Varicose Veins

What are they, and how can you prevent them?

Have you ever wondered why some people get varicose veins, and others don’t? First, let’s take a closer look at veins and how they work.

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Veins are the blood vessels that take the blood back to the heart. Since arteries get the benefit of the heart pumping blood away from it, veins have to do something different to keep the blood moving. Veins have little valves that help move the blood along back to the heart.

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Sometimes the valves in your veins fail, and blood starts pooling. Eventually this can turn into a varicose vein — a bulging, blue or purple vein that you can easily see. This is especially common in leg veins, since they’re the farthest from the heart. Not only are varicose veins visible, but they also can be quite uncomfortable.

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Since varicose veins develop with increased blood pressure, many things can cause them — age, lifestyle, genetics. If you spend a lot of time on your feet, or in a chair, or crossing your legs, you could be impacting the blood pressure in your legs. Both men and women can get varicose veins, but women tend to start developing them earlier than men.