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The main causes of varicose veins
Varicose veins come from a mix of causes you cannot change, heredity, gender and age, and lifestyle risk factors. Here is the full picture.
- Heredity, gender and age are the main causes you cannot change.
- Two affected parents push a child's risk of varicose veins to 75%.
- Women are 2 to 3 times more affected than men, mainly due to hormones.
- Lifestyle adds up: standing, weight, heat, the pill and inactivity.
- Whatever the cause, varicose veins can be treated without surgery.
Where do those swollen-looking veins actually come from? Here we explain the main causes.
As a reminder, varicose veins are winding dilations of the superficial veins of the legs. Under gravity, and as the veins widen, blood that should flow upward stagnates or flows back because the valves no longer close properly. They are the most common sign of chronic venous insufficiency, and in 2020 France's health authority estimated that 20 to 30% of the population is affected.
Some causes are beyond our control, others come down to lifestyle. Whatever the cause, once varicose veins have appeared they can be treated without surgery: focused ultrasound (echotherapy) closes the vein with no incision.
The main causes you cannot change
Three factors weigh most heavily, and none of them is within your control:
| Cause | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Heredity | Two affected parents raise a child's risk to 75%, versus 45% with one parent. |
| Gender | Women are 2 to 3 times more affected than men, largely due to hormonal changes. |
| Age | Veins and valves start to degenerate from age 30, so the risk rises after 50. |
Curious how much your family history counts? See our article on genetics and varicose veins.
The lifestyle risk factors
Your daily habits can trigger or worsen varicose veins:
- Standing or sitting for long periods, especially at work.
- Excess weight, which makes blood pool in the legs (see our article on weight and venous insufficiency).
- Pregnancy, through higher venous pressure and hormonal changes.
- The contraceptive pill or hormone treatments, which promote water retention and slow circulation.
- Alcohol and heat (sun, hot baths, saunas), which dilate the veins.
- Chronic constipation and high blood pressure, which press on the vein walls.
- High-impact sports (weightlifting, tennis, basketball) as well as a sedentary lifestyle.
- Tight clothing, ill-fitting shoes and a processed, salty diet.
You cannot rewrite your genes, but you can act on these everyday factors, and you can treat the veins you already have. Wondering whether echotherapy is available near you? A growing network of centres is already equipped with the SONOVEIN.
Questions fréquentes
What are the main causes of varicose veins?
The three main causes are beyond our control: heredity, gender and age. Faulty valves let blood flow backwards and pool in the superficial leg veins.
Are varicose veins hereditary?
Yes. If both parents have varicose veins, a child's risk is about 75%; with one affected parent it is around 45%.
Why are women more affected than men?
Women are 2 to 3 times more affected, largely because of hormonal changes during pregnancy, before menstruation and at menopause.
Does standing at work cause varicose veins?
Prolonged standing is a strong risk factor. A large study found up to 2.6 times the risk in people who stand for long hours at work.
Can I lower my risk of varicose veins?
You cannot change heredity, gender or age, but you can act on lifestyle: stay active, keep a healthy weight, and avoid excess heat and long static periods.