Veins are an important part of the circulatory system in the human body.
They are responsible for returning the deoxygenated blood from different parts of the body back to the lungs and heart.
When these veins become abnormally twisted, thick or enlarged, they are referred to as varicose veins.
Although varicose veins can happen anywhere in the body, they tend to develop in the thighs and legs in most cases.
In America this condition affects 36 percent of women and 19 percent of men.
There are many theories around that try to explain the causes of varicose veins.
The condition seems to be an inherited one.
This means that is one of your parents have them, you are more likely to be affected by this condition.
The consensus seems to be that they are caused by damaged or defective valves that are in the veins.
The purpose of the valves in a vein is to prevent the backwards flow of blood.
Some in the medical field believe that some people inherit defective valves or not enough valves in their veins.
People without properly functioning valves or not enough valves in their veins will have the blood in their veins reverse when they stand up.
Instead of being pumped back to the heart and lungs some of the blood will pool in the legs upon standing.
There are many factors that can aggravate this condition.
Pregnancy is one of these factors.
Pregnancy is known to increase blood volume which aggravates the condition.
Hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone see their levels raised during pregnancy.
These hormones relax the walls of the veins which can help lead to varicose veins.
Prolonged standing, age and obesity are also factors that can aggravate the situation.
A person that is prone to the condition of varicose veins should avoid working a job that has them standing for an extended period of time.
Obesity is a completely preventable condition.
A person that has varicose veins should keep their weight within a healthy range to avoid aggravating the condition.
Keeping a healthy weight can be done with exercise and diet.
Varicose Veins affect millions of people in the United States.
They can be painful and they can be unsightly.
Avoiding some of the things that can aggravate the condition can help people that are suffering from varicose veins.
There are treatments available that those suffering from them can look into.
They are responsible for returning the deoxygenated blood from different parts of the body back to the lungs and heart.
When these veins become abnormally twisted, thick or enlarged, they are referred to as varicose veins.
Although varicose veins can happen anywhere in the body, they tend to develop in the thighs and legs in most cases.
In America this condition affects 36 percent of women and 19 percent of men.
There are many theories around that try to explain the causes of varicose veins.
The condition seems to be an inherited one.
This means that is one of your parents have them, you are more likely to be affected by this condition.
The consensus seems to be that they are caused by damaged or defective valves that are in the veins.
The purpose of the valves in a vein is to prevent the backwards flow of blood.
Some in the medical field believe that some people inherit defective valves or not enough valves in their veins.
People without properly functioning valves or not enough valves in their veins will have the blood in their veins reverse when they stand up.
Instead of being pumped back to the heart and lungs some of the blood will pool in the legs upon standing.
There are many factors that can aggravate this condition.
Pregnancy is one of these factors.
Pregnancy is known to increase blood volume which aggravates the condition.
Hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone see their levels raised during pregnancy.
These hormones relax the walls of the veins which can help lead to varicose veins.
Prolonged standing, age and obesity are also factors that can aggravate the situation.
A person that is prone to the condition of varicose veins should avoid working a job that has them standing for an extended period of time.
Obesity is a completely preventable condition.
A person that has varicose veins should keep their weight within a healthy range to avoid aggravating the condition.
Keeping a healthy weight can be done with exercise and diet.
Varicose Veins affect millions of people in the United States.
They can be painful and they can be unsightly.
Avoiding some of the things that can aggravate the condition can help people that are suffering from varicose veins.
There are treatments available that those suffering from them can look into.