Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for varicose veins?

Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for varicose veins?

• A. Obesity
• B. Pregnancy
• C. Familial tendency
• D. Smoking

Answer: (D)

Varicose veins arise when superficial leg veins become dilated because their valves fail, leading to venous hypertension. Factors that chronically raise venous pressure or weaken vein walls increase the likelihood of this happening: obesity raises intra-abdominal and leg venous pressures; pregnancy increases blood volume and—with hormonal effects on venous walls—promotes dilation; a familial tendency points to inherited weakness of valves or connective tissue. Smoking, while harmful to vascular health in other ways, does not directly cause valve incompetence or chronic venous hypertension, so it is not considered a risk factor for varicose veins.

Varicose veins arise when superficial leg veins become dilated because their valves fail, leading to venous hypertension. Factors that chronically raise venous pressure or weaken vein walls increase the likelihood of this happening: obesity raises intra-abdominal and leg venous pressures; pregnancy increases blood volume and—with hormonal effects on venous walls—promotes dilation; a familial tendency points to inherited weakness of valves or connective tissue. Smoking, while harmful to vascular health in other ways, does not directly cause valve incompetence or chronic venous hypertension, so it is not considered a risk factor for varicose veins.