Everything You Need to Know about Esophageal Varices

5. Risk Factors

People with liver disease are more likely to have ruptured esophageal varices if they have increased blood pressure in the vessels supplying the liver. Large varices are more likely to rupture than small ones. People are also more likely to have a rupture if their liver disease is very advanced. Continuing to drink alcohol once diagnosed with esophageal varices increases the risk of bleeding, and this risk rises even higher if alcohol consumption caused liver disease in the first place.