STANDING
ON THE
JOB
"Standing is worse than walking for varicose
patients and hydrodynamics pressure does not
help blood discharge in this state."
A cross-sectional study carried out
among 203 nurses from three hospitals
in Amol, Iran. “Varicose veins of the
legs among nurses—Occupational and
demographic characteristics” found that
the prevalence of varicose veins (of varying
degrees) was 72.4%, with women having
a higher prevalence compared with men
(77.9% vs. 56.9%). and other potential related factors were
collected from each participant.
According to the study, a patient’s
occupation can be among the factors that
intensify vein disorders: The report, published in 2014, also cites
several European studies that support the
theory that prolonged standing at work (or
home) is associated with the occurrence of
varicose veins in the legs.
Blood hydrostatic force in standing
position along with other intrinsic factors
such as heredity can contribute to varicose
creation because upwards blood pumping
takes place with muscle contraction.
Standing is worse than walking for
varicose patients and hydrodynamics
pressure does not help blood discharge in
this state.
A study conducted in southern Taiwan
aimed to evaluate whether prolonged
standing at work can increase the risk
of developing varicose veins. “Varicose
veins in hairdressers and associated
risk factors: a cross-sectional study”
recruited 182 hairdressers in southern
Taiwan to participate in a survey. Data on
demographic characteristics, body weight
and height, work history, medical history,
The researchers concluded that in
hairdressers ≤45 years old, family history
of varicose veins is a major risk factor for
developing lower limb varicose veins, while
in those who are >45 years old, the effects
of occupational risk factors are more
prominent.
FROM ONE PHYSICIAN TO ANOTHER
Dr. Michael Enns sees many patients at
his vein practice who are nurses and
pharmacists. When Dr. Enns first started
treating veins, however, he didn’t realize
how personal the issue of venous disease
was to him.
“My whole family has the worst veins, so
I got used to seeing varicose veins,” said
Dr. Enns. “My mom’s veins were so bad, I
thought it was normal to elevate your legs
on the back of the couch twice a day.”
Dr. Enns himself had experienced leg
pain for more than five years (prior to
treating veins), so much so that the pain
Current Pedorthics September/October 2017
27