It’s been said that half of what you’re told is wrong, incorrect, or exaggerated. With the election taking place it seems like that number might not be too far off. Regardless, lies and exaggerations based on things like varicose and spider veins are common as well.

Your co-worker, your friend, and your next door neighbor all think they know about the subject of spider and varicose veins, but what’ the truth? Take a look to see how many of these myths you’ve heard before?

1. Leg-Crossing Causes Spider Veins

Nope! Thankfully crossing your legs does not cause varicose veins or spider veins. When you do cross your legs you can exacerbate your spider veins. However, spider veins aren’t caused from crossing your legs initially.

However, it is true that spider veins can get worse when you cross your legs. If this is true, then this could be why people believe crossing their legs caused spider veins in the first place. Perhaps the spider veins weren’t noticeable and crossing their legs made it noticeable?

2. Tight Pants Causes Spider Veins

Just like crossing your legs, tight pants aren’t initially causing spider veins either. However, just like crossing your legs, wearing tight pants does cause blood to pool inside a vein, which makes the vein bulge (gross). However, external pressure from sources like tight pants has minimal pressure.

As mentioned above external pressure from crossing legs and tight pants MAY make spider veins a little worse, but they don’t initially cause spider veins.

3. Pregnancy Causes Varicose Veins

People always want to believe that spider veins happened during pregnancy. This is just a myth as well.

So far everything we’ve mentioned DOES make spider and varicose veins more noticeable, but it doesn’t initially cause the problem. Pregnancy falls into the same category. Spider and varicose veins will become more noticeable during pregnancy if you already had them, but you can’t blame the baby for the varicose and spider veins initially. Also, varicose veins will typically fade after pregnancy too.

4. Heredity Causes Spider and Varicose Veins

Just because your parents had varicose and spider veins, and just because your grandparents had varicose and spider veins do not mean that you’ll have varicose and spider veins. Phew!

This is another myth busted. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute only 50% of people whose family has varicose veins actually end up getting varicose and spider veins too.

5. Massage Can Cure Varicose Veins

Unfortunately, this one is a myth as well. How nice would it be to be able to go to your local massage therapist, get a soothing massage and walk away with faded varicose veins? Too bad this one is a myth.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, massages may help to reduce the swelling of varicose veins or even reduce the pain that may come with varicose veins. However, massage as a cure to make varicose veins disappear is not true.

What to do about Varicose and Spider Veins Veins?

According to the Cleveland Clinic: “

  1. Maintain a healthy weight. “Being overweight definitely does increase pressure in your veins and can increase your risk of getting varicose veins or worsen their appearance,” he says.
  2. Wear compression stockings if you stand for long periods of time. Otherwise, take frequent breaks to sit down, elevating your legs when possible. If you sit for long periods, move your legs or stand up every now and then. Regular exercise can help improve circulation and vein health.”

References:

  • Heart and Vascular Team (December 2, 2015). Varicose Veins: 7 Myths You Shouldn’t Believe [Blog]. Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/12/varicose-veins-7-myths-you-shouldnt-believe/