Why Varicose Veins Ache More at the End of the Day

Why do varicose veins ache more at the end of the day? This is a natural segue from yesterday's video about the difference between arteries and veins. If you recall, we were talking about veins being a slightly more passive system that relies on a series of one-way valves. As a result, the venous system is very, very sensitive to gravity.

That's why, if you spend the whole day standing up or even sitting down, you get the action of gravity on a passive system, and it's pulling the venous blood almost down into the foot. If you're not moving around, if you're not walking around, if you're not moving your calf, and if you've got venous reflux, which you'll recall is when your valves aren't working properly, that's where this real sensation of heaviness, tiredness and cramping in the legs can occur. And this is almost characteristically at the end of the day.

So that's the reason why. Again, it's a relatively simple solution. See a vascular surgeon and get yourself screened. It's a duplex ultrasound scan, and there are always options that we can offer to help.