Varicose veins are often hereditary and hereditary factors are thought to influence the chance of developing varicose veins. But you can't blame everything on your parents. Many people who suffer from varicose veins may wonder if they are hereditary. Like many genetic disorders, varicose veins are in fact hereditary.
In addition to these factors, there seems to be a strong genetic component in people who get varicose veins. It's common to see the presence of varicose veins when a parent, or even a grandparent, also had varicose veins. Our experience has shown that when parents have varicose veins, they tend to appear in their daughters as well. And of course, we see that if the mother had varicose veins, her children often have them too.
Sometimes, varicose veins “skip a generation” and appear in the grandchildren of affected grandparents, but without affecting the parents. If both parents had varicose veins, the likelihood of developing varicose veins increases. Despite these revealing numbers, scientists aren't quite sure how the genetic component works. There is no specific gene related to venous conditions such as CVI and varicose veins.
Some think that the genetic component may actually have to do with the strength of the vessels themselves. If your parents have veins that are more likely to fail over time, you're more likely to have them, too. The risk of developing varicose veins increases if a close family member has the condition, confirming the relationship between genetics and varicose veins. Varicose veins occur when the veins enlarge, fill with blood, and begin to twist and curve.
More than half of the adult population in the United States has some type of venous disease, but only 20 to 25% of American women and 10 to 15% of American men have visible varicose veins. When those valves are faulty, blood can leak backwards and begin to pool or “pool” in the veins, causing varicose veins. If your varicose veins are unsightly, swollen, hot, or painful, it may be time to do something about them. For most people, varicose veins can cause heaviness, pain and tiredness in the legs and can often cause restlessness as well.
While there's not much you can do to alter your genetics (sorry), there are several factors that will reduce your risk of developing varicose veins, especially if your family history works against you. Varicose veins (VV) are one of the clinical manifestations of chronic venous disease that poses a cosmetic and medical problem. In some patients, varicose veins can cause bleeding or inflammation, which can cause a superficial clot or SVT. Venous disorders that cause painful and unsightly varicose veins can cause uncomfortable symptoms and affect quality of life.
We have yet to identify all the genetic factors that contribute to the development of varicose veins. Over time, varicose veins can cause chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a more serious condition, in which it becomes increasingly difficult for the veins in the legs to pump blood back to the heart. When a person with malfunctioning valves stands up, blood flow reverses and flows through the superficial veins, when it should flow to the heart.
