Myths About Varicose Veins - "Varicose Veins run in families"
This is virtually the only "commonly known" fact about varicose veins that is TRUE.
Varicose veins do run in families.
To be more precise, venous reflux (or leg pump failure) runs in families and many of those people get varicose veins.
Of course some will not develop varicose veins but will develop the other problems of valve failure and leg pump failure instead such as:
- aching legs
- leg swelling
- itching legs
- venous eczema
- brown staining (haemosiderin)
- hardness of the skin and tissue (lipodermatosclerosis or LDS)
- bleeding veins
- leg ulcers
- of course they may also be associated with Thread Veins
However - the link is not quite as strong as most people like to believe.
For example, although having 3 or 4 relatives with varicose veins or venous problems makes it more likely that you will too - but doesn't mean that you definitely will. Also, the fact that you have varicose veins does not mean to say that all of your children will have them too - although they will be more likely to, than most other children.
Therefore, there are some families with lots of people having varicose veins or vein problems, and others where very few do - but almost no families where EVERYBODY or NOBODY has varicose veins or veins problems.
