Varicose veins are twisted, swollen veins just beneath the surface of your skin. They develop when blood is unable to circulate through the body and usually occur in the legs. Doctors find that varicose veins are twice more likely to occur in women than men, and the elderly.
Prolonged standing/sitting, obesity and a lack of exercise overburden the veins, while the increased pressure weakens the valves, eventually leading to varicose veins. The reason behind the stretching of the walls of the vein is still unknown. Some people may also develop the condition for no apparent reason.
Who’s At Risk?
There are certain factors that may increase your chances of developing varicose veins. These are:
- Having a history of the condition in the family
- Being over 50 years (veins begin losing elasticity; the valves stop functioning well enough).
- Being overweight
- Pregnancy (increased hormone levels may cause muscle walls of blood vessels to relax, increasing the risk)
- Being a female
- Having a job that involves standing for long periods (the focus of our blog)
Occupational Hazard? Jobs That May Increase Your Risk of Developing Varicose Veins
Teachers
Teachers spent most of their time in lectures and interacting with students throughout the day. They usually spend hours standing; the rest of their time is spent in a prolonged sitting position while preparing lesson plans or grading papers.
Both these factors increase the chances of developing varicose vein. Female teachers are also at a higher risk than men due to factors like wearing high heels or pregnancy.
Nurses
This is another profession that requires people to be on their feet for hours on end. Nurses put a lot of burden on their lower legs, causing them to become weak over time.
Whether they’re assisting doctors or interviewing patients, a large part of a nurse’s day is spent on their feet. According to a study, these long hours of prolonged standing puts nurses at a high risk of developing varicose veins.
Hairdressers
This career requires people to be on their feet for most of their day. Unlike nurses who have to move from one patient to another, hairdressers have to remain standing in the same position for up to an hour working on one particular client.
In a study conducted about the prevalence of varicose vein in hairdressers, 24% of the total hairdressers that participated in the survey suffered from the condition. This is further evidence that developing varicose veins is a risk factor of working as a hairdresser.
Flight attendants
Flight attendants are the unsung heroes of your inflight journeys. As most of their job requires prolonged standing and walking in tight quarters, flight attendants are a high risk of developing varicose veins.
What can you do?
If you develop varicose vein, there’s no need to panic; visit Varicose Veins Doctors. We have one of the leading Varicose Veins Surgeon in NYC, providing state-of-the-art treatment options for this condition. Call us now at 212-906-9111 to book a consultation!
