What Causes Varicose Veins and How Does Your Job Contribute?

The main cause of varicose veins is excess blood pressure in a vein. This usually stems from a condition called Chronic Venous Insufficiency. When damaged valves inside veins fail, blood flows in in reverse and elevates endovenous pressure. Several things increase pressure in the vein. Hormone shifts, weight gain, aging, and sitting or standing for long periods are among the chief contributors to valve failure and elevated blood pressure.

Female gender and a family history of varicose veins are the top predictors of these unsightly blood vessels. While a healthy lifestyle helps reduce symptoms and severity, preventing varicose veins is often outside of your control. Book an appointment with Harvard-trained vein doctors in New Jersey for cutting-edge varicose vein treatment. We offer a wide range of minimally invasive vein treatments that take 15-30 minutes and don’t require surgery or general anesthesia.

Varicose veins are common in every state, and the majority of adults will develop spider veins or varicose veins in their lifetime. But what increases your risk factors if you live in New Jersey? The Garden State has a diverse and vibrant economy, but let’s take a look at the top six industries in New Jersey and how they impact your risk of developing varicose veins. We’ll also discuss what you can do to offset these risk factors.

Varicose veins are prevalent in each state. But what is the main cause of varicose veins in New Jersey? Here are varicose vein risk factors at top industries in NJ.

How Do the Top 6 NJ Industries Contribute to Varicose Veins?

  1. Life Sciences: There’s a large population of scientists and engineers in New Jersey, particularly those who specialize in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. These careers vary, but if your job involves sitting at a desk conducting research, it’s important to take breaks to move around. Leg muscles help pump blood out of your veins, so when you sit too long, blood pools in the vein, especially veins that have damaged valves. If you’re a scientist or engineer with a desk job, change positions often and incorporate walking into your lunch break or phone calls.
  1. Financial Services:  Some financial services professionals meet with clients and stay mobile. Others have a stationary post at a desk. And some stand for long periods, leading presentations. Sitting and standing for long periods reduce circulatory efficiency, since leg muscles don’t contract in stationary positions. When you’re standing, your veins bear your body weight as they pump blood against gravity up to your heart. If you have a long speech, prop your legs up afterward. And if you have to sit for an extended time, do seated calf raises periodically.
  1. Manufacturing: This career can be good or bad for vein health, depending on your role. If you oversee manufacturing, you probably walk around frequently and also alternate with seated meetings. However, if you work on an assembly line in a manufacturing plant, you need to take breaks from sitting or standing as often as you’re permitted. Elevate your legs while resting at night, to help reduce the burden on your veins.
  1. Transportation and Logistics: If you’re a commercial transportation driver or in an administrative logistics position, your vasculature might suffer. Take a few trips up and down the stairs on your breaks or walk briskly during your rest stop or lunch break. Even a few minutes of activity gives your veins a welcome boost to help prevent blood from pooling.
  1. Information Technology: IT specialists are often tied to their phone and computer. When you can, take calls standing up and walk around. Prop your legs on a footrest if possible. If you work from home on a laptop, periodically work in a prone position on your sofa so you can prop your legs above heart level with pillows.
  1. Pharmaceuticals: Pharmaceutical jobs have the potential to be beneficial for your veins. If you’re a pharmacist, you move around throughout the day, filling prescriptions, and might also spend time seated at a desk. Change positions often and make sure you take time to get off your feet, if you use a standing desk. If you’re in pharmaceutical sales, you stay active, but you might have long stretches of time in your car. Take breaks to walk around every hour of your drive for your vascular health. 

Why Does Sitting or Standing for Long Periods Play a Role?

Sitting or standing for long periods of time is a risk factor for varicose veins in many professions. Veins rely on leg muscle contractions to pump blood to your heart. Veins have an uphill battle complicated by gravity. So, staying active rather than sedentary is essential to ensure blood flows efficiently up to the heart.

What Can You Do If Veins Are Painful and Swell at Work?

Most patients with varicose veins experience frustrating symptoms like swelling, cramping, heaviness, itching, aching, and restlessness in their legs. If your veins feel painful and swell at work, it’s time to change what you’re doing. Assess whether you’ve been sitting or standing too long, and whether your footwear is too constricting. Note whether your symptoms worsen at the end of the day, since this signifies Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Visit our award-winning vein doctors in New Jersey who treat varicose veins during lunch breaks! Within minutes, you’ll eliminate the problem and resume working symptom-free!

Which Jobs Reduce the Risk of Developing Varicose Veins?

Jobs with ample movement reduce the risk of developing varicose veins. The good news is most jobs can include more movement with simple steps. If you have a desk job, try seated calf raises, a standing desk, or headphones that allow you to walk during phone calls. If you’re a transportation professional, utilize your breaks to walk, rather than sitting down.

If you must stand for long periods, elevate your legs between presentations. Taking a few minutes to optimize blood flow might feel like you’re reducing productivity. But improving your vein health increases productivity in the long run. Varicose vein symptoms can become debilitating, so minimize them with lifestyle adjustments today.

Which Vein Treatments Fix Damaged Valves in Legs and Feet?

There are several vein treatments to fix damaged valves in legs and feet. These include sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, vein adhesives, endovenous laser therapy, and mechanochemical ablation. These procedures are minimally invasive and done in under 30 minutes. Book a consultation to learn what is the main cause of varicose veins in your body and select your ideal treatment.

Do New Jersey Varicose Vein Treatments Require Time off Work?

Vein surgery requires time off work. However, most patients don’t require surgery anymore. Minimally invasive varicose vein treatments have largely replaced vein surgery, and these require no downtime whatsoever. You can head straight back to work after treatment and drive yourself to and from your appointment. Most jobs impact vascular health. It’s not realistic to change your career path. Instead, seek treatment for varicose veins, so you don’t miss a beat at work!