What Causes Vein Disease?

There are a few misconceptions when it comes to the cause of vein disease and visible symptoms such as Varicose Veins. Many patients believe that only age and leg trauma trigger symptoms of venous disease, but what they don’t realize is that men and women of all ages can develop varicose veins and that there are a variety of causes which can lead to the disease.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle which includes diet and exercise are two great ways to help prevent varicose vein symptoms from developing or worsening, however with many patients it is your genetics which are playing a key role and cannot be 100% prevented. Heredity is the top cause of varicose veins, which unfortunately means that even with diet and an active fitness routine, varicose veins could still affect you. Although there may not be anything you can do to change your genetic makeup it is important to create a healthy lifestyle to help prevent painful symptoms or existing varicose veins from progressing.

Hormones can be a powerful factor when it comes to vein disease. Although men of all ages can develop varicose veins, women are more likely due to hormone and bodily changes such as pregnancy. Even if you’ve never had any vein symptoms before, during pregnancy you may start to notice a change. During this time your body produces a higher volume of blood to support your body as well as your child’s which puts more pressure on your veins, most commonly your legs. The extra pressure and work your veins are doing is why varicose veins may develop near the end of your term. It is important to try and elevate your legs when sitting and to add low impact exercise like walking to your routine in order to help alleviate any pressure or pain.

There are many occupations that require long periods of standing or sitting, each are accompanied by their own problems. Even though you may be leading an active lifestyle outside of your daily desk job, the hours spent sitting could still do damage. When seated at a desk for an extended amount of time your blood circulation may not be at it’s best. Standing up and walking around whenever you can to get your blood circulation moving is a great way to be proactive. This same concept also applies to individuals who stand during their workday. The constant pressure on your legs overtime can cause the same damage as those who are sitting, but instead of walking around to get circulation moving try elevating your feet when able.

As you can see varicose vein causes stem from a wide range of factors. So, if you are experiencing symptoms such as leg or ankle swelling, leg pain/cramping, leg heaviness, burning or itching of skin, skin color/texture changes, ulcers or see noticeable bulging veins it is vital to have them looked at. Venous disease is a progressive disease and if left untreated has the potential to worsen overtime and negatively affect your quality of life.

Being proactive when it comes to your vein health is the best plan of action. Milligan Vein invites you to contact us with any questions you may have regarding your vein health or present symptoms so we can get you back to living a healthy and pain free life.