Veins have one-way valves. They keep the blood flowing towards the heart. If these valves are damaged or weak, the blood can back up and pool into the veins, causing them to swell. This results to a condition called varicose veins, a very common vein issue.
There are several factors that can increase your risk of developing varicose veins. These include age, genetics, a family history of the condition, pregnancy, obesity, and occupation.
Yes, you read it right! Your job may make you more susceptible to getting varicose veins. This is especially true if your job requires prolonged sitting or standing.
If your job falls in any of these categories, you may want to start paying attention to your vascular health:
- Healthcare
Doctors, nurses, medical technicians, and medical assistants are often on their feet for hours. Being on the same position for a prolonged period of time is a major risk factor in developing varicose veins.
Other jobs in healthcare that are prone to vein issues include billing coders and lab technicians. These occupations often involve prolonged sitting.
- Retail
Although this could vary depending on one’s specific job, people in retail especially cashiers stand at the cash register for long periods of time.
- Teaching
Professors and instructors often spend most of their days on their feet, whether in a classroom or lab.
- Manufacturing
Many of the manufacturing jobs are highly specialized so workers usually perform a single task whether sitting or standing for their entire shift.
- Commercial driving
Whether it’s a bus, truck, or cab, most commercial drivers spend a lot of their time, sometimes over 10 hours a day, sitting.
How to Reduce Your Risk
Don’t worry if your job falls into any of the aforementioned categories. There are things you can do to reduce your risk:
- Make exercise a habit
Regular physical activity such as walking is good for your vascular health. So, try to make time to do it on regular basis.
- Maintain a healthy weight
Being overweight puts you at greater risk of getting varicose veins as too much weight can put pressure on your veins.
- Elevate your legs
When you can take a break from your work, elevate your legs for a few minutes.
- Wear compression stockings
Invest in high quality compression stockings. They can help prevent blood from pooling into your leg veins.
If you have tried these tips and you still end up getting varicose veins, don’t fret. There are several ways to treat them now. Premier Surgical Vein Center offers minimally-invasive treatment for varicose veins. These procedures can be done in the doctor’s office and requires very little to no downtime at all.
You can schedule an appointment with one of our vein specialists to find out the best treatment
option for you.
References:
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/varicose-veins
https://www.centerforvein.com/vein-conditions-health-information/varicose-veins/causes/