The term "venous disease" is a collective term for all diseases of the superficial and deep venous system and their consequences. Diseases of the superficial venous system include varicose veins (varices) and their complications such as inflammation, variceal bleeding and leg ulcers.

Diseases of the deep vein system include thrombosis (deep vein thrombosis) and its complications in the form of pulmonary embolism or the chronic destruction of its valves, which leads to post-thrombotic syndrome.

All of these clinical pictures lead to chronic venous insufficiency, which can be accompanied by a tendency to swelling of the legs, skin discoloration, skin hardening, or even venous leg ulcer.

People with venous insufficiency repeatedly report the same symptoms that are typical of their condition:

• Tiredness, heaviness and a feeling of tension, as if your legs are weighed down.
• A tendency to swell in the lower leg and around the ankle region, especially in the evening, which disappears again the next morning.
• Itching, which often starts in the evening after going to bed and can progress to chronic skin inflammation (eczema).
• Visible skin changes with brownish discoloration and a "thinning" of the skin, which is quickly damaged and heals more poorly.
• Localized discomfort in the area of visible varicose veins, whereby small veins can often be more troublesome than large veins.
• Typical for venous complaints is that they worsen with (prolonged) standing or sitting, but also with heat, and subside when lying down or in the cold. In women, the symptoms often depend on their hormonal situation.