Higher Risk of Varicose Veins for Tall People

Researchers have found that a  person’s height is a ‘significant’ risk factor for varicose veins – so if you’re tall, then you could be more likely to develop the condition than someone who is short. 

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine used data from the UK Biobank – a long term study and genetic repository of people aged 40-69- looking for varicose vein risk factors in over 400,000 participants.

Varicose Vein Risks

The analysis confirmed that currently established risk factors including being older, female, overweight, pregnant or having a history of DVT are all associated with varicose veins.

Height Linked to Varicose Veins

However, the artificial intelligence model also flagged up height as a risk factor. One of the researchers commented:

“Those results strongly suggest height is a cause – not just a correlated factor – but an underlying mechanism leading to varicose veins.”

Cardiologist and study author Dr. Nicholas Leeper, an associate professor of surgery and cardiovascular medicine at Stanford, added:

“We not only found an association between height and varicose veins, but the genetic studies we did showed a causal link.

“That suggests that the genes and pathways that drive human height are also likely to be causing varicose veins.”

He continued:

“A handful of studies from 20 or 30 years ago hinted at a link.
“We don’t understand it. Perhaps taller people are affected by gravity, or there could be something in the vessel wall itself. What is happening, we just don’t know.”

The researchers hope that a better understanding of the causes of varicose veins could lead to new or better treatments or therapies in the future.

Varicose Vein Removal Treatments

Many people still think of varicose vein stripping, but there are new and much more comfortable treatments available in private clinics like Cosmedics’ private London Vein Centre, where options include:

• EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) treatment offers a 95% success rate. Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer EVLA treatment at their London vein treatment centre with a renowned vascular surgeon
• ClariVein® is a treatment which combines a mechanical with a chemical action to seal
• Foam sclerotherapy an injectable treatment for smaller varicose veins or larger thread veins
• Micro surgery for physical, surgical removal of the affected vein where necessary

These varicose vein removal treatments are all available on a ‘day case’ walk in walk out basis at the company’s Harley Street and Putney vein treatment centres.

The clinics offer duplex scan for full and detailed diagnosis of the vein problem in order to establish the most appropriate form of treatment.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.