Under the expert guidance of our Board Certified Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Mark Zuzga, our team of Vein Specialists & Vascular Experts are committed to delivering top-tier outpatient vascular & vein evaluation and treatment throughout the greater Tampa & West Florida surrounding areas. Should you find yourself dealing with leg pain, swelling, ulcers, discoloration, or the appearance of spider and varicose veins, we invite you to request a screening todayVaricose Veins Can Happen at Any Age
When you hear the term varicose veins you likely think of senior citizens. While yes, varicose and other vein issues are more prevalent in the elderly population it is certainly not the primary age when veins disease strikes.
Venous insufficiency can happen in younger years especially in women who become pregnant.
Most vein centers, especially in Southwest Florida, will say that the mainstay of their patients who are treated for varicose veins are above the age of fifty, but it is not uncommon to see patients in their teens and even younger. When varicose veins do form in young people, the risk seems to be equal in both genders. Later in life, it is more common among women than men.
Because it is so commonly believed that varicose veins only happen during our golden years that when young people do start to develop them it is often a slow recognition as to what they really are. It is because of this that they often do not seek medical treatment and will wait until the varicose veins become too uncomfortable to ignore any longer.
Waiting and hoping doesn’t work. Varicose veins will vanish on their own. They have damaged veins and the damage only worsens over time. For those who develop vein issues at a young age, while unsightly and potentially a source of embarrassment, it can also be a helpful wake-up call to seek medical help and get their health back on track early. The sooner you seek intervention the better the likely results.
Varicose Veins in Teens and Pre-Teens
When vein issues strike young people it is almost always due to a genetic abnormality more than any controllable lifestyle factors. If a child or teen begins presenting with varicose veins it is most likely that one or both of their parents suffers from them as well.
The serious complications that occur sometimes as a result of varicose veins in older adults, such as blood clots from DVT (deep vein thrombosis), are way less likely to happen in young people who have varicose veins. Unfortunately, what this often means is that treatment for varicose veins in young people is not always covered by insurance, as it is considered more of a cosmetic concern than a serious medical condition.
If you or someone you love has been afflicted with varicose veins at a young age, action can be taken immediately to ensure that they never develop into a more serious condition later on.
For these people, maintaining a healthy weight and diet, staying active and exercising frequently, wearing loose and non-restrictive clothing, and never taking up the smoking of cigarettes can ensure that varicose veins are kept under control and do not become a major problem later in life. Finding out one has varicose veins is never easy to hear at any age but can be helpful towards addressing and improving one’s overall health in the long run.
No matter what age you are or the severity of your varicose veins or venous insufficiency, Dr. Zuzga is here to help – contact us today to schedule an appointment at West Florida Vein Center by calling (727) 712-3233. www.westfloridaveincenter.com.