Q: I’m 24 and don’t have varicose veins but both my parents do. Am I at risk for varicose veins? Can I do anything to prevent them from forming? A: Varicose veins are common and are often passed from parents to children. If one parent has varicose veins roughly 50% of their children are at risk for developing varicosities. If both parents have varicosities the risk increases to about 90%. Having an increased risk doesn’t mean that one is destined to develop a particular dise