According to the University of Stanford, varicose veins affect 30 million people in the United States and a new study even found that taller people are more at risk. So at some point in your life, you would probably experience having varicose veins as well.
With that in mind, let us find out whether varicose veins are preventable or not. Other than that, we would also list a few things that you can do to minimize its appearance.
Are Varicose Veins Preventable?
It depends.
To understand why, it is important to know the root cause of why you developed varicose veins in the first place.
If your varicose veins are hereditary, then you cannot simply prevent and stop varicose veins from appearing.
If you do not have varicose veins in the first place and you just started to develop them because of your sudden weight gain, then yes, you can avoid and prevent its appearance.
However, it is worth noting that determining the root cause of your varicose vein can be tricky. For instance, there are cases where pregnant women develop varicose veins due to hereditary. However, varicose veins can also be a side effect of pregnancy. So there is always uncertainty on what truly causes varicose veins
But, to give you a general idea of what likely cause of your varicose veins, here are the most common reasons why:
Family History
As mentioned before, varicose veins can be hereditary. If your family has a history of having it, then chances are you would likely develop varicose veins as well.
Older Age
Another reason why you cannot simply avoid varicose veins is your age. Based on the University of Rochester website, varicose vein affects 40% of men and 70% of women by the age of 60.
Being Female
Women in their 60s are more likely to develop varicose veins than men because of their hormones. Women are more likely to experience sudden changes in their hormones due to puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and even by taking birth control pills.
Prolong Sitting or Standing
There is no exact study that would prove this but many doctors and specialists are firm that it can cause varicose veins as well. This is anchored on the fact that prolonged sitting can cause blood to pool in your legs which could increase pressure to your veins, making you more prone to varicose veins.
Obesity
In this case, your body fat is the one pressuring and squeezing your vein wall. However, due to visible excess fat, sometimes, varicose veins tend to be under the skin or unnoticeable. This type of varicose vein can sometimes lead to serious complications because you cannot observe the veins and you would only notice the sign once it worsens.
Preventing Varicose Veins
After careful research, we found that varicose veins do not go away naturally. A specialist from a Dallas vein clinic revealed that while you can minimize its appearance with home remedies, there is simply no guarantee that you can completely remove and prevent it from coming back. With that, the best option is to simply talk to a vein expert and discuss your problems.
Afterward, you can do all of the things listed below in order to minimize and prevent it from coming back
- As you probably remember, being immobile for too long can cause and/worsen your varicose veins. With that, the best thing you can do is try to be active as much as possible. You can do this by starting a regular and sustainable workout routine filled with simple and low-impact exercise.
- Wearing loose clothing is also a great way to prevent varicose veins from worsening.
- If you have your varicose vein surgically removed by a professional, then the best way to prevent it from worsening is to wear compression stockings. Many doctors and surgeons often recommend this to their patients after their vein treatment/surgery.