If you’re diagnosed with a vein disease, such as spider veins, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, or chronic venous insufficiency, one of your first questions might be what causes vein disease, or how might I have prevented this?

There are several causes for vein disease, or risk factors that increase your chances of developing a vein disease. Although some causes are factors we can’t change, like gender, age, or ethnicity, others are lifestyle choices that can be adjusted to decrease the chance of vein disease. Understanding what causes vein disease will help protect you against spider and varicose veins, blood clots, and more.

What Causes Vein Disease?

Lifestyle

Citizens of industrialized nations like the United States are more likely to develop vein disease due to their more sedentary lifestyle. Riding in cars and sitting at a computer are more common in these nations, and since remaining in one position for a long period of time — whether you’re standing, sitting, or lying down — leads to vein disease like varicose and spider veins. The longer you remain in one position, the more likely you are to develop vein disease.

Ankle Mobility

Another cause of vein disease? Lack of ankle mobility. Your calf muscles work as a pump, pushing blood against gravity from your legs to your heart, and when you move your ankles, your calves pump better. An immobile ankle increases your chances of getting a vein disease.

Aging

As you grow older, you increase your chance of getting a vein disease. Smaller issues that began earlier eventually progress into more serious problems. As our bodies lose collagen, our vein walls break down and lose elasticity, causing the walls to stretch and leak. This leads to vein disease like varicose or spider veins.

Although senior citizens do have a 50% greater chance of suffering from venous insufficiency than younger people, they do not have different success rates after venous treatments. Thus, even if you are elderly, treating your vein disease should still work well.

Genetics

Gene mapping has revealed a genetic component to venous disease, suggesting that vein disease is hereditary. Though more research needs to be done in this area, if someone in your family has varicose or spider veins, you are likely to get them as well. Be aware of your family medical history to know if it might cause vein disease.

Ethnicity

Race is another factor that causes vein disease. Studies have shown a higher occurrence of varicose veins in Caucasians than those of Asian, Hispanic, and African American descent.

Gender

Gender is another risk factor for vein disease. Women are 2 ½ times more likely to develop varicose or spider veins than men, mostly due to female hormones like progesterone, which cause vein walls to stretch. During pregnancy, women have high progesterone levels that cause vein disease. When the veins are stretched for 9 months during pregnancy, they may never return to their original size.

Fight the Causes of Vein Disease

Although some causes of vein disease obviously can’t be helped — gender, ethnicity, family history, and age, namely — those associated with our lifestyle can be adjusted.

If your job requires you to stay seated or standing in the same position for long periods of time, get up and move. If you are on bed rest, flex your ankles frequently. Ladies, limit your time in high heels, as they inhibit ankle mobility and thus cause vein disease. While pregnant, wear graduated compression stockings to encourage healthy circulation.

Kansas City Vein Disease Treatments

If you have any of the above risk factors for vein disease and you live in Kansas City, Summit Skin & Vein Care can help identify and treat your vein disease.

Contact Summit Skin & Vein Care at  (816) 533-4398 today for more information or to schedule an appointment!