AARP Hearing Center
What Can I Do About My Varicose Veins?
A doctor explains what causes these bulging blood vessels, what helps and when to seek medical advice
James Yates
What can I do about my varicose veins — and why do I have them?
For many of us, varicose veins are simply part of the hand we are dealt. They tend to run in families, so if your mother or father had them, your chances are greater. But genetics isn’t the whole story. The choices we make throughout life, and even the jobs we have, can influence whether those veins eventually appear.
More Ways to Benefit
- Related Benefit 1
- Related Benefit 2
- Related Benefit 3
- Related Benefit 4
- Related Benefit 5
To understand why varicose veins develop, it helps to know a little about how veins work. The veins in your legs have tiny one-way valves that keep blood moving upward, toward your heart. As we get older, those valves can weaken and become less effective. Instead of keeping blood flowing in the right direction, they allow some of it to fall backward and pool in the veins in our legs. Over time, the pressure of the blood buildup stretches the veins, causing them to enlarge and twist beneath the skin.
Age is one risk factor, but there are others. Spending long hours standing, as nurses, teachers, retail workers and police officers do, or even sitting at a desk for most of the day, can increase pressure in the veins of your legs. Carrying excess weight can do the same, and previous surgery or injuries, such as a hip or knee replacement, can sometimes damage veins and increase one’s risk of developing varicose veins later on.
In fact, a recent Johns Hopkins–led study that followed more than 6,200 older adults for over a decade said that women, taller people and those with a higher BMI were more likely to have varicose veins. The researchers identified additional risk factors, including being white and experiencing heart failure or signs of cardiac dysfunction.
The encouraging news is that there is quite a bit you can do to help prevent varicose veins and to keep existing ones from getting worse. Movement is one of the best medicines. Your calf muscles act like a second heart, squeezing blood upward every time they contract. So if you sit for long periods, take frequent breaks to walk around. Even while seated, try raising up onto the balls of your feet or repeatedly flexing your calf muscles. Those simple movements help pump blood out of your lower legs instead of allowing it to pool. Walking, cycling and swimming are all excellent ways to keep that natural pumping system working efficiently.
Compression stockings or socks are another remarkably effective tool. Today’s versions are nothing like the thick medical stockings people remember from years ago. Now they come in attractive styles, are comfortable enough for everyday wear and provide gentle pressure that helps keep blood moving in the right direction.
I often recommend them not only to people who already have varicose veins but also to those who spend much of the day on their feet or have a family history of varicose veins. It’s also a good idea to wear compression socks or stockings on long airplane flights. Elevating your legs whenever you have the chance can also relieve pressure.
Many folks also worry that varicose veins are dangerous. Fortunately, they’re usually more of a quality-of-life issue than a life-threatening one. They involve superficial veins, which are generally not the veins associated with serious blood clots.
However, they can occasionally become inflamed. This condition is called superficial thrombophlebitis, and it can be painful. Compression stockings, elevating the legs and warm compresses are often helpful for treating it, though you should always let your health care provider know if the pain worsens.
If your varicose veins are painful, becoming more prominent or bothering you dramatically, don’t assume you have to live with them. Treatments have changed over the years. The old operation known as vein stippling has largely been replaced by minimally invasive procedures that use heat, formally called thermal or radio frequency ablation, to disable diseased veins.
Smaller spider veins can often be treated with sclerotherapy, a series of injections into the veins. The procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis, with much quicker recovery times than in the past.
Many insurance plans cover thermal laser ablation and radiofrequency ablation for symptomatic varicose veins after other treatments, such as compression stockings, have failed. Cosmetic treatments are usually not covered. And unless spider veins are linked to a more serious medical problem, such as chronic venous insufficiency, insurance usually does not cover sclerotherapy.
Before recommending a treatment, your doctor may perform a painless ultrasound to see whether your blood is flowing normally or leaking backward through weakened valves, a problem called venous reflux. That information will determine which treatment, if any, is right for you.
Think of caring for your veins the same way you care for your heart or joints. A little daily attention, including moving more, keeping your calf muscles active and wearing compression stockings when appropriate, can pay dividends for years to come.
AARP Membership
Join AARP for only $15 per year with automatic renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of benefits, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
You Might Also Like
Could Stimulating One Nerve Stop What Ails You?
The vagus nerve plays a key role in how the body functions. Here’s how to activate it
AARP Smart Guide to a Healthy Heart
Easy, expert-endorsed ideas to help you care for your heart
Heart Health Secrets from a Cardiologist
Keep your ticker in great shape as you age