Vein disease affects many people, especially those over the age of fifty. Unsightly spider veins and varicose veins cause a cosmetic problem, but they are also indicative of a problem underneath the skin. There are several environmental and lifestyle changes that you can make to help reduce your risk of vein disease.
What causes Bergen County, NJ patients to experience vein disease?
When patients visit the Chuback Medical Center, Dr. John Chuback works to get an understanding of their lifestyle, heredity, and level of health. All of these factors play a role in the likelihood of a person experiencing vein disease. The core cause of bulging vein problems is the inability of a vein to properly transport blood from the extremities back to the heart. Family history, age, and work environment can have a detrimental effect on this ability.
The veins in your legs have to work against gravity to transport blood back to the heart. To keep blood moving upwards, your veins are equipped with small one-way valves. These valves allow blood to move upwards, but keep it from pooling downwards. If these valves become damaged they are unable to do their job. Blood settles back into the vein, causing the pressure that leads to varicosities.
Vein disease is linked to heredity, so if your parents or grandparents tended to get them you will have a higher risk. Age also has a role to play. As people age their vein walls become less elastic, allowing them to dilate. This dilation reduces the pressure that moves blood back to the heart, giving it the opportunity to settle back in the veins.
What lifestyle factors increase the risk of vein disease?
Lifestyle has a role to play in the likelihood of a person having varicose veins or spider veins. One of the biggest factors is if a person has a tendency to sit or stand for long periods of time. This could be because of an occupation that requires the person to stay in one position, or if the person travels often. If you are in a position where you have to sit or stand still for a long period of time, try to take a break on a regular basis to get up and walk around. Wearing compression stockings can supply your legs with helpful pressure if you must stay still, improving circulation and lowering your risk of vein disease.
Many people who visit our vein disease center are encouraged to examine their weight and exercise levels. This is because carrying excess weight puts undue strain on the veins, weakening them and increasing vein disease risk. A regular exercise regimen can help with weight control and improve circulation, making it a wise choice for anyone worried about vein disease.
Women are more likely to experience vein disease than men. This is due in some part to female reproductive hormones. These hormones have a dilating effect on the veins, reducing the efficiency of circulation. Pregnant women have a particularly high risk of bulging vein problems because the level of blood in the body is higher than usual during this time.
Treating vein disease
There are many types of vein disease treatments available at the Chuback Medical Group. We can help you determine the causes of your vein problems and advise you on treatment choices to help address them. To learn more about your options, including the cost of spider vein treatment, give us a call at 201.430.2737 to set up a consultation. While you cannot control all the causes and risk factors of vein disease, there are choices you can make to lower your risk and to treat the problem once it arises.