Top 5 risk factors for varicose veins
Post Date: Dec 2, 2019
Author: Mr Ken Woodburn
- Age. The risk of varicose veins increases with age. Aging causes wear and tear on the valves in your veins that help regulate blood flow. Eventually, that wear causes the valves to allow some blood to flow back into your veins where it collects instead of flowing up to your heart.
- Sex. Varicose veins are more common in men. However varicose veins often appear in women during or after pregnancy because female hormones tend to relax vein walls. Veins that appear during pregnancy often improve after the pregnancy is over.
- Family history. If other family members had varicose veins, there’s a greater chance you will too.
- Obesity. Being overweight puts added pressure on your veins, making varicose veins more likely to develop.
- Standing or sitting for long periods of time. Your blood doesn’t flow as well if you’re in the same position for long periods, because your calf muscles are not pumping the blood out of your legs unless your ankles are moving.
