What Is It? Varicose veins occur when veins just below the
skin's surface are damaged, become swollen and fill with too
much blood. Veins are the blood vessels that return blood to the
heart. Arteries carry blood away from the heart to the rest of
the body. Varicose veins most commonly occur in the legs. In
about 50% of cases, the condition runs in families, and probably
is related to an inherited weakness in the veins' walls or the
valves inside veins that keep blood from backing up. Pregnancy
is another common cause of varicose veins. During pregnancy, the
volume of blood increases causing veins to expand. Also,
occupations that require uninterrupted standing (waitresses and
waiters, nurses, mothers with young children) may force leg
veins and valves to work against gravity for hours, increasing
the risk of pressure-related vein and valve damage. Garters also
can increase the risk of varicose veins if their tight elastics
slow blood flow in the legs. Varicose veins are 2 to 3 times
more common in women than