But why do we get varicose veins?

Understanding why we get varicose veins depends on knowing how veins work. Healthy veins take blood up from our feet to the heart – going against gravity. Blood will naturally try to flow backwards and is only prevented from doing so by tiny one-way valves in the veins that open and close to let it through. ‘Varicose veins occur when the small valves in our leg veins fail. This allows blood to fall back down to the ankles and feet and collect in the veins,’ says Professor Whiteley.

Any vein can become varicose if its wall is stretched and the valve is weakened. Possible factors include ageing, obesity and pregnancy. Women are also more likely to get them, says the NHS, as research suggests that female hormones can relax the walls of veins, making the valves more prone to leaking.

However, the biggest influence to determine whether you’ll get varicose veins is genetics, says Professor Whiteley. ‘There is a strong familial link, and the more relatives you have with

varicose veins, the more likely you are to have them, even if they are hidden. They can strike at any time of life and are more common with age, but that doesn’t stop young people getting them if their genes determine it,’ he explains.