September 23, 2023

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5 Risk Factors For Varicose Veins

More than 40 million Americans have varicose veins, making it a prevalent problem. Varicose veins, typically recognized by the appearance of protruding blue veins on the legs, might be the outcome of a more pervasive problem in the body called venous insufficiency. If neglected, varicose veins El Paso might result in skin ulcers, deep vein thrombosis, or hyperpigmentation.

Most individuals with varicose veins have one or more identified risk factors. Here are the risk factors for varicose veins;

1.   Age

Your chance of developing varicose and spider veins rises with age. Around 30% of women and 15% of men in the general population have varicose veins. But by the age of 70, the frequency rises to 77% in women and 57% in males.

Age diminishes the gender difference in varicose and spider veins. However, age increases the likelihood of abdominal varicose veins. Women using hormone therapy replacement may put themselves at increased risk because estrogen makes blood vessel walls more expandable, which can cause blood reflux and vein distention.

2.   Standing occupations

Standing for long periods at work is linked to a dramatically greater incidence of varicose veins. Standing steady raises the pressure in the veins and reduces the pumping action of the calf muscles, which helps reestablish blood flow and prevents blood from collecting in the legs.

Walking activates the muscular calf pump, which helps propel the blood and reduces blood pooling; doing a standing job with lots of walking is less likely to result in varicose veins. According to research, 76% of people who work in positions that demand a lot of standing but minimal walking—such as medical operating room staff and laundry workers—have varicose veins.

Walking, however, can have the reverse effect if the valves are broken. Increased exercise improves blood flow, but defective valves cause more blood to backflow and pool.

3.   Obesity

Your chance of developing varicose veins nearly triples if your body mass index (BMI) is higher than 20. Obesity-related elevated abdominal pressure causes less blood to return to the heart from the legs, which raises vein pressure.

Additionally, obese people frequently engage in less physical activity, which results in reduced calf muscle contraction, a crucial component of the natural system that pushes blood back to the heart. Obesity and inactivity are linked to a higher incidence of varicose veins in women than in males, according to studies.

4.   Pregnancy

A woman’s chance of getting varicose veins is 20% to 30% higher if she has had two or more pregnancies. High levels of progesterone are considered to have a role when varicose veins develop early in a pregnancy. Progesterone promotes the relaxation of the muscles lining the veins.

5.   Nutrition and Diet

Diets low in fiber, which are popular nowadays, result in persistent constipation. Struggling to evacuate yourself raises abdominal pressure, which, if it happens frequently, might cause vein dilation. Additionally, the colon may swell, squeezing the veins in the abdomen and decreasing blood flow. Constipation greatly raises the chance of developing varicosities, particularly in the stomach.

Additionally, vitamin E deficiency in Modern diets increases the risk of blood clotting and alters blood vessel walls, which can result in varicose and spider veins.

Call Desert West Vein & Surgery Center to book your appointment for varicose veins treatment.

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