Ever suffered from lower limb symptoms such as heaviness or tension, swelling, aching, restless legs, cramps, and itching? Chances are you may be suffering from varicose veins. Varicose veins are caused by poorly functioning valves in the veins, and decreased elasticity of the vein wall, allowing pooling of blood within the veins, and their subsequent enlargement. Varicose veins affect up to 40 per cent of adults.
Varicose veins are caused by pressure in veins, increased capillary permeability, chronic edema (accumulation of fluid beneath the skin), repeated inflammation and obstruction of blood circulation.

Risk factors associated with developing them are obesity, age, family history, high systolic blood pressure, smoking, diet, low levels of physical activity, pregnancy, abdominal or pelvic masses, special conditions like ascites (excess fluid in the space between the tissues lining the abdomen and abdominal organs), and occupations that require prolonged standing.

A study published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery examined the association between BMI and varicose veins. It was seen that women in the upper quartile of BMI (>30 kg/m2) showed a positive association with clinical evidence of varicose veins, indicating that increased body weight increases the risk of varicose veins.
According to a research, lifestyle risk factors in women were associated with decreased sitting at work, use of oral contraceptives and obesity.
Heredity, too, has a role in the development of varicose veins of the lower limbs. Research has shown that the risk of developing varicose veins for children was 90 per cent when both parents suffered from this disease, 25 per cent for males and 62 per cent for females when one parent was affected, and 20 per cent when neither parent was affected.

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