Varicose Veins in the Young: Are Sedentary Jobs to Blame? - Dr Naveen Chandrashekhar

When we think of varicose veins, we often picture older people, perhaps someone standing all day or with a history of chronic vein issues. But that image is quickly becoming outdated.

Today, we’re seeing more young adults walk into clinics with symptoms that point straight to vein dysfunction. Aching legs, heaviness by the evening, and visible, bulging veins, sometimes even in people in their 20s and 30s.

And often, they’re not doing anything obviously wrong. No long-standing medical condition, no family history. Just long hours at a desk. A job that keeps them glued to a chair.

It raises the question: are our modern work habits quietly damaging our veins?

Rising Trend We Didn’t Expect

I’ve had patients who are software engineers, designers, traders, most of them work from a laptop, barely move for hours, and rarely notice how long they’ve been sitting. By the time they start feeling discomfort in the legs, the damage has already started.

This isn’t a one-off case. It’s a pattern. A growing one.

Prolonged sitting reduces blood flow from the legs back to the heart. Over time, this causes pressure to build up in the veins of the lower limbs. If the valves inside those veins weaken, a process called venous insufficiency, blood starts pooling. That’s when varicose veins form.

Young, Fit, and Still at Risk

What surprises most patients is that they’re otherwise healthy. They eat well, exercise when they can, and don’t have excess weight. But lifestyle isn’t only about fitness levels, it’s about patterns. And a sedentary pattern, even in a slim or active person, can quietly chip away at vein health.

It's not about how long you exercise, but how long you stay still.

Many young professionals sit for 9–10 hours straight, often without even shifting position. Meetings, calls, deadlines, it all adds up. The leg muscles don’t contract enough to push the blood upward. And when this goes on for months or years, the valves inside the veins begin to strain.

Not Just Cosmetic

There’s a misconception that varicose veins are just a cosmetic problem. That they look unpleasant, but don’t do much harm. That’s far from the truth.

While yes, many patients notice varicose veins only when they become visible, the underlying issue is poor circulation. Over time, if ignored, this can lead to more serious problems, pain, swelling, restless legs, skin changes, and in some cases, clots.

In younger patients, this often starts subtly. A bit of heaviness at the end of the day. Cramps that don’t go away. Or a faint blue vein that seems to be getting more visible. The earlier we catch it, the easier it is to treat and prevent progression.

The Work Culture Angle

It’s hard to talk about this without acknowledging work culture. Remote jobs, hybrid setups, long hours at screens, all of these are part of daily life now. But while we’ve adapted our minds to this new normal, our bodies, especially our veins, are paying the price.

It’s not just sitting that causes trouble. Long periods of standing in one place, common among retail workers, teachers, or surgeons, can also affect vein health. But sitting is more insidious because it doesn’t feel strenuous. It just becomes part of the background.

What Can Be Done?

Prevention doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s what I advise, especially for younger adults who work long hours:

Move every 45–60 minutes. Even a few minutes of walking or stretching helps blood flow.

Elevate your feet when resting. It allows gravity to help drain the veins.

Wear compression stockings if you already have mild symptoms. They support the veins and prevent pooling.

Watch for signs. Heaviness, aching, or visible veins, don’t ignore these.

Stay hydrated. Dehydration can make blood thicker, slowing circulation.

Strengthen the calf muscles. These act like a pump for venous return. Simple exercises like ankle rolls or heel raises can help.

Treatment Options for the Young

If symptoms persist or worsen, treatments are available, and they’re much more advanced than they used to be. We now offer minimally invasive procedures like endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) and radiofrequency ablation, which close off the faulty veins without major surgery. Most patients can go home the same day and return to work soon after.

The important thing is: don’t wait too long. Younger patients respond very well to treatment, but the longer the condition is left unaddressed, the more extensive the care becomes.

Vein health isn’t something most young adults think about. It’s not on the radar until there’s pain or something visible. But varicose veins are no longer just a concern for the elderly or inactive. They’re quietly becoming a part of the young urban story.

So if you spend most of your day seated, look at this not as a scare, but as a prompt. Get up, stretch, move, and take your veins seriously. Your legs carry you through your entire day, they deserve some attention too.