Risk factors
Age, of course, due to increasing weakness of the venous walls, but also due to the duration of exposure to other risk factors.
A family history of chronic venous insufficiency should also be considered:
Prolonged standing , especially in the workplace, or sitting with legs hanging down for several hours should be avoided.
Obesity, pregnancy, hormonal disturbances are all risk factors for chronic venous disease. Low-impact sports such as walking, cycling, swimming and gymnastics should be favoured over high-impact or jumping sports.
Prolonged exposure to heat, such as standing on a beach without cooling your legs, regularly visiting saunas or steam rooms, or regularly taking hot baths are all situations that should be avoided.
Females also appear to be at greater risk, probably due in part to hormonal factors.