Why do varicose legs develop? What causes varicose veins?
The valves in your body’s system of veins help blood flow back to the upper body and prevent it from flowing backward toward the legs. When the valves weaken, though, blood can pool, causing the veins to expand and blue, lumpy knots known as varicose veins to develop. Who gets varicose veins? Heredity is a major factor in the development of varicose legs. People who spend a lot of time on their feet, pregnant women, those who fly extensively, and people who are overweight are also prone to varicose legs. How bad can varicose legs get? For many people, spider veins (precursor to varicose veins) or varicose veins don’t hurt – they’re just a cosmetic annoyance. For others, though, the veins can ache and make standing for any length of time difficult. In other cases, varicose legs could actually be an indicator of a more serious problem with the circulatory system. How are varicose legs prevented? There are a lot of easy ways that the average person can prevent varicose veins. Regular exer