Contents:
- Medical Video: Varicose Vein Ablation | UCLA Vital Signs
- Why can varicose veins appear?
- Age
- Pregnancy
- 4 things that can trigger varicose veins
- 1. Stand too long
- 2. Gender
- 3. Obesity
- 4. History of varicose veins in the family
Medical Video: Varicose Vein Ablation | UCLA Vital Signs
Not a few people are insecure and embarrassed because they have varicose veins on their bodies. Actually, varicose veins are a condition in which blood vessels swell and appear close to the surface of the skin. Not only interfere with appearance, varicose veins also cause pain and swelling along the thighs, knees, or ankles. Then, what is the cause of varicose veins?
Why can varicose veins appear?
Varicose veins occur when veins or blood vessels return, do not function properly. Veins have a one-way valve that prevents blood flow back to the organ, because blood should flow to the heart.
Well, when this valve is damaged, blood will gather in the blood vessels and not to the heart. The blood vessels will then swell causing varicose veins.
Varicose veins often occur in the legs because the part is the farthest part of the heart and the effects of gravity make it harder for blood to rise upward, back to the heart.
Then, any condition that exerts excessive pressure on the legs or abdomen can be a cause of varicose veins. Some conditions that usually often put pressure on include:
Age
As you get older, your blood vessels can lose elasticity and eventually stretch. Usually this happens when you are over 50 years old
The valve in the blood vessels starts to weaken, allowing the blood that is supposed to go to the heart instead to turn back.
Pregnancy
There are many women who complain of varicose veins during pregnancy. In fact, pregnancy increases the volume of blood in your body, but decreases blood flow from the legs to the hips.
This change in blood flow is designed to support a growing fetus in the womb. However, the side effect is that the blood vessels in the legs swell.
Varicose veins can only appear for the first time during pregnancy, or pregnancy can also worsen existing varicose veins.
Fetuses that are getting bigger and bigger can also exert excessive pressure on the blood vessels in the legs, so that they can cause varicose veins. In addition, hormonal changes during pregnancy can also be a cause of varicose veins.
Varicose veins that occur during pregnancy generally improve without medical treatment 3-12 months after giving birth.
4 things that can trigger varicose veins
Some of the factors below can increase the likelihood of varicose veins.
1. Stand too long
Standing or sitting too long can be a cause of varicose veins. Your blood will not flow if you are in the same position for a long time.
2. Gender
Women are more likely to have varicose veins. Hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause may be a factor because female hormones tend to relax the vein wall.
In addition, taking birth control pills can also increase the risk of varicose veins in women.
3. Obesity
Being overweight can increase the pressure on your arteries, increasing your risk of having varicose veins.
4. History of varicose veins in the family
If other family members experience varicose veins, it is possible that you will also have more varicose veins.
