Chronic venous disease (CVD) is an umbrella term for a group of morphological and functional disorders of the venous system. Clinical signs of CVD may range from telangiectasia and reticular veins to active venous ulcers; therefore, earlier diagnosis and management of CVD may delay disease progression and reduce the burden of CVD on patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems. In this podcast discussion, Professor Andrew Nicolaides, Professor Stavros Kakkos, and Dr Gerardo Estrada-Guerrero share the key highlights from their symposium at the 2023 European Venous Forum. This symposium, titled “Chronic venous disease: what if everything started with early care?”, discussed the clinical significance of “functional CVD,” evidence and risk factors for CVD progression, and real-world strategies to facilitate earlier diagnosis and management of CVD. Together, these topics highlight the importance of early care to improve long-term outcomes for people with CVD.