7 Need-to-Know Facts About Varicose Veins

According to WomensHealth.gov, varicose veins have the potential to affect approximately 50% of people in the United States age 50 and over. With those odds, it’s important to make sure that you familiarize yourself with this common condition, it’s causes and methods of prevention. That being said, here are seven facts that you absolutely must know about varicose veins:

1. Crossing your legs is not as bad as it seems. Though sitting with your legs crossed or wearing high heels can somewhat increase the pressure put on your legs, and therefore increase your risk of developing varicose veins, there is no direct negative result of doing so.

2. Sitting or standing for long periods of time is risky. When you sit or stand for hours at a time each day, the blood in your leg veins begins to pool, weakening the vein valves and walls. In addition, family history, obesity, smoking, lack of regular exercise and hormonal birth control, are all factors that can increase your risk for this vascular condition.

3. Varicose veins are more than a cosmetic issue. In fact, ignoring varicose veins and forgoing treatment could lead to fatigue and restlessness in the legs, swelling and and overall feeling of discomfort. Long term effects can include deep vein thrombosis, blood clots, and poor circulation.

4. Though similar, varicose veins and spider veins are not the same. Spider veins are thin, blue blood vessels that are visible through the skin and are generally harmless, while varicose veins are raised, rope-like veins that are visible protruding above the skin. To learn more about the differences between the two, see our past blog post here.

5. Men can develop varicose veins too. Though records show that 70-80% of patients treated are female, a small percentage of men can suffer from varicose veins as well. Overall, “about 50-55% percent of women and 40-45% percent of men in the United States suffer from some type of vein problem.”

6. Pregnancy can cause or worsen varicose veins. While carrying, the inferior vena cava can be subjected to increased pressure caused by a blood flow blockage. Pregnancy hormones can also weaken the vein walls.

7. Exercise is the best way to prevent varicose veins. Physical activity that boost circulation, like swimming, walking and climbing stairs, can help to reduce your chances of developing these unsightly veins.

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we understand our patients’ needs for varicose vein removal, which is why we offer three types of treatments: Laser, sclerotherapy injections and inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement.

To learn more about our vascular surgery options, call 631-321-6801 to schedule a consultation today.