Get Virtual Care
For Businesses
About Us
A member asked:
What causes the veins in hands to enlarge and when elevating them ?
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Normal appearance: When veins are lower than the heart, the hydrostatic pressure in them is increased. When veins art at the same level as the heart or higher, their pressure decreases. Vein walls have a lot of stretch in them, in part to compensate for these changes in pressure. What you are describing in your question is the result of these pressure changes and vein wall stretch and is completely normal.
Answered 1/12/2016
5.1k views
Blood flow.: When your hands are elevated above your heart, the pressure in the hand veins is less than the heart and the blood flows back to the heart decreasing the amount of blood in the hand veins. When your hands are lower than your heart, the reverse is true and the veins of the hands enlarge.
Answered 12/9/2013
4.9k views
Related Questions
A member asked:
Unslightly bulging veins on hands-what's the cause?
4 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
A member asked:
What could cause severe hand pain and vein swelling?
7 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
Cold, enlarged, and painful veins on top of my hand, what to do?
3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
People also searched for:
Why only sometimes i notice the veins of the back of my hands are more visible and enlarged looking? I'm only in my 20's.
Why are the veins in my hands bursting? What causes this?
The my veins are so prominent in my hands. What causes this?
Cause of painful veins on top of both hands?
My husband is 31 and has quite pronounced veins on both hands for the last year or so. He doesn't lift weights. There are no other symptoms. Serious?
Didn't find what you're looking for?
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
Ask your questionMore of what we treat
Download HealthTap
Video visit and message your doctor
