Vein Clinic in Covington: Pregnancy and Vein Disease Risk

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One of the questions we are asked most often by female patients visiting our vein clinic in Covington for the first time is, "Does being pregnant increase my risk of developing vein disease?" As much as we would like to tell our patients that pregnancy doesn't increase their risk, sadly the answer to this question is "Yes."

Women already have a higher risk of vein disease than men for hormonal reasons, and these risks increase as their bodies prepare to give birth. To nourish and support a growing fetus, the volume of blood flowing through their bodies increases dramatically. Overall circulatory volume increases, and so does pressure in the abdomen and lower pelvis. Levels of the hormones progesterone, estrogen, and Relaxin increase in the blood, which increases the ability of veins to expand. And finally, pregnancy is often accompanied by reduced physical activity caused by weight gain and discomfort, and inactivity is a vein disease risk in itself. As a result, almost a third of women develop varicose veins during their first pregnancy, and over half develop them during their successive pregnancies.

Those are pretty poor odds, so how can I reduce my risk if I'm pregnant?

Most vein doctors don't recommend varicose vein removal if you are already pregnant, but if you already have varicose veins and are trying to plan for a future pregnancy, you definitely should consider having your varicose veins removed before you become pregnant. This will reduce the chances that your varicose veins will become worse during your pregnancy and after your delivery.

If you have varicose veins and are already pregnant, we recommend that you see a vein specialist in New Orleans, because he can recommend conservative treatment strategies that can help make your pregnancy more comfortable. For example, many women have found that wearing medical-grade support stockings improves the circulation in their legs and prevents cramps and swollen veins. Another thing that can help to improve circulation and reduce increased pressure that can lead to varicose veins is to spend some time every day with your legs elevated higher than the level of your heart.

If varicose veins DO develop during my pregnancy, what can I do about them?

At La Bella Vita Laser and Vein Center, we normally recommend that women wait a few months after delivery to see whether swollen veins shrink and begin to disappear on their own. If they don't, then give one of the best vein doctors in Covington a call at 985-892-2950. Dr. Randall S. Juleff can then explain to you the painless, minimally-invasive treatment options available to remove your varicose veins permanently and regain the youthful appearance of your legs.

Author Bio: A Vein Clinic In Covington explains why pregnancy increases your risk of developing vein disease, and what you can do about it.