Varicose Veins
Varicose Veins Risk Factors
Varicose veins are very uncomfortable and sometimes even painful to have to live with. That is why it is important to be able to recognize the varicose veins risk factors. Varicose veins are a medical condition and they are technically defined as swollen, enlarged veins that do not let the blood flow normally through them.
The blood is usually collected in little pools built by the twisting of the vein itself and once the blood starts collecting it adds addional weight on the vein and causing the condition to worsen. Once varicose veins have already occurred they can be treated, however it is most likely that the condition will only get worse as time goes by. They are also a visually disturbing sight and many women feel shame to wear shorts or skirts because of the varicose veins being so visible.
Due to the fact that varicose veins tend to get worse and not better is a good reason that knowing the varicose veins risk factors is the best thing to do. Not only that is a reasaon, but so are the ugly marks that appear as a result of the varicose veins which can also then be avoided. Once informed of the risk factors, preventive measures can be taken.
The first risk factor has to do with gender. Women are almost always the victims of varicose veins, not men. So if you are female then you should take extra precaution with the other risk factors. There are also good reasons that women are frequently affected. Women undergo many changes during a lifetime that have a direct effect on the veins, such as pregnancy and menopause, such conditions release the female hormones which have negative effect on veins.
Another of the varicose veins risk factors is your age. Age also negatively affects the veins because the longer you use them, the more they are used and put under pressure and eventually the vein valves will start to not function properly and that is the start of varicose veins. It can be prolonged though by the wearing of support stockings or often elevating your legs.
Your genetic codes are also one of the many varicose veins risk factors. There is really nothing to be prevent or done about this, but fact is that if varicose veins is a family trait, that is most likely not to stop with you.
A major factor among the various varicose veins risk factors is weight. Being overweight greatly increases the likelihood that you will very early end up with varicose veins and that is simply because all the extra weight has a constant pressure on the veins and that weakens them at a much faster rate. This can be prevented by attempting to lost any extra weight that you might have.
The last of the most common varicose veins risk factors is standing for long periods of time. When you constantly have to be standing up, you are applying constant pressure on the veins and their valves which will greatly increase the risk and rate of getting varicose veins.