If you’re living with varicose veins, you’ve probably become accustomed to the uncomfortable feeling and appearance of those enlarged and inflamed veins. But what are varicose veins, and what causes them to inflame in the first place?
Johns Hopkins Medicine explains how these visible veins occur within the body: “The blood moves towards the heart by one-way valves in the veins. When the valves become weakened or damaged, blood can collect in the veins. This causes the veins to become enlarged. Sitting or standing for long periods can cause blood to pool in the leg veins, increasing the pressure within the veins. The veins can stretch from the increased pressure. This may weaken the walls of the veins and damage the valves.”
That’s the explanation of what causes varicose veins on a micro scale, but what are the causes on a macro scale? Some outside explanations for an increased pressure can be excess weight, older age, sex, a low activity level, pregnancy, smoking and even taking birth control or having a leg injury.
Another cause of those red and blue veins could be hereditary, but not quite as directly as you’d think. Your varicose veins could be the results of the vein weakness that you’ve inherited from your mother, or her mother or grandmother.
But with this in mind, it’s important to consider the risks of having weakened veins in the first place. A blood vessel bursting or a blood clot breaking off and traveling to the lungs (known as pulmonary embolism) or elsewhere are always a possibility with varicose veins. This all goes without saying the uncomfortable feeling of experiencing sores, a rash, and burning or aching sensations that come with visible veins.
Even if your grandparent may be to blame for your varicose veins, that doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. Some of the ways you can reduce your risk of experiencing any serious side effects is to maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly, elevate your feet to reduce swelling, and wear compression socks and comfortable clothing that isn’t too tight. If you want to learn even more ways to treat your varicose veins, give us a call at 817.235.0769.