Is Vein Disease Genetic? More on Vein Disease in Your Family & What It Can Mean for You

Varicose veins are a common form of a Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) that present as swollen and large veins present in the lower limbs of the human body. Vein disease takes place when the vein wall changes its model or if the valve system loses its competency. 

Harsh outcomes:

With a subsequent amount of time, this may cause hypertension, muscle cramps in the lower body, excessive swelling or bleeding, and skin changes. According to the latest medical researches, science hasn’t figured out the actual cause of the vein disease yet. Fortunately, some environmental factors or genetic disorders have been noticed to be a part of the formation of this disease.

With the presence of Chronic Venous Insufficiency, there are several more alarming factors parallel to varicose veins, which include age, pregnancy, rising body mass, and obesity. These factors may initiate the formation of this vein disease, but in some situations, people who are a part of these risk factors do not develop any issues. 

Familial Component to Varicose Veins

Some extended researches have derived a trend of genetic clustering for Chronic Venous Insufficiency. An epidemiological study in Japan highlighted that 42% of women with vein disease have a positive family history of CVI as compared to 14% without the disease. Another research in the United Kingdom surveyed that 85% of patients of CVI had a positive family history of the disease as compared to 22% individuals without it. 

Cohort research, population-based, was carried out in Finland, including 4903 subjects. They were asked to go through a questionnaire and then after five years of the history of vein disease in the family; the study demonstrated that scales of varicose veins in the family have risen from 0.14 to 6. It summarizes that a positive family history of the vein disease may be subject to affect all generations. 

Furthermore, another study conducted by health professionals surveyed both the subject and the parents to analyze the presence of this vein disease. The study surveyed 134 families in France, which resulted that the subject was a 90% risk of developing this disease when both the parents had the condition. 

Genetic Association with the Vein Disease 

The familial clustering in subjects with vein disease has produced several reports. In 1969, a study by Hauge summarized that inheritance of varicose veins depends on various factors. Another study concluded that almost 50% of subjects with vein disease had some genetic linkage.

It is possible that the vein disease can be inherited, but that’s only one way of its development. Factors other than genetics may become a reason for Chronic Venous Insufficiency. 

Connections between genetics:

The natural results of the studies affiliated with a positive family history of the vein disease have reached the specific genetics that may be interconnected to venous functions. A survey conducted between monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs concluded that the heritability was 60% for venous capacity and 90% for venous compliance. 

This study summarizes that venous compliance is highly noticeable in genetic composition, and a person with the susceptibility loci will have more chances of developing a venous disease. The veins may get affected by altered venous tone by contributing to venous compliance and a shortened venous capacity, resulting in blood stasis and heavy vein wall tension.

Does it only transmit through genes?

Here are a few factors other than heredity that might affect and could impact your chances of having varicose veins: 

• Female sex hormones 

Whether it’s being female or taking drugs that contain female sex hormones (estrogen therapy), it is a source of varicose veins. For example, COCP (Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills) or hormone substitution therapy, expand your hazards. Female hormones are thought to dilate the veins, restricting their capacity to move the blood along. 

• Pregnancy 

The developing infant may put added weight on the veins. However; the good news is, commonly varicose veins that arise during pregnancy usually get better around three months after childbirth. 

• Having more weight 

Being overweight or stout builds your danger of varicose veins. Excess body weight can strain the veins and subsequently limit their potential to bring blood back to the heart. 

• Age

It’s nothing unexpected that as we reach senescence, our veins, their valves, and walls, get more fragile also. Consequently, with the increasing age, your veins are more likely to deteriorate and turn varicose.  

• Certain jobs 

People who work in places that include standing or sitting for a significant amount of time are more susceptible to get varicose veins. 

• Injury to the legs 

If you encounter an injury on your leg, your veins could be damaged permanently, which may bring about varicose veins. 

• Clots 

Blood clots are bound to happen when you have varicose veins. In the same way, they can be the cause of varicose veins as well. Blood clots diminish the course of blood through the vein, and this weight can pressure vessel walls and valves. 

Is there a way to prevent and treat vein diseases?

Regardless of whether varicose veins keep running in your family, know that there are things you can do to diminish your chance of getting them. Some of these ways of lifestyle may help decline or lessen their seriousness:

• Stay in motion 

Increased action through walking and refraining from excessive sitting for too long can improve blood flow in your legs. 

• Fitness is the key 

If you are overweight, losing the excess weight will probably diminish the pressure on your veins and may improve how your legs look and feel. 

• Put your feet up 

Elevating your legs, so they are over the level of your heart, four times each day for 30 minutes, can offer your veins a relieve. It will enable gravity to let the blood move along. 

• Buy and wear pressure tights 

You can get these exceptional leggings from the pharmacy, or your general physician may endorse you a couple with a particular quality of pressure. Put them on at the beginning of the day when you initially get up and take them off before you head to sleep.

Verdict:

Regardless of whether you have tried the precautions, you may get varicose veins after some time. Fortunately, you have a bigger number of treatment variables than the previous times, and that can be of great help.