Varicose veins refer to blue or deep purple veins that become larger than usual and twist. These changes can happen in any vein that lies superficially in the body, but this problem mainly affects the veins in the legs. Most people with varicose veins in Glen Rock do not have any symptoms, and the only issue they have with the varicose veins is a cosmetic issue where they lack confidence in their physical appearance. However, some people develop uncomfortable symptoms due to varicose veins.
Sometimes varicose veins can cause leg pain and make the legs feel heavy. Other symptoms that some people experience include muscle cramps and swelling of the legs, and changes in the skin color surrounding the varicose veins. If you are experiencing pain or other distressing symptoms of varicose veins in Glen Rock, you can seek treatment from a specialist. The specialist will take your complete medical history and conduct a physical exam to come up with a diagnosis. This article explains the causes of varicose veins.
- Age
Blood returns to the heart from the legs through veins. These veins have valves that prevent the blood from flowing back to the legs. As you age, these valves wear and tear and become incompetent to carry out their function in the body. Therefore the risk of developing varicose veins rises with age, and sometimes the varicose veins can cause some uncomfortable symptoms.
- Sex
Another risk factor of varicose veins is being female. Women are more likely to develop varicose veins than men because of the hormonal changes that they experience. During menstruation and menopause, the hormone levels increase, and these hormones make the valves relax and increase the risk of developing varicose veins. Women who use hormonal birth control pills are also at risk of developing varicose veins.
- Pregnancy
One of the changes that occur during pregnancy is an increase in blood volume. The main reason why this happens is to meet the oxygen and nutritional needs of the fetus. The increase in blood volume in circulation can overwhelm the valves, thus causing stasis of blood in the distal veins and enlargement of these veins. Another factor that contributes to varicose veins during pregnancy is the hormonal changes that occur during this period.
- Standing or Sitting for Long Durations
The muscles in the calf of the legs help to pump blood back to the heart. During periods of rest, these muscles are at rest, and therefore they are not pumping blood back to the heart. The inactivity causes stasis of blood in the veins in the legs, increasing the risk of getting varicose veins.
- Obesity
Another risk factor of varicose veins is obesity or being overweight. The excess weight puts pressure on the veins in the legs, which can make the veins incompetent and increase the risk of varicose veins. The risk of getting varicose veins in obese persons is higher if the person has a genetic predisposition to getting this condition.
In summary, varicose veins are large veins that twist and have blue or deep purple colors. This condition can affect any superficial vein in the body, but they are more common in the leg veins. The risk factors for developing varicose veins include old age, hormonal changes, obesity, pregnancy, and long rest periods. Treatment for varicose veins is available.
