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Monday, September 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) – According to a new study, the fact that you have the misfortune to develop varicose veins can play an important role.
According to Dr. Erik Ingelsson, professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, each additional researcher 4 inches tall increases the risk of varicose veins by about 25%.
"We have fairly strong evidence that height is actually causally linked through genetics with an increased risk of having varicose veins," Ingelsson said, although the study did not show any signs of varicose veins. has not proved definitively the causality.
Varicose veins are swollen, twisted and gnarled veins that can be seen just below the surface of the skin. They are often dark purple or blue and appear most often on the legs.
Varicose veins do not increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, explained cardiologist Dr. Nieca Goldberg, medical director of the NYU Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health in New York.
"They are usually benign," said Goldberg, spokesman for the American Heart Association.
But these veins can become painful, itchy and cause leg swelling due to water retention, she added.
Varicose veins affect up to 25% of women and 15% of men, according to the Vascular Disease Foundation.
How are varicose veins developed? Veins are designed to quickly return blood to the heart, with one-way valves that promote blood circulation, said Goldberg.
When these one-way valves begin to fail, blood can begin to collect in the veins, causing them to swell and stretch the vein walls.
It is known that genetic factors are involved in the development of varicose veins, Ingelsson said. The family history of varicose veins makes the development of these more likely.
To explore the potential risk factors for varicose veins, researchers analyzed the health of more than 413,000 people aged 40 to 69 across the UK. This included a screen of genetic markers for more than 337,000 of these participants, including nearly 9,600 with varicose veins.
The researchers confirmed a series of known risk factors, including age, sex, obesity, pregnancy, and history of deep vein thrombosis (when a blood clot forms in a vein deep, usually in the legs).
But when they sorted people by size, they found that people in the tallest quarter were 74% more likely to develop varicose veins than a quarter of the shortest people.
In addition, researchers have linked genes that determine the size of a person to his risk of varicose veins.
The researchers also found a strong genetic correlation between deep vein thrombosis and varicose veins.
According to Mr. Ingelsson, it is possible that the waist puts additional pressure on the veins by trying to return the blood to the heart.
"If you are taller, you have greater pressure on your veins," he said. "The veins push the blood to the heart, so if you're tall, it creates more pressure."
Tall people can help reduce their risk of varicose veins by wearing compression socks, especially if they spend a lot of time standing up, Goldberg said.
Varicose veins that have become very unsightly or uncomfortable can be safely removed by laser surgery, she added.
"In cases where these veins are irritated, itchy, infected or contribute to swelling, you should really consult a vascular specialist because you may be applying for a venous procedure to help clear varicose veins," Goldberg said. .
The study was published on September 24 in the journal circulation.
More information
There are more National Institutes of Health on varicose veins.
SOURCES: Erik Ingelsson, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California; Nieca Goldberg, MD, Medical Director, NYU Langone Center Joan H. Tisch for Women's Health, New York City; September 24, 2018, circulation
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