Alcohol as a Possible Etiologic Agent in Varicose Veins

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Subjects both with and without varicose veins were questioned concerning their drinking habits. Of 136 men with varicose veins, only 16 (12%) were complete abstainers, and the median amount of alcohol consumption was 68 g/day, the equivalent of 4 "shots" of whiskey daily. Of 70 men with no venous enlargement, 30 (43%) were complete abstainers, and the median amount of alcohol consumption was only 1 g/day, the equivalent of 1 "shot" of whiskey every other week. This difference was highly significant. The suggestion is made that consumption of alcohol in excess may result in arteriolar dilation and new capillary formation which, in effect, may act like multiple arteriovenous shunts leading to the development of varicose veins.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: