Forget all the old wive’s tales you may have heard over the years about what causes varicose veins. The Orlando vein health experts at Florida Vein Care want to share with you the four top causes of varicose veins:
- Genetics. Better thank Mom and Dad. Yes, genetics have a strong role in the development of varicose veins. Studies have indicated that if both of your parents suffer from varicose veins, you have a much higher risk of developing them. Some studies suggest the risk increases to almost 90%. Women have a significantly increased risk over men.
- Pregnancy. The obvious tie to women is that pregnancy can cause varicose veins. The growth of the baby causes an increase in blood volume in the mother, and the position of the baby in the pelvic region can cause narrowing of blood vessels. Add gravity into the mix, and the veins simply can’t keep up with the demand for blood flow, which can cause valves to allow a backflow of blood which results in varicosities. Many women indicate that they never experienced problems with varicose veins until they became pregnant.
- Profession: The people who stand or walk throughout the day, such as hairdressers, teachers, and nurses are at a greater risk of developing varicose and spider veins. The constant standing causes the blood to pool, increasing the pressure on vein walls, which can damage the valves.
- Lifestyle. This includes not only your occupation, but how much and what kind of exercise you get. There is a delicate balance to be struck in not spending too much time on your feet or exercising to an extreme. Sedentary individuals tend to have more problems with varicose veins. However, people who exercise too hard also run the risk of developing them. If your exercise regime includes standing for long periods of time or pounding against the pavement, you increase the risk of negatively impacting your vein health.
If you think you’ve been noticing any of the symptoms of spider or varicose veins and can relate to one or more of these risk factors above, it’s time to reach out and schedule an appointment to check on your vein health. Orlando vein health is very important to Dr. Bragg and the staff at Florida Vein Care and Cosmetic Center. Call now to schedule an appointment at 407-805-5959, or contact them online.
