Weight Gain and Vein Disease
Most of us already know that carrying extra weight can cause or exacerbate a number of health problems, including increased cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, both of which can cause heart disease and a higher risk of stroke. Diabetes is another complication of carrying additional weight. What many of us don’t know are the effects of excess weight on your vein health. Obesity can be the foundation for serious circulation issues and organ health throughout the body. If you have gained weight, you may notice increased leg pain or cramping. You might also be developing varicose veins that may or may not be visible on the surface. In this post, we are going to take a look at the impact between weight gain and vein health.
The Relationship Between Your Weight and Your Veins:
Whether your weight gain may be due to health issues, a poor diet or a less active lifestyle, the extra weight being supported on your frame causes damage to the valves in the vein walls which can result in venous insufficiency and varicose veins. Excess weight puts pressure on your body and on your veins. It causes extra strain, and this can weaken the valves in the walls of your veins, also weakening your veins so that they can no longer efficiently pump blood from the legs to the heart. Blood may not flow as it should, and may even settle in the veins, a condition called venous reflux. This in turn causes varicose veins, a condition in which the veins bulge, twist and protrude through the skin. Vein disease is an often painful condition that can cause leg swelling, skin changes, itchiness, fatigue and eventually skin ulcers.
The Vicious Cycle:
People who already have vein disease may experience cramps and pain in their legs, as well as fatigue. This may make them less likely to exercise, and possibly more likely to become sedentary, simply because it is so uncomfortable for them to exert themselves. This can cause them to gain more weight, increasing their risk of developing more varicose veins. Or, those that already have varicose veins may fear that exercise will make them worse, and so avoid it. Their condition may worsen or they may develop more varicose veins, which makes it even more difficult for them to continue, and the cycle continues. However, the key may lie in starting slow, perhaps walking moderately for a few minutes a day, until they gradually feel up to exercising more.
Get Active!
In some cases, losing a little weight can go a long way. Exercising is very important not only to your overall health, but also to your vein health. Physical activity can help you shed the extra pounds that put your veins at risk, as well as enhance your circulation and help every part of your body work more efficiently. You don’t have to spend every day at the gym to see results — in fact, many of the exercises that are good for reducing your varicose vein risk are also ideal for moderate weight loss. Walking, for example, is a low-impact exercise that you can easily incorporate into your everyday routine simply with small changes such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking farther away from buildings so you’ll walk more. A daily walk, even if it’s just around the block, can also help. Other beneficial activities include jogging, dancing, and swimming. If you practice them regularly, you may soon see that you not only feel better and lose weight, but also that you decrease your risk of developing varicose veins.
If you have questions about weight gain and varicose veins, or about any other aspect of vein health, make an appointment today with Alpha Vein Clinic!
Alpha Vein Clinic
3150 N. Tenaya Way Ste. 400
Las Vegas, NV, 89128
(702) 430 7661
Dr. Sassan Kaveh
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