Preventing Varicose Veins By Cindy Asbjornsen, DO, FACPh
disease. That breaks down to 55% of women and 40 to 45% of men; of these, 20 to 25% of women and 10 to 15% of men will have vis- ible varicose veins. Still, gender does make a difference.
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What is venous disease? Venous disease is defi ned as the impairment of blood fl ow back
towards the heart. This occurs when healthy vein valves become damaged and the backward fl ow of blood “pools” in the legs or feet. Symptoms may include discomfort, fatigue, or heaviness in the leg, causing varicose veins and other skin changes. Over time, the in- creased pressure can cause additional valves to fail. If left untreated, it can lead to extreme leg pain, swelling, ulcers, and other health problems.
Risk factors for developing venous disease, regardless of gender, include family history, age and inactivity. Another signifi cant risk factor, fl uctuations in hormones is related to gender. Women have three potential “high risk” times in life for vein issues: menarche, pregnancy, and menopause. Why? Because the hormone progester- one can act as a vasodilator, something that opens or relaxes blood vessels which causes the valves in the veins to stretch, sometimes to the point of damaging them. Women who have venous insuffi ciency will often notice that their symptoms worsen during menstruation, for example.
What to expect About forty percent of pregnant women are likely to develop
varicose veins. During pregnancy, a combination of hormonal chang- es (specifi cally, greater amounts of estrogen and progesterone) and increased pressure on the abdomen can cause varicose veins. The most damage seems to happen in the fi rst trimester, so if you have risk factors for vein disease, consider wearing graduated compres- sion stockings, especially in the fi rst three months. Some women feel so much relief that they wear them throughout the entire pregnancy. (See “Preventing varicose veins during pregnancy” sidebar.)
Pregnancy is also a time when women are more prone to blood clots, so phlebitis (infl ammation of the walls of a vein that can cause a clot to form) can also be a concern. Many women fi nd that their varicose veins go away a few months after labor, while others con- tinue to suffer with them.
10 Essential Living Maine ~ May/June 2015
lthough it’s a common misconception that only women experience troublesome veins, the fact is, one in three people in the U.S. including men has some form of vein, or venous,
Some vein specialists may recommend that women seek treat- ment for problematic veins before their fi rst pregnancy, especially if there is a strong family history of vein issues. If a woman ex- perienced vein discomfort during a pregnancy, she may want to consider treatment before her next pregnancy, as the problems may worsen.
The effects of aging After menopause when most hormone fl uctuations have
stopped, a woman’s risk of venous disease continues to increase with age. As the body gets older, a decrease in the production of collagen causes the veins to become weaker and the valves more likely to fail. For this reason, there is a higher incidence of varicose veins in older populations.
Additionally, the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is higher in older people. DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the large veins, usually one of the lower limbs, such as the thigh or calf. Post-menopausal patients who are taking hormone supple- ments should also be aware of the increased risk of blood clots, which can damage veins.
Older women may think varicose veins are a normal part of ag-
ing, that having legs that feel heavy or achy is “par for the course.” The truth is, this is not normal, and there are solutions for women with vein symptoms, no matter what their age.
Being proactive With the right information, women have the ability to reduce their risk of developing venous disease and/or decreasing its sever- ity. Preventative measures include: elevating the affected leg above heart level; wearing graduated compression stockings; living an ac- tive lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight; and avoiding tight-fi tting clothing and high-heeled shoes.
Modern treatment of vein disorders is vastly different from
traditional treatments of the past. Today’s treatments are minimally invasive, virtually pain-free and are overwhelmingly successful over the long term when performed by an experienced phlebologist (vein specialist).
Spider veins and varicose veins are health issues, but due to misinformation or dated attitudes, many women do not treat them as such. Most important is to know your family history. Just because
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