Who Is Affected by Varicose Veins and Why?
Curious about women affected by varicose veins? Varicose veins are very common—especially in women—and linked to a clear set of risks: hormones, pregnancy, lifestyle, and family history.
👩🦳 Who Is Most at Risk?
- Women develop varicose veins about twice as often as men—up to 36× greater risk in some studies.([turn0search24](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varicose_veins), [turn0search12](https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/9/1498))
- Age: Risk rises steadily—especially after age 26. Nurses older than 26.5 had ~7.7× higher risk than younger peers.([turn0search12](https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/9/1498))
- Pregnancy & Multiparity: Pregnancy increases risk by ~82%, and the chance rises with multiple births.([turn0search6](https://www.jvsvenous.org/article/S2213-333X%2816%2930083-X), [turn0search4](https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-025-03155-0))
- Family history: Women with relatives who have varicose veins have nearly double the risk.([turn0search2](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26175296), [turn0search4](https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-025-03155-0))
🏥 Workplace & Lifestyle Risks
- Long hours standing or sitting—common in healthcare and hairdressing—significantly increase risk.19, 25, and 46% prevalence found in studies of female nurses and hairdressers.([turn0search2](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26175296), [turn0search14](https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-14-885), [turn0search11](https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/24/3183))
- Obesity and low physical activity: Heavier weight and less movement strain leg veins and weaken valve function.([turn0search9](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379718312030), [turn0search7](https://www.ejves.com/article/S1078-5884%2817%2930537-3/fulltext))
- Chronic constipation or history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)—these issues raise vein pressure and make recurrence more likely.([turn0search4](https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-025-03155-0), [turn0search0](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9425889))
📊 Global Prevalence
- Varicose veins affect up to **30%** of the global population, with wide variation across regions.([turn0search0](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9425889))
- In a small group of female hairdressers, nearly **48%** had varicose veins.([turn0search2](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26175296))
🌬 Why Women Are More Vulnerable
- Hormones like estrogen and progesterone relax vein walls and can weaken vein valves.([turn0search13](https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circulationaha.113.008331), [turn0search24](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varicose_veins))
- Pregnancy raises blood volume, hormone levels, and abdominal pressure—all factors that promote vein dysfunction.([turn0search25](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telangiectasia), [turn0search6](https://www.jvsvenous.org/article/S2213-333X%2816%2930083-X))
- Genetic predisposition—many studies confirm family history nearly doubles individual risk.([turn0search2](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26175296), [turn0search4](https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-025-03155-0))
✅ Summary Table
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Female gender | ~2× risk vs men (up to 36× in some groups) |
| Age ≥ 26 | Many-fold higher prevalence |
| Pregnancy / multiple births | ~80% higher risk |
| Family history | Nearly double the risk |
| Prolonged standing/sitting | High occupational risk |
| Obesity / inactivity | Increases vein strain and damage |
Keyword: who is affected by varicose veins