The Prevalence of Varicose Veins and Other Venous Disease

It’s more common than you think. It may not be the most common talked about medical issue in America, but plenty of Americans would know what you’re talking about when you discuss venous disease. In fact, plenty of Americans aren’t even aware that there are sophisticated treatments and an accessible vein clinic near them. The treatments today are highly successful and alleviate troubles associated with varicose veins.

Your veins have tiny valves that are meant to stop blood from pooling. When these valves become weak blood can gather and cause veins to swell and twist as it becomes difficult for the muscles to push the blood upward. Varicose veins occur when these valves stop working properly and the veins fail to send blood back up to your heart. This can cause pain and more serious problems, or for some people to be a primarily cosmetic issue.  

How Many People Suffer from Varicose Veins?

Venous disease is far more prevalent than people might think. More than 40 million people in the United States suffer from varicose veins. This condition is also highly probable when people have a family history; almost 50% of varicose vein patients have a genetic predisposition.

Men vs. Women

The evidence has shown that women are at a higher risk of developing varicose veins. The prevalence is 55% greater in women as compared to men 45%. It is suggested that 41% of women over the age of 50 have varicose veins. For women that are moderately overweight have a 50% greater risk of developing the condition and for women that have a BMI greater than 30 are three times more likely.

Venous disease is also more common in women due to other factors including hormonal changes brought on by pregnancy, menopause, birth control pills, obesity, leg injury,  or high levels of inactivity.

Other Demographics

According to the National Institute of Health, venous disease increases with age. Older people are at a much higher risk of developing varicose veins. Some numbers show that varicose veins affect one out of two people over the age of 50. The NIH stated that compared with Hispanics, African Americans, and Asians, non-Hispanic whites had more disease. Information from the study shows that Hispanic women, out of their study group, suffered from varicose veins at a 26.3% rate. This was compared to 24 % of non-Hispanic white and 20.8% of African American women and 18.7% of Asian women.

What This Means

The data indicates that venous disease is pretty common and many people suffer from it. Not all people, however, seek treatment or even know that there is minimally invasive solutions to their problems. Every patient is different and a quick evaluation can help a specialized vein doctor to assess the problem. Treatment for varicose veins, called vein ablation has been shown to be successful at a 93 to 95% success rate.

Contact El Paso Varicose Veins Laser Clinic Today

El Paso Varicose Veins Laser Clinic is your local vein clinic for the treatment of varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, sclerotherapy, and more. If you suffer from varicose veins or symptoms of venous disease, contact us today.