The Leading Causes of Varicose Veins:

Heredity:

By far the number one cause is our family gene pool. Heredity may make you genetically predisposed to varicose veins. If your parents and/or grandparents had vascular issues, you are at greater risk.

Pregnancy:

Blood volume increases almost fifty percent during pregnancy. This causes greater stress on the vein walls. Also the increase in hormone levels during pregnancy again effects your circulation and contributes to vein enlargement and stress on your circulation. Too many times patients are advised not to have treatment until they are through with childbearing. This is a mistake and just worsens the problem.

Gender:

Females are at higher risk for vascular issues or venous disease due to several issues most commonly associated with women. Hormonal conditions, pregnancy and many medical conditions associated with females can cause thinning and stress to the vein walls. The use of hormone replacement and birth control can also have an effect on your circulation.

Obesity:

A staggering 33% of Americans are obese. Along with increased weight come many other issues that cause abnormal stress levels on your circulation and body in general. Extra weight has your circulation working harder to move blood through your veins putting you at risk of vascular issues. Not utilizing your calf muscles due to poor exercise and/or abnormal gait reduces your venous pump with the eventual development of venous insufficiency.

Prolonged Standing:

Gravity is a vein’s enemy! Occupations such as hair dressers, bartenders, retail or assembly line workers, doctors and nurses or lifestyles that involve standing for long periods of time can cause an increase in venous pressure, leg swelling and increased blood volume in the lower limbs.

Occupation – The most common occupations suffering from varicose veins:

      • #1 Teachers
      • #2 Medical professionals such as nurses and doctors
      • #3 Restaurant and retail professionals such as bartenders and cashiers
      • #4 Hair stylists

While you cannot prevent vascular conditions from prolonged standing, you can eleviate some of the stress by taking the time to sit for a few minutes, periodically move around, flex your legs and even elevate your feet after long periods of standing.

Age:

The overall changes which occur in our bodies during the aging process naturally affect our veins. Our vein walls lose elasticity causing the valves to malfunction. Our veins lose strength and are working harder to pump blood through the circulatory system. However, abnormal veins can begin dveloping in childhood and it is best to treat them at an earliest age as feasible.

Physical Trauma:

Injuries such as blunt force trauma to the lower limbs can damage underlying blood vessels and add to vein reflux issues.