Venous valves: Non-return valves in the vein area
The venous valves allow the blood to flow in one direction only: back to the heart.
The function of the venous valves can be impaired or destroyed by injury, inflammation or risk factors (e.g. age, genes, gender, previous illnesses, occupation). The leg muscles then cause the blood to be pressed into the cardiac veins instead of the deep veins, partly into the superficial, subcutaneous veins. This results in an overload of the superficial venous system.
Compression can be useful when the veins expand.
Only 10 percent of the German population have healthy veins. 90 percent have an impaired venous system. 1 Weakness of the veins leads to the blood in the leg veins failing. This can become apparent through various signs. Heavy and tired legs, swelling, spider veins or varicose veins. It is not only the legs that suffer from cosmetic problems with blood vessels that are visible under the skin. Couperose can also be problematic on the face.
