Risk Factors
Other than being a woman over the age of 40, risk factors that increase your chances of developing varicose veins include:
- Family members with varicose veins
- Hormonal changes, such as with pregnancy or menopause
- Pressure on the veins of the pelvis, as with pregnancy or constipation
- Obesity
- Working at a job that requires standing on your feet for long periods
- Wearing knee-high socks or stockings with tight elastic
- Previous leg injury
- The use of birth control pills
- Post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy
- History of blood clots
- Gender - Almost 50 percent of women between 40 and 50 years of age, and about 75 percent of those ages 60 to 70 have varicose veins.
