Varicose veins are very common, yet there are still so many misconceptions about them. One of them is that wearing boots causes them (it doesn’t).
What causes varicose veins?
Varicose veins are bulging, twisted veins caused by weak or damaged valves.
Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Veins are the ones that return the blood to your heart. Because of its location, the veins in your legs have to work against gravity to do that.
In healthy legs, this won’t be a problem as muscle contractions of the lower legs act as pumps, helping the blood return to the heart. The tiny valves in your legs help regulate this flow by opening as the blood flows towards the heart and closing to keep it from flowing backward. When these valves weaken or are faulty, blood can flow backward and can cause a pool in the vein. This stretches the vein, causing it to bulge and/or twist.
Who is at risk?
There are some risk factors that can increase one’s risk of developing varicose veins. This includes:
Age
Your risk of developing varicose veins increases with age. Aging causes wear and tear of the valves that help regulate blood flow.
Gender
Although both men and women can develop varicose veins, women are more likely to have them due to hormonal changes.
Pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, your body goes through a lot of changes; one of which is the increase of blood volume in your body. This and the hormonal changes that come with pregnancy increase your risk of developing varicose veins.
Obesity
The added weight can add more pressure on your veins.
Can you prevent them?
There’s no way to completely prevent varicose veins but the physicians at Premier Vascular & Vein Center in Knoxville want you to be aware of some things you can do to reduce your risk of developing them.
The following measures can help improve your blood flow and muscle tone, which in turn, can help prevent varicose veins:
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Having a regular physical activity
- Avoiding high heels
- Elevating your legs
- Taking mini-breaks if your work involves prolonged sitting or standing
Getting Rid of Varicose Veins at Premier Vascular and Vein Center
Premier Vascular and Vein Center in Knoxville, TN has an entire team of board-certified vascular surgeons and a dedicated sclerotherapy nurse who can help you get rid of varicose veins. We specialize in minimally-invasive vein treatment options such as sclerotherapy, ambulatory phlebectomy, and endovenous laser therapy.
Most insurance plans cover laser varicose vein treatment.
To request a free vein screening at an appointment at Premier Vascular and Vein Center, call us at (865) 306-5775 or visit https://www.premierveinclinics.com/vein-screening/