Both Genders Can Suffer from Varicose Veins

You may have childhood memories of seeing these strange, purple and blue veins all over your grandmother’s legs. Maybe this sight made you think only women have to look forward to dealing with varicose veins in their lifetime. Although varicose veins are mostly associated with older women, men can get varicose veins too. Actually, a large number of men suffer from varicose veins, 45 percent to be exact.

Men don’t always realize they have varicose veins. Unlike most women, men don’t usually shave their legs; they also wear long pants often. With their legs hidden by both hair and clothing, they can easily miss any physical changes to their skin. Men may not notice if a blue or purple vein pops up, especially if there is no pain. Men are 24 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Men also don’t go to the doctor as often as women. Up to one-third of American men haven’t even had a physical in the last year. According to the American Medical Association, many men don’t go to the doctor because they’d rather not find out what’s wrong with them; they don’t want to hear bad news. They are in denial or embarrassed of what could be wrong. Since many people still believe only women develop varicose veins, men are often slower to recognize that there may be something wrong with the veins in their legs.

If anyone, man or woman, sees a change in the veins in their legs, he or she should get it checked out by a doctor. Varicose veins are not just unsightly, they can lead to serious health conditions. Without proper treatment, varicose veins can lead to ulcers, or even blood clots.

Although women are at higher risk for developing varicose veins, men can still get them. Below, we have shared some reasons as to why men can get varicose veins.

• Genetics
• Age
• Excess weight/obesity
• Lack of exercise/activity
• Previous leg trauma

If you’re a man looking to prevent varicose veins, here are some tips: stay active, eat a healthy diet, and wear compression stockings to help push blood back up the legs.

If you currently suffer from varicose veins and need a vein doctor, contact Dr. Peter Mikhail. Dr. Mikhail treats varicose veins, spider veins, and other venous inefficiencies in the cities of Tampa, Clearwater, and New Port Richey, Florida. To book a consult, click here or call 727-312-4844.

Author Info

dzadmin