What Is It? Published: January, 2019. Esophageal varices are swollen veins in the lining of the lower esophagus near the stomach. Gastric varices are swollen ...SkiptocontentEsophagealVaricesWhatIsIt?Published:January,2019Esophagealvaricesareswollenveinsintheliningoftheloweresophagusnearthestomach.Gastricvaricesareswollenveinsintheliningofthestomach.Swollenveinsintheesophagusorstomachresemblethevaricoseveinsthatsomepeoplehaveintheirlegs.Becausetheveinsintheesophagusaresoclosetothesurfaceoftheesophagus,swollenveinsinthislocationcanruptureandcausedangerousbleeding.Esophagealvaricesalmostalwaysoccurinpeoplewhohavecirrhosisoftheliver.Cirrhosiscausesscarringoftheliver,whichslowstheflowofbloodthroughtheliver.Scarringcausesbloodtobackupintheportalvein,themainveinthatdeliversbloodfromthestomachandintestinestotheliver.This"backup"causeshighbloodpressureintheportalveinandothernearbyveins.Thisiscalledportalhypertension.Tocontinuereadingthisarticle,youmustlogin.SubscribetoHarvardHealthOnlineforimmediateaccesstohealthnewsandinformationfromHarvardMedicalSchool.ResearchhealthconditionsCheckyoursymptomsPrepareforadoctor'svisitortestFindthebesttreatmentsandproceduresforyouExploreoptionsforbetternutritionandexerciseLearnmoreaboutthemanybenefitsandfeaturesofjoiningHarvardHealthOnline »I'dliketoreceiveaccesstoHarvardHealthOnlineforonly$4.99amonth.SignMeUp»RelatedArticlesRelatedTopicsSubscriptionsPayMyBillAccessDigitalSubscriptionsSubscribeCustomerServiceOnlineLearningCoursesCognitiveFitnessControllingYourBloodPressureBackPainImprovingYourMemoryStartingtoExercise6-WeekPlanForHealthyEatingAlreadyenrolled?SigninhereResourcesHealthAtoZDiagnosticTestsandMedicalProceduresHealthDecisionGuidesAskHarvardMedicalSchoolVideoSeriesOnlineLearningCoursesFREEEMAILNEWSLETTERSSpecialHealthReportsCustomerServiceSignUpNowForHEALTHbeatOurFREEE-NewsletterGethealthinformationandadvicefromtheexpertsatHarvardMedicalSchool.E-mailAddressFirstName(Optional)DailyHealthTipCookwithfriendsCookingahealthymealwithfrien