The Many Faces of Vascular Disease: Powerlifters
Healthy exercise is one of the best preventative measures we can recommend against vein disease. But what you may not know is that not all types of physical activity are necessarily good for your veins. Exercises like heavy weight lifting can increase the venous reflux making varicose and spider veins worse.
Activities that place additional or excessive strain on the veins and circulatory system are more likely to cause vein-related problems, simply because when you increase the pressure inside your veins, you put more stress on the tiny valves, which means they’re more likely to malfunction and become permanently damaged.
How Weightlifting Contributes to Varicose Veins
Being overweight or obese is a major cause of varicose veins. When weightlifting, the effect is similar.
It’s true, the weights lifted aren’t composed of fatty tissue, but the body doesn’t know that. To the veins, excess weight is still excess weight, and that means that even though you are participating in an exercise or physical activity, that activity is putting added pressure on their veins. It’s true lifting weights is for a limited time, while carrying around an extra 50 or more pounds in fatty tissue is an all-day event. And as a result, it can take longer for varicose veins to develop. But over time, a weightlifting habit can still cause varicose veins, and if you already have varicose veins, it can wind up making them worse.
Athlete Vein Treatment
Does this mean that you have to give up lifting weight? Not necessarily. There are steps you can take to make sure your veins stay healthy without completely giving up the activity you love. The first step is to schedule a vein evaluation.
At Elmore Medical we offer vein treatment designed specifically for the needs of athletes of all levels. Dr. Gonzalez and his team can also provide you with helpful tips to improve your vein health, like including more aerobic activities in your workout routine or prescribing compression socks designed to provide continual, gentle pressure on your lower legs to support your blood vessels and help promote better circulation.
If you love weightlifting but you’re concerned about developing or exacerbating varicose veins, the team at Elmore Medical Vein & Laser Treatment Center can help. We are the premier vein specialty medical practice in the Central Valley. Contact us today to set up a consultation appointment.