Can Weight Gain Worsen My Varicose Vein Symptoms?

Being overweight is a significant problem for many Americans.  It is estimated that nearly 40% of adult Americans are either overweight or obese.  Being overweight is detrimental to our health as well as our veins.  Weight gain can worsen your varicose vein symptoms. Carrying extra weight puts more strain on your veins, increasing your risk of having varicose veins or worsening your existing condition. 

The Cause of Varicose Veins

Venous insufficiency, a result of damage to our leg veins, causes varicose and spider veins. Besides being overweight or obese, numerous other variables can contribute to its development. These include genetics, age, sex, prolonged sitting, smoking, pregnancy, inactivity, and high blood pressure. 

When the tiny, one-way valves in your veins malfunction, it results in abnormal flow of the blood within the veins. This typically happens when veins are overworked. Stressed and damaged vein valves cannot effectively return blood to your heart. Instead, blood starts to pool in some areas of your body and flows the wrong way. Your legs, ankles, and feet are the most frequently affected areas.

Varicose Veins and Being Overweight

Unfortunately, you are more likely to develop venous problems if you are overweight. The good news is that you can get help to put your pain and suffering under control.

Although weight loss can help with painful or uncomfortable vein symptoms, already damaged vein valves cannot be repaired. That is not to say that losing weight won't improve your vein health. It most definitely will. Losing weight can alleviate symptoms while lowering your risk of acquiring new venous problems.

If you do lose any extra weight, you may start to notice bulging veins as a result. This is because larger veins beneath the fat occasionally go undetected. After losing weight, you could discover that varicose vein symptoms still negatively affect your way of life. Thankfully, there are numerous options for taking action.

How Can You Improve Your Condition

To improve your situation, you should try to lead a healthy lifestyle. Exercise daily, have a healthy diet, and avoid prolonged sitting. If you smoke, you should consider quitting. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic health conditions, you should try to manage these underlying conditions to alleviate the strain on your veins. 

Unfortunately, these lifestyle adjustments only help improve but rarely suffice to completely treat varicose veins that have already developed. Vein disease typically progresses over time, meaning that it gets worse. Fortunately, there are now available treatments that can significantly address vein problems, helping improve your quality of life. Possible treatment options include Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), Endovenours Ablation (EVLA), and Sclerotherapy.

If you have varicose veins and want to know the options available, visit the Center for Varicose Veins. The clinic is headed by Dr. Vinay Madan, a vein disease expert with more than twenty five years of experience.  

Call the Center for Varicose Veins today to schedule an appointment.

Author

Center for Varicose Veins Center for Varicose Veins in Wilton and Fairfield, Connecticut, is a speciality practice that serves the communities of Wilton, Norwalk, Westport, Weston, Ridgefield, New Canaan, Darien, Redding, Fairfield, Easton, Trumbull, Bridgeport, and Stamford, Connecticut, as well as Lewisboro, Pound Ridge, South Salem and Bedford, New York. Board-Certified Vascular and Interventional Radiologist Vinay Madan, MD, has over 25 years of experience using minimally invasive procedures to treat people affected by varicose veins and other forms of vein disease. With specialized care and expertise in the most advanced treatments, Dr. Madan offers relief of circulatory conditions affecting the legs, including chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, spider veins, leg swelling, and leg ulcers.