Varicose Veins
What Increases Your Risk
Factors that increase your risk of developing varicose veins include:
- Pregnancy (particularly repeated pregnancies).
- Being female.
- Advancing age.
- Being overweight (tends to be a stronger factor in women). Having low muscle mass and high body fat decreases the support for the veins.
- Family history of varicose veins.
- Prolonged sitting or standing.
- Conditions that increase pressure in the abdomen, such as liver disease, fluid in the abdomen, previous groin surgery, or heart failure.
- Injury to the veins.
- Blood clots.
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| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS | Last Updated: February 11, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine David A. Szalay, MD - Vascular Surgery | |
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