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Nearly one in four adults (23%) in the United States has varicose veins, or bulging, rope-like varicosities that twist and swell against the skin. Millions more will get varicose veins or smaller reticular veins and spider veins (telangiectasias) as they age.
If you don’t have varicose veins — and you don’t want them to appear on your legs as you get older — you may be wondering if there’s a way to avoid them. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to prevent this common vascular disorder, and our board-certified specialists at Vascular Vein Centers are ready to help.
Read on to learn about the factors that make varicose veins more likely, and find out what you can do to mitigate your varicose vein risk and maintain healthy leg veins.
Vein valve weakness is the main mechanism involved in varicose vein formation: When these internal one-way valves no longer facilitate efficient circulation, blood pools behind them and strains the surrounding vessel wall, causing it to bulge, twist, and swell.
Leg veins are affected most often because their valves frequently work against gravity. Older adults and women have the highest varicose vein risk — mostly due to the factors that make their formation more likely. These factors fall into five basic categories:
Inherited varicose vein risk factors include being tall (i.e., longer leg veins) and family history, or having close relatives (i.e., parents, grandparents, siblings) with varicose veins.
Aging vein valves are a common cause of slower lower extremity circulation in older adults. A sedentary lifestyle can accelerate these age-related vascular changes and make blood flow even more sluggish, making varicose veins all the more likely.
High blood pressure inside your veins (venous hypertension) places increased strain on the vessels’ internal valves. This condition may occur when your veins must handle an abnormally high blood volume (i.e., if you’re pregnant or overweight). It can also happen if you’re on your feet for long stretches.
At normal levels, the primary female sex hormone — estrogen — supports vascular health. But when estrogen declines (i.e., through menopause) or increases (i.e., during pregnancy), it can weaken vein valve function and boost the odds of varicose vein formation.
Smoking damages the lining of your blood vessels and slows circulation, making varicose veins more likely. A history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or a blood clot in a deep vein, is another varicose vein risk factor.
Varicose veins are most common in older women, but they can happen to anyone. In fact, the more “risk factor boxes” you can check, the more likely you are to get them. But even if you can check multiple boxes, you can also actively mitigate your risk by:
Nothing weakens vein valve function faster than inactivity, including long periods of sitting down and long stretches of standing mostly still in the same place. Avoid both scenarios by taking regular movement, stretching, and walking breaks.
Nothing strains vein valve function more than the increased circulatory demands associated with carrying excess fat. If you’re overweight, losing just a few pounds can reduce vascular stress, lowering your risk of varicose veins in turn.
Regular exercise strengthens your muscles and joints, improves mental function, reduces stress, and boosts circulation. You don’t need a complicated workout routine to benefit, either — a brisk daily walk is all it takes to enhance circulation and keep your veins healthy.
Eating a diet that’s high in fiber (plant-based whole foods) and low in sodium and added sugars (processed food products) supports vascular health. In addition to helping you control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as systemic inflammation, a wholesome diet also helps protect against varicose vein formation.
Smokers are significantly more likely than non-smokers to develop varicose veins, but that isn’t the only reason to quit smoking — the blood-vessel-damaging chemicals in cigarettes and vaping products increase your risk of having a blood clot, heart attack, and stroke, too.
The above strategies can help most adults, including those with multiple risk factors, avoid developing unsightly and uncomfortable varicose veins.
However, if you have certain exacerbating risk factors — such as pregnancy combined with a strong family history or a job that keeps you on your feet in older age — compression therapy provides next-level preventive care. Compression garments protect against varicose veins by assisting lower extremity circulation and taking pressure off vein valves.
Worried about varicose veins? We can help. Schedule a visit at your nearest Vascular Vein Centers office in College Park of Orlando, Kissimmee, Waterford Lakes of East Orlando, Lake Mary, Davenport/Haines City, or The Villages, Florida, today.
