‘What’s Up Doc’ is a health column in association with Spire Gatwick Park, your local private hospital, which gives you the opportunity to ask questions regarding general health and wellbeing. Answers are provided weekly from our specialist consultants at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital. If it’s a long-standing illness or simply a worry which you would like to get off your mind then we would like to try to help.
Question: Nearly all of my family members have had some form of varicose veins problems in their lifetime, I am 24 and am hearing a lot of stories. How can I prevent varicose veins and spider veins?
Answer: Varicose veins do run in families.
Although many people with varicose veins will have a relative with varicose veins, this does not mean that if your parents have varicose veins that you will definitely develop varicose veins in the future.
The chances of developing varicose veins can be reduced by being active, keeping one’s weight under control and by wearing support stockings.
Spider veins are not the same as varicose veins and their cause is not fully understood - surprisingly they are more common in men than women.
Mr Tom Loosemore consultant vascular surgeon offers appointments at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital. To book an appointment call 01293 778 906 or email HYPERLINK “mailto:info@spiregatwick.com” info@spiregatwick.com