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Consultant interventional radiologist and medical director at Veincentre, Mark Bratby, warned that people who spend many hours on their feet every day are most at risk for varicose veins.<\/p>\n
He explained: \u201cVaricose veins are an anatomical problem. Only humans have varicose veins because we stand upright.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe problem isn\u2019t a new one. They have always been around, in fact there\u2019s records of varicose veins in Roman times.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tend to see a lot of hairdressers, nurses and teachers in the clinic because if you\u2019ve got a problem with your valves and then you\u2019re on your feet all day, you\u2019re likely to get varicose veins.\u201d<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n The NHS describes varicose veins as \u201cswollen and enlarged\u201d veins that typically occur on the legs and feet.<\/p>\n \u201cThey may be blue or dark purple, and are often lumpy, bulging or twisted in appearance,\u201d the health body says.<\/p>\n In some cases they can also cause:<\/p>\n If you have varicose veins you do not necessarily need to do anything about them.<\/p>\n However, you should speak to your GP if:<\/p>\n Genetics are a key factor in whether you have varicose veins, although there are certain things people can do to improve the health of their veins, Dr Bratby said.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cKeeping healthy, eating well, not eating too many ultra processed foods, looking after your weight and exercising as much as you can are all good for many reasons, including your arterial health.\u201d<\/p>\n He also advised moving around every 30 minutes to keep the blood flowing and raising your legs during regular breaks.<\/p>\n Compression socks can also help ease symptoms.<\/p>\n In more extreme cases patients may wish to undergo endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), which involves destroying the affected veins from the inside with a laser.<\/p>\n Treatments known as sclerotherapy and ligation and stripping are also an option.<\/p>\n The NHS warns: \u201cIt’s unlikely you’ll receive treatment on the NHS for cosmetic reasons \u2013 you’ll have to pay for cosmetic treatment privately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Do you sit cross-legged? Doctor warns of increased vein disease risk[INSIGHT] <\/strong>
Varicose veins: What is the treatment?[TREATMENT] <\/strong>
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<\/p>\nHow to tell if you have varicose veins<\/h3>\n
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How to lower your risk of varicose veins<\/h3>\n