Author

Knowing how varicose veins form — and which circumstances can trigger or accelerate their appearance — helps you understand your chances of developing them so you can take steps to prevent them. Varicose veins are common: More than one in three adults (35%) in the United States currently has them, and many more can expect to get them at some point in life. While anyone can develop these twisted, bulging viscosities, certain factors make them more likely.  Knowing how varicose veins form — and which circumstances might trigger or accelerate their appearance — can help you understand your chances of developing them. With that awareness, you can manage your risk and prevent unwanted vein problems.  Read on as board-certified vascular specialist Dr. David Verebelyi and our skilled team at Colorado Skin and Vein discuss the underlying mechanisms and intensifying factors behind varicose veins and explain how you can minimize your risk of developing them.   Weak valves set the stage for varicose veins  Your veins have one job: transport deoxygenated blood from your body tissues, organs, and extremities to your heart and lungs. They contain a series of one-way valves to keep your blood flowing efficiently and in the right direction on this continuous journey. Unfortunately, vein valves aren’t impervious to dysfunction. They can weaken with age, like any other part of your body, and they can weaken under pressure. Leg veins are more likely to become varicose — their valves frequently work against the effects of gravity to keep blood flowing toward your heart. A condition called venous insufficiency begins when weak or damaged vein valves no longer work as they should. Instead of flowing through them, blood pools behind the dysfunctional valves and exerts pressure on the surrounding vessel wall.   There are three main risk factors for weak or dysfunctional vein valves, including having a family history of varicose veins, being middle-aged or older, and female gender.  Circulation issues rapidly accelerate the process Weak vein valves and venous insufficiency may effectively set the stage for varicose veins, but other factors usually accelerate the process, which include the following four basic categories: Sluggish blood flow Venous insufficiency is already a form of poor circulation, but one that can get worse with too much sitting or lack of physical activity. When inactive, your blood flow becomes even more sluggish and readily pools behind weak vein valves.  Increased pressure Venous hypertension, or high blood pressure inside your veins, places vein valves under stress and strain. This can happen when pregnancy or carrying excess body fat requires your veins to handle a higher-than-normal blood volume; it can also happen if you’re often on your feet for long stretches. High-estrogen state Female gender is a risk factor for varicose veins because estrogen is the primary female sex hormone. While estrogen contributes to vascular health, higher estrogen levels can weaken vein valve function and increase the likelihood of varicose veins.  This is why the high-estrogen state of pregnancy can accelerate varicose vein formation.  Injury and obstruction You’re more likely to develop varicose veins if you’ve ever had a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or blood clot, in one of your deep veins. You’re also more likely to get them if you’re a smoker — tobacco damages the lining of your veins and slows circulation.  Here is how to reduce your varicose vein risk  While you can’t mitigate unchangeable risk factors for varicose veins like family history, older age, and female gender, there’s a lot you can do to promote optimal circulation and minimize your risk of developing vein problems. Everyone’s leg circulation can benefit from:  Avoiding long stretches of sitting or standing still  Getting at least 30-60 minutes of exercise each day Losing excess body weight and quitting smoking Switching to a heart-healthy, low-sodium diet plan   If you have significant accelerating risk factors for varicose veins — such as pregnancy or an occupation that requires you to stand for long periods — you can assist lower extremity circulation by wearing compression stockings and elevating your legs as often as possible.  And remember, while there’s a lot you can do to improve your circulation and reduce your varicose vein risk, you can’t eliminate that risk altogether. If you happen to develop an unsightly, uncomfortable, or unwanted varicose vein, we can help.  To learn more about the minimally invasive varicose vein treatment options at Colorado Skin and Vein in Englewood, Colorado, call or click online and schedule a consultation today. 

One in three adults in the United States has varicose veins. Knowing how to spot the warning signs that may signal their development can help you take steps to prevent their progression. Learn more here. Approximately one in three US adults have varicose veins — the distorted, purplish leg veins that bulge, swell, and twist under the surface of your skin. While anyone can get them, certain risk factors and circumstances make their appearance more likely. You can’t always avoid varicose veins, but you can take steps to minimize their severity — and treat them to prevent their progression. How? Learn your risk factors for varicose veins and how to spot the warning signs that signal their development. Our skilled team at Colorado Skin and Vein in Englewood, Colorado, offers a full scope of advanced varicose vein treatment options for Denver-area patients. Here, board-certified vascular specialist Dr. David Verebelyi discusses the ins and outs of varicose veins, from risk factors and warning signs to helpful lifestyle changes and interventions.   How do leg veins become varicose? Your veins have one job — to return deoxygenated blood from your body to your heart and lungs, so it can pick up fresh oxygen and head back out to your body through your arteries. To help them perform this continuous task as efficiently as possible, they contain a series of one-way valves that keep blood flowing in the right direction. However, when those valves are weak or dysfunctional, it causes your circulation to become sluggish — and allows blood to repeatedly pool behind the problematic valves and exert pressure on the surrounding vessel wall. This perpetual, localized buildup of blood and intravascular pressure eventually causes the affected area of the vein to swell, bulge, twist, distort, or become varicose. Significant varicose vein risk factors Most varicose veins are a product of a condition called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), commonly referred to as poor circulation. Anyone can develop CVI and associated varicose veins, but certain risk factors make their appearance more likely. Varicose vein risk factors fall into four general categories: Inherited You’re more likely to develop varicose veins if you’re tall or have a family history of the problem. Tall height puts your leg veins under pressure, while family history increases the likelihood of inherited vein valve problems. Acquired Being overweight elevates your varicose vein risk by increasing blood pressure within your veins; getting older boosts your risk merely because your vein valves are aging, too. Lifestyle Smoking (tobacco use) and prolonged sitting or standing can injure your blood vessels or increase pressure, setting the stage for varicose veins. Hormonal Being in a “high-estrogen state” can make you more vulnerable to varicose veins because high estrogen levels can decrease vein valve function. Female gender is a high-risk factor for varicose veins, and pregnancy amplifies that risk. Early warning signs of varicose veins Often, no early warning signs or symptoms indicate the impending arrival of a varicose vein — the painless process happens quietly and gradually, even if the vein changes appear suddenly just beneath the surface of your skin. However, In other cases, your body may send subtle signals that you’re in the early stages of poor lower extremity circulation or that precipitates varicose vein formation. You may notice: Persistent achiness or heaviness in your legs Unusual leg pain when you’re physically active Leg discomfort during prolonged inactivity Unexplained leg muscle cramping and swelling Intense skin itchiness in the affected area Flaky or dry skin that begins to scale Visibly raised or inflamed sub-surface veins Noticeable skin changes over the affected area As CVI advances — even if it hasn’t caused varicose veins — you may start to see orange-brown speckles of discoloration (so-called “cayenne pepper spots”) on your itchiest areas of skin. These spots develop when pressure and swelling burst tiny capillaries beneath the surface of your skin. What can I do about varicose veins? For many people, varicose veins are little more than a cosmetic concern. But when CVI or varicose veins cause symptoms, taking the correct steps can improve the problem and stop its progression. Whether you’ve just noticed your first varicose vein or you’re worried you may be developing one, the following actions can help slow the process: Don’t smoke or use tobacco Reach and maintain a healthy weight Get 30-60 minutes of exercise most days Elevate your legs several times a day If you’re pregnant or your job keeps you on your feet, it can be helpful to use compression stockings. These custom devices assist and improve circulation in your lower legs to help prevent varicose vein formation. And if you already have problematic varicose veins, we can help. To learn more about the minimally invasive vein removal options at Colorado Skin and Vein in Englewood, Colorado, call or click online and schedule a consultation today.