What Causes Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins occur when blood backs up in the superficial veins of your leg. Veins must move blood back to the heart against gravity, so they have one-way valves to prevent backflow. These valves can become damaged and let blood leak back through and pool in your legs. This stretches the walls of the veins, causing them to bulge and become bluish. This can indicate that the Greater Saphenous Vein (GSV), one of the most critical veins in the leg, has become diseased and is causing blood to back up into smaller veins that feed it.
How to Prevent Varicose Veins
You cannot avoid all causes of varicose veins. Heredity plays a substantial role in whether you develop them. If you are female, and especially after one or more pregnancies, you have a greater risk of developing them. However, you can take steps to maintain healthy blood flow in your legs.
Exercise
Your leg veins rely on contractions of the leg muscles to help them move blood upward toward the heart. By using your leg muscles regularly and keeping them strong, you support the function of your leg veins. Even light activities such as walking can have a powerful effect on your circulatory health, especially on your legs.
Regular Checkups
Medical conditions such as high blood pressure or poor circulation can cause damage to valves and contribute to varicose veins. While you may not have the power to prevent some medical conditions, you can lessen their impact by seeing your doctor regularly and keeping up with your treatments.
Lifestyle Changes
You can modify some factors that contribute to varicose veins by changing your lifestyle. Your doctor may recommend a nutritionist or weight loss specialist if you have issues with obesity. If you spend long periods standing or sitting in one place, you can look for ways to modify your day, so you move more often.
