Risk Factors for Vein Disease: Changing the Things You Can


By Cindy Asbjornsen, DO, FACPh


ber of risk factors for vein problems that can be divided into two general categories: those you can’t control (biological) and those you can (environmental).


W Let’s start with aging— a factor we all probably wish we could


control! As people age, vein issues become more prevalent. Small problems that started earlier, often progress into larger ones. A de- crease in the body’s production of collagen causes veins to become less elastic and more likely to “leak,” especially superfi cial veins. This is why there’s an increase of varicose veins in the elderly population.


It’s worth noting that even though seniors have a fi fty percent


greater chance of suffering from venous insuffi ciency, there is no research to suggest that their success rates after venous treatment are different from the their younger peers. In fact, the risk-benefi t ratio makes treatment an ideal option for seniors.


All in the family Although all the research that supports a genetic link in vari-


cose veins is based on patient recall and may have bias, there has been signifi cant research with gene mapping that shows there is defi nitely a genetic component to venous disease.


If someone in your family has experienced vein disorders or


has visible veins on their legs, your risk of the disease is much higher. Since venous disease does have a strong genetic compo- nent, it’s important to be aware of venous disease and its symptoms and, as with any illness, to know the family history.


• Something similar happens in the fi rst trimester of preg- nancy. This is why it is so critical for women with family histories of venous disease to wear compression stockings as soon as they starting thinking about becoming preg- nant— or most importantly, through the fi rst trimester of pregnancy. Although the third trimester may carry some risk of developing varicose veins due to increased abdominal pressure and blood volume, the damage seems to happen in the fi rst trimester.


• Finally, when a woman enters menopause, vein damage can occur due to hormonal surges similar to those in menarche and pregnancy.


Environmental awareness While venous disease has a strong genetic and biological component, it can be aggravated by environmental risks. It is much more common in “industrial countries” like the U.S., where riding in cars and sitting in front of a computer or television seem like a way of life.


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hat’s the likelihood that you might suffer from symptoms of venous (vein) disease, such as varicose veins, leg heaviness, or restless leg syndrome? There are a num-


As with heredity, ethnicity also plays a role. Non-Hispanic


whites have a higher incidence of varicose veins when compared with the Hispanic population and the African Americans, and Asians.


Gender defi nitely plays a role in varicose veins and other


vein issues. Women are almost 2½ times more likely to have vein disease than men. A woman has three “high risk” times in her life that men do not.


• First when she gets her period; during menarche, hormone surge is very common. Progesterone can act as a vasodila- tor— a hormone that opens blood vessels— causing veins to stretch signifi cantly, sometimes to the point of damaging them.


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