What Causes Varicose Veins?
There are many theories for what leads to varicose vein development, but the consensus is that a majority of the leg pain in patients is due to damaged valves within the veins. How do these valves become defective? The answer to that question can hinge on a variety of influencing factors including:
- Family history of varicose veins
- Occupations that involve prolonged standing, such as nurses, hair stylists, teachers, and factory workers
- Obesity
- Hormonal influences during pregnancy and menopause
- Birth control pill usage
- A predisposition to blood clots
- Trauma or injury to the skin
- Excessive exposure to UV rays
The fact is for one or several reasons; people develop varicose veins and leg swelling. The good news, however, is that varicose vein treatment options have become relatively painless and extremely effective in recent years.
Before looking into varicose vein treatment options, it’s important to understand how these painful veins happen. In healthy veins, a series of one-way valves in your veins open and close to push the blood back towards your heart and keep the blood flowing upwards. These valves help to counteract the force of gravity and work to pump blood out of the legs and push it back towards the heart. In diseased veins, these valves are weakened and fail to properly close, causing the blood to flow backwards, causing pooling in the veins. This build-up of blood creates pressure in your veins. Eventually, the veins are unable to hold the pressure and start to expand. These expanded or varicose veins are what lead to painful leg swelling in a great deal of Milwaukee patients.
If you suffer with these large, raised, swollen blood vessels contact the staff at Lakeshore Veins. We will provide you with an expert evaluation and a detailed ultrasound that ultimately leads to a personalized treatment plan, designed specifically for you. Schedule an appointment by calling (262) 241-3999 or contact us online to learn more about our varicose vein treatment options.
