Many of the women and men who seek varicose vein treatment at Precision Surgery and Advanced Vein Therapy in Glendale, Arizona, are middle-aged or older. Why? Inescapable age-related changes make varicose vein formation more likely later in life, especially in the presence of other major risk factors.  

Still, board-certified general surgeon Dr. Johnny L. Serrano wants you to know that while aging may be a significant risk factor for varicose veins, these swollen varicosities aren’t an inevitable part of getting older. In fact, plenty of adults never develop visible vein problems. 

Here’s why varicose veins are more common with age — and what you can do about it.  

It starts with vein valve dysfunction

Your veins contain a series of one-way valves that function to keep blood moving efficiently toward your heart. When something weakens these valves, blood doesn’t flow as smoothly; instead, it starts to “pool” behind the weakened valves, much like a traffic jam. 

Blood continues flowing through your veins, but with spots of “congestion” each time it hits a dysfunctional valve. These spots of repeated blood pooling just behind weak valves put pressure on the surrounding vessel wall, causing it to swell. Over time, these high-pressure areas may swell, twist, and contort — or become varicose. 

Leg veins are most likely to become varicose simply because they must work against gravity to keep blood flowing toward your heart.  

How aging can affect venous health

Older age is a significant risk factor for varicose veins simply because as you grow older, your veins — and their internal valves — grow older, too. This means more wear and a greater risk of weakness or dysfunction. Aging veins also tend to lose elasticity and stiffen. 

Aging is a fixed acquired risk factor for varicose veins because you can’t stop or reverse the aging process. For some people, this single factor is enough to “set the stage” for varicose veins, but for most, numerous other factors play a part in their actual formation.  

Your varicose vein risk is cumulative

Older age may be a major risk factor for vein damage, but it’s simply that: one factor. Your overall risk of actually getting varicose veins is cumulative, meaning the more “risk factor” boxes you can check, the more likely you are to develop these varicosities.  

So, what are the other major risk factors for varicose veins? They fall into three categories: 

Inherited risk factors 

Uncontrollable inherited (genetic) factors that increase your varicose vein risk include having a family history of varicose veins, being tall, and being female. Women are more likely than men to develop varicosities because estrogen (a primary female sex hormone) can relax vein walls and allow them to stretch.   

Acquired risk factors

Advanced age is one acquired varicose vein risk factor; carrying extra weight is another. Excess weight places increased pressure on all your blood vessels. Pregnancy, another acquired risk factor, boosts varicose vein likelihood through the three-fold increase of blood volume, body weight, and high estrogen levels. 

Controllable risk factors

Controllable lifestyle factors that promote varicose veins include smoking, inactivity, and spending a long time on your feet. 

Protecting venous health as you age

Many people, and many women, in particular, have multiple varicose vein risk factors. This helps explain why one in three adults has them — and many more can expect to get them as they grow older. Still, getting older doesn’t make varicose veins a foregone conclusion.

Whether you’re approaching 40 or you’re well into your middle-age years, there’s a lot you can do to support healthy circulation and reduce your risk of vein problems. At every age, your lower extremity circulation can benefit from: 

• Losing excess body weight and quitting smoking
• Getting at least 30-60 minutes of exercise each day
• Avoiding long stretches of sitting or standing still 
• Switching to a heart-healthy, low-sodium diet plan  

And if you have major “accelerating” varicose vein risk factors — such as pregnancy or a job that keeps you on your feet all day — you can assist lower extremity circulation and vein valve function by wearing compression stockings.  

Safe and easy varicose vein removal

You can do a lot to support your circulation and keep your veins healthy, but you can’t eliminate your varicose vein risk entirely. If you do wind up with an unsightly, uncomfortable, or unwanted varicose vein, Dr. Serrano can help. 

Vein removal is safe, easy, and minimally invasive with advanced solutions like:  

• Radiofrequency ablation
• Chemical sclerotherapy 
• Ambulatory phlebectomy

Do you have questions about varicose vein prevention or treatment? Our board-certified general surgeon in Glendale, Arizona, has answers. Call 623-321-5663 or click online to schedule a visit with Dr. Serrano at Precision Surgery and Advanced Vein Therapy today.