Millions of people suffer from varicose veins, with estimates ranging from about 30% of the general population to as high as 55% among women. While varicose veins can happen to anyone, there’s no denying that some people have a greater risk than others — and in many cases, the level of risk is related to modifiable risk factors largely dependent on your lifestyle and personal habits.
As leading vein specialists, Inam Haq, MD, FACS, and Sushilkumar Samant, MD, FACS, are committed to helping patients at Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center relieve symptoms of varicose veins and prevent new ones from forming. This blog explores the link between varicose veins and specific occupations so you can play a proactive role in your vein health.
When most people think about what drives their circulatory system, they think about the heart’s pumping action. It’s true — your heart plays a major role in pushing your blood through your blood vessels, most notably your arteries, the vessels that carry your blood away from your heart.
But your heart is just one system involved in blood flow. To get blood back to your heart, there’s another system hard at work — tiny valves inside your veins. These valves open and close rapidly, keeping blood moving in one direction: back to your heart and lungs.
Varicose veins form when these valves malfunction or weaken, allowing blood to back up and pool, causing the veins themselves to bulge and twist. In addition to these visible clues, many people with varicose veins have symptoms like aching, cramping, swelling, throbbing, itching, or limb fatigue, along with restlessness in their legs when they’re trying to sleep.
Like many chronic medical conditions, varicose veins are associated with risk factors — things that increase the likelihood you’ll develop these twisted, bulging veins. They can be divided into two categories: modifiable risk factors and nonmodifiable risk factors.
Nonmodifiable risk factors are things you can’t change, like your genetics or family history of vein disease. Modifiable risk factors can be changed. For varicose veins, modifiable risk factors include things like being overweight, smoking, or eating an unhealthy diet. Interestingly, they can also include factors associated with your job.
The tiny valves inside your veins are more likely to fail or malfunction when they’re subjected to increased pressure. That’s a big reason why so many varicose veins happen in your lower legs — the part of your body subjected to pressure from your body weight day after day.
If you have a job that involves a lot of standing or walking, that pressure builds up throughout the day and your risk of developing varicose veins increases. The same is true if you spend long hours sitting in front of a desk — an activity that causes circulation to slow down, giving blood time to build up and pressure tiny vein valves.
Most people don’t have the luxury of quitting their jobs to improve their vascular health. Instead, you can adopt a few habits to help counteract the excess pressure and sluggish circulation that can happen when you spend hours sitting or standing.
Taking frequent breaks to change position and walk around or even march in place can significantly improve blood flow and reduce strain on your vein valves. Stretching your ankles and calves while you’re sitting can help, too, and you should always avoid crossing your legs to avoid interfering with normal circulation.
Other tips include:
When the workday is done, take about 15 minutes to lie down and elevate your lower legs above your heart level to reduce valve strain and improve overall blood flow.
Although varicose veins are common, you shouldn’t ignore them. Not only are they uncomfortable, but they can also indicate a deeper problem with your circulation — most notably a condition called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
Having an evaluation helps determine what’s causing your vein problems and can find a varicose vein treatment that relieves your symptoms and protects your vascular health.
If you have varicose veins or if you have risk factors for developing vein issues, early intervention is critical. Don’t wait to see the team at Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center.
To schedule a vein evaluation or learn about the treatments that can help relieve symptoms and protect your vascular health, request an appointment online or over the phone today. We have convenient locations in Staten Island’s Midland Beach or Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York.
