Blog

Leg swelling (oedema) happens when fluid accumulates in the tissues of the lower leg. It can have many causes, so it is important to get a proper assessment rather than assuming it is always a vein issue. Venous insufficiency — where damaged vein valves allow blood to...

Spider veins (also called telangiectasias) are tiny dilated blood vessels visible just beneath the surface of the skin. They appear as fine red, blue, or purple lines, sometimes in a web or starburst pattern, which is how they got their name. Spider veins are most...

Varicose veins form in the superficial veins when they become enlarged and twisted. They then bulge under the skin and they most commonly occur in the legs. They develop when the one-way valves inside the vein stop working properly. Instead of blood flowing steadily...

Your leg veins are organised into two distinct networks, and each has a different job. Knowing the difference helps make sense of why some vein problems are unsightly, some cause skin and swelling problems while others can be life-threatening. The superficial veins...

Leg veins face a unique challenge as they must push blood upward, working against gravity, for the entire time you are standing or sitting. Your body has some clever ways to manage this. The most important helper is your calf muscle. Every time you walk or move your...

Your body contains over 100,000 kilometres of blood vessels when added together. This is enough to circle the Earth more than twice. Veins are one of three types of blood vessel, alongside arteries and capillaries. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from your heart...