Varicose Veins

What Increases Your Risk

Factors that increase your risk of developing varicose veins include:

• Pregnancy (particularly repeated pregnancies).
• Female sex.
• Advancing age.
• Being overweight (tends to be a stronger factor in women).² Having low muscle mass and high body fat decreases the support for the veins.
• Family history of varicose veins.
• Prolonged sitting or standing.²
• 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:	Douglas Dana Kathe Gallagher, MSW	Last Updated: May 10, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine David A. Szalay, MD - Vascular Surgery
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