. This leads to difficulty for blood to return from the leg to the heart, hence it accumulates in the leg, causing various symptoms.