Varicose veins are a medical condition affecting millions of people around the world. These dilated blood vessels generally occur most frequently in the legs, but they can appear anywhere where there is a weakness in the veins and valves throughout the body. You may see varicose veins appear in many different ways, but most commonly they appear as ropey, undulating veins that will sprawl out from the damaged vein location. While there is no sure fire way to prevent the formation of varicose veins, there are a few things we look for at vein centers in Michigan to see if you are prone to getting them.
Age
Age is a significant factor in whether you may develop varicose veins. Aging causes the body’s veins to lose their elasticity. The valves inside your veins that are meant to stop blood from flowing back eventually function less efficiently. This will increase your chances to see varicose veins develop.
Biological Sex
The unfortunate fact is that women are more prone to getting varicose veins than men. This may be due to the hormonal changes female bodies usually experience, such as menopause and pregnancy. The increase and changes in hormone levels leave veins more vulnerable to weakening and thus causes more varicose veins to develop.
Genetics
Another factor to look at when seeing if you are prone to varicose veins is your family history. If you have family members who have varicose vein issues, then you are automatically more prone to getting them. Take a look at your parents, siblings, and close family to see if this is a family issue.
Obesity
Being overweight is another risk factor to being more prone to getting varicose veins. The excess weight will put extra pressure on your veins. This extra pressure will cause more hardship on your veins and the valves that aid in returning blood to the heart. This extra pressure can cause varicose veins to develop.
Lack of Movement
You may think that moving around would increase your heart rate and cause more pressure on your veins, but regular exercise will help strengthen your veins. If you stand or sit for long periods of time, you may be putting more pressure on your veins. Staying in one position for too long puts extra pressure to help pump the blood to your heart.
Look at these five risk factors to see if you are prone to varicose veins. If you are worried about developing varicose veins, or already have vein problems, contact Skin & Vein today. We can help treat these unsightly veins and get your skin looking great again!