If you’re like most men, seeing the doctor isn’t at the top of your priority list. However, men’s health is extremely important! Whether you’re an active fitness buff or you’ve “let yourself go” a bit, you likely struggle to remember the last time you were in a doctor’s office. This is especially true if you don’t have any health concerns or symptoms that worry you. The problem is, many serious health problems show no signs or symptoms at all until it’s too late, so it’s always important to see your doctor, even for something you may consider to be a minor issue, like varicose veins, spider veins, and leg swelling.
Even the most active and fit men can develop serious health problems, and while you might see your veins popping out as a sign of being in shape and healthy, visible veins could actually be a sign of venous disease. In this article, we’ll be discussing men’s health, the causes, symptoms and treatments of varicose veins in men, including testicular varicose veins . Our goal is to inspire you to see a physician for a checkup and your yearly physicals, even if you’re healthy, to help you live a long, healthy and happy life.
Men’s Health: What Causes Varicose Veins In Men ?
Your leg veins have a very important job. Blood that has flowed to your feet struggles against gravity to make its way back up to the heart. If you’re athletic, you already work your muscles regularly to help that blood flow upward with ease, which is great.
As you get older, or if you’re off your feet for an extended period due to an injury or you’re on bed rest after surgery, your leg veins have a harder time moving that blood upward. Combined with a potentially “faulty” valve in the Great Saphenous Veins, the blood begins to pool in the leg, causing symptoms and the eventual development of varicose and spider veins, leg swelling and skin changes. If you have a family history of venous disease or take medications that can affect your circulation, you can also be at increased risk.
If you don’t live an active lifestyle, your risk of developing varicose veins only increases. Inactivity, periods of prolonged sitting and standing, and obesity all increase your risk of venous disease, including varicose veins in the legs, blood clots and even testicular varicose veins.
Men’s Health: Reasons Men Don’t Seek Treatment For Varicose Veins
One of the main reasons many men don’t seek treatment for varicose veins is because they don’t feel any pain or they assume that any pain is the result of muscle fatigue or a pulled muscle after exercises. Also, if you’ve ever admired your veins after a hard workout, you know that this is often associated with health and fitness; however, bulging blue or purple veins could be varicose veins and should be examined by our vein specialists, even if no pain is present.
Another reason men often don’t seek treatment for varicose veins is because they believe that men don’t experience venous disease. After all, it’s only women who get varicose veins and spider veins and have to wear compression right? Wrong!