Can Varicose Veins Cause Weight Gain?
While weight and vein health are related, having varicose veins won’t cause you to gain weight.
Although leg swelling is a common and uncomfortable symptom of varicose veins, those enlarged veins don’t actually cause weight gain. Despite their bulging appearance, varicose veins alone will not add pounds to your body.
Varicose veins and your weight, however, are linked in a number of ways. Here’s why healthy weight and healthy veins go hand-in-hand.
The Link Between Varicose Veins and Weight
Excess weight plays a major role in the development of varicose veins. It can also contribute to the increase of varicose vein symptoms like pain, swelling, itching, cramping, and heaviness. Other factors, including age, gender (women are more prone to the condition), pregnancy, sedentary lifestyle, and family history also contribute to varicose veins. Out of those risk factors, weight and lifestyle are the ones you have the most control over.
To understand why the two are linked, you need to understand how your veins and arteries work. Arteries circulate oxygenated blood from your heart to your tissues and organs. Once the blood flows throughout your body, veins return the blood to the heart for more oxygen. But when tiny valves inside the veins malfunction, blood becomes trapped within the vein walls. As the blood continues to pool, the vein eventually pops out and a varicose vein forms. Unfortunately, excess weight can make those vein valves weaker, increasing your risk of developing varicose veins.
Even if you’re a healthy weight, your leg veins face an uphill battle when trying to push blood back to the chest. This is hard because the leg veins are fighting against gravity. Now, add the pressure of excess weight on your lower body and your veins confront an even tougher task. The more blood collects in the vein, the more likely you’ll develop varicose veins or worsen the symptoms of existing varicose veins.
In addition to being good for your overall health, losing excess weight helps lift the pressure on your veins, helping blood flow efficiently. Here are three simple ways to start alleviating the stress on your veins:
Exercise
Not only does exercise shed pounds, but it can also support your leg veins. When you walk, swim, or ride a bike, you engage your calf muscles, which helps the veins pump blood upward. Fortunately, Fresno’s warm climate makes outdoor exercise comfortable. If you can’t set aside a time each day for working out, try to stay as active as possible. Sitting or standing for long periods encourages the blood to pool in the legs. Still, you can invigorate your circulation by simply stretching your legs or taking a walk around the office.
Say Goodbye to Excess Salt
A diet high in sodium contributes to water retention. As you retain water, you once again put extra pressure on your veins. Instead of reaching for the salt shaker, fill your plate with a variety of colorful vegetables packed with bioflavonoids. Colorful veggies such as bell peppers, spinach, broccoli, and eggplant, fight inflammation, boost circulation by thinning blood, and strengthen vein walls.
Wear Compression Stockings
These tightly woven elastic stockings provide an extra nudge to keep blood flowing in the veins. To ease your symptoms, wear them during exercise, when you’re at your desk, or when you’re seated for a long plane or car ride.
Elmore Medical Vein & Laser Treatment Center is the premier vein specialty medical practice in the Central Valley. Dr. Mario H. Gonzalez and his staff offer years of experience and medical expertise that you won’t find anywhere else. Contact us to set up a consultation appointment.