If it seems like you know more people with varicose veins than men, it’s because there are. Statistics show that around 55% of women develop varicose veins at some point during their lives. But why?
Hormones: The biggest reason why women are more prone to getting varicose veins is an influx of hormones; specifically progesterone. Progesterone is a hormone that is released during physical changes like menopause, pregnancy, and menstruation cycles. This hormone softens the vein walls and valves which can weaken them and cause varicose veins in the process.
Pregnancy: As previously mentioned, women who are pregnant are also more likely to develop varicose veins primarily because of the production of progesterone. But, other things like an increase in blood flow in the body also puts women at risk of getting varicose veins. As the abdomen swells and the blood circulation slows down, it also increases a woman’s chance of getting varicose veins.
Menopause: Menopause happens when there are decreases in hormones in the body. The fluctuations of hormones thicken vein walls which prevent them from closing. The result? Blood doesn’t flow both to and from the heart, which can cause them to pool in the valves, cause congestion, and result in a lot of swelling as well.
What You Can Do to Prevent Them?
The hardest thing about varicose veins caused by hormones is that it’s not always possible for us to regulate them. The good thing is that varicose usually disappear after a few months after giving birth, but when it comes to menopause, you may have to do hormone replacement therapy to treat any side effects like varicose veins.
If you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of varicose veins, contact our Cleburne or Fort Worth offices at 817.235.0769.