What Causes Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are a common health issue caused by irregular or broken valves in the veins, allowing blood to flow in the wrong direction or pool. They typically appear on the inner side of the leg or behind the knee. Though they rarely need medical care, varicose veins can cause swelling, aching, pain, or severe discomfort. In these cases, both medical and home remedies can be used.

In extreme situations, varicose veins may burst or turn into skin varicose ulcers that need medical attention. Therefore, understanding varicose veins risk factors is very important for a possible treatment. Read on to find out the numerous causes of varicose veins.

What are Varicose Veins? 

Veins are blood vessels that carry blood from the body's peripheral areas back to the heart. The pumped blood in the arteries exerts force on the blood in the veins, pushing it forward. One-way valves in veins are made to stop blood from flowing backward. This process is necessary to prevent blood from collecting in the lower portion of each vein, since veins have thin walls.

When these valves are damaged by disease, infection, or high, prolonged pressure, blood might return through them. As a result, blood collects in the vein's area below the valve. This causes the vein to enlarge and become more tortuous as the blood accumulates.

But, why do veins becomes enlarged? Venous enlargement, resulting in varicosity in a vein, is caused by an abnormal release of growth factors from the injured vein wall. When blood pools in the thin vein walls, the walls stretch too much, causing the flaps of the valves to pull apart. This makes even normal valves ineffective or leaky. As a result, blood flows backward through the valves and accumulates in the distal portion of the affected vein.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

Due to faulty valves, veins are more likely to collect blood, which occurs when blood cannot be effectively pumped back to the heart and instead gathers in the legs, ankles, and feet. The following are a few risk factors that can lead to elevated venous pressure or valve damage:

• Family History

There is a greater chance that you may develop varicose veins if other family members do. You are 40 percent more likely to get varicose veins if one of your parents has them. Your risk increases to 90% if both of your parents have them.

• Obesity

Vein pressure is increased by being overweight. When a person is overweight, the pressure from their excess body fat damages the delicate valves that keep blood flowing from their extremities to their heart by squeezing the vein walls. Blood can collect in the vein when the valves fail, causing it to stretch, twist, and enlarge until it develops varicosity.

Additional factors that could raise the chance of varicose veins include:

• Age

As we age, the valves inside our veins, especially in the legs, can weaken or become damaged. These valves are supposed to keep blood flowing in one direction toward the heart. When they fail to close properly, blood can leak backward and pool in the veins. This condition, known as venous insufficiency, is more common in older adults and can lead to swelling, varicose veins, or even skin changes in severe cases.

• Sex

Varicose veins are more common in women. Vein walls tend to loosen due to hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen. Therefore, hormonal changes that occur before a menstrual period, during pregnancy, or during menopause may be a contributing cause of leg vein problems. Birth control medications and other hormone treatments may make varicose veins more likely.

• Long Periods of Sitting or Standing

Movement promotes blood flow. Long durations of sitting or standing still put undue strain on the veins in your legs. Blood in the veins finds it more difficult to move up your legs when you do not move frequently. As a result, you can develop conditions like varicose veins. 

• Consuming Tobacco Products or Smoking

Tobacco products include chemicals that can severely harm your blood vessels. They thicken your blood, weaken its flexibility, and harm the walls of your veins. Smoking in any amount, including secondhand smoke, raises your risk of poor circulation and varicose veins.

• Pregnancy and Varicose Veins 

There is more blood in the body during pregnancy, which puts additional strain on the circulatory system. According to a 2015 article, blood vessel wall relaxation can also result from changes in progesterone hormone levels. The chances of developing varicose veins may be increased by both of these factors. The veins in the person's pelvic region are under greater pressure as the uterus, or womb, expands. Varicose veins may occasionally disappear after pregnancy. They might, however, occasionally continue to be visible.

Also Read: Foods to cure Varicose Veins

What are the Symptoms of Varicose Veins?

The most typical signs of varicose veins are listed below. However, each person may experience an individual set of symptoms. Symptoms could consist of:

• Skin color changes
• Sores on the legs
• Rash
• Leg sensations, including burning, hurting, and/or a heavy feeling

Eventually, severe varicose veins may cause minor swelling that lasts for a long time and can lead to more serious issues with the skin and tissues. These consist of non-healing lesions and ulcers.

What is the Treatment for Varicose Veins?

Your healthcare professional will decide on a specific course of treatment for varicose veins based on:

• Your medical history, age, and general health
• The severity of the condition.
• Your symptoms and indicators
• Your ability to tolerate particular medications, treatments, or procedures
• Expectations for the progression of the condition
• Your preference or opinion

If there are no symptoms, medical intervention might not be required. However, if varicose veins are left untreated, they can occasionally get worse. Possible treatment may include:

• Leg Elevation

You may be instructed to raise your feet three or four times per day for fifteen minutes at a time, beyond the level of your heart. Flexing (bending) your legs sometimes can help keep blood flowing if you must sit or stand for extended periods of time. Elevating your legs can help relieve other symptoms and lessen leg swelling if you have mild to moderate varicose veins.

• Compression Stockings

Compression stockings are a unique type of elastic hosiery that promotes normal blood flow and helps in the prevention of various diseases, such as chronic venous insufficiency and spider veins. By applying pressure to your ankles and legs, these stockings compress the surface arteries and veins, facilitating the proper operation of vein valves and the unobstructed return of blood to your heart.

• Sclerotherapy 

The most popular treatment for varicose veins and spider veins is sclerosing. The varicose veins are injected with a chemical solution or salt (saline). They no longer have blood on them. Other veins then take over.

• Thermal Ablation

Varicose veins can be treated using radiofrequency radiation or lasers. A catheter is used to insert a small fiber into a varicose vein. The varicose vein wall is destroyed by applying heat using a laser or radiofrequency energy source.

• Microphlebectomy

To remove varicose veins, special instruments are implanted through small incisions. It can be performed alone or alongside vein stripping.

Identify the Root and Get Your Varicose Veins Treated Today! 

Varicose veins are those that become overly large, bulge, and twist. Usually, they appear when blood flow is impaired. Although they can arise in other body areas, they typically affect the legs and feet.

People may try home remedies to control varicose veins, which often only cause modest discomfort. These strategies include frequent exercise, keeping a healthy weight, and avoiding prolonged standing or sitting.

Even if symptoms are not severe, people with varicose veins should see a doctor to prevent serious complications like deep vein thrombosis. Our expert doctors at Apollo Spectra are well-equipped to identify the root causes of varicose veins. If you want effective treatment for varicose veins, visit Apollo Spectra today or schedule an online appointment.