Information on how veins work and how they become abnormal is essential to understanding the reasons behind the advice. It is also necessary to clear up some of the misconceptions around weight, vein problems, and health. Information on diet and its relationship to vein health is provided in detail. Most importantly, this article gives advice on reasonable weight loss, discourages crash diets, and explains how to keep the weight off! Becoming more weight aware can only be to the benefit of vein sufferers and is likely to lead to fewer symptoms and problems in the future.
Managing weight for vein health provides information and guidance on the best ways to manage weight in people who live with varicose veins. It provides an answer to the old wives’ tale “You are not overweight, you just have bad vein circulation.” In fact, people who are overweight are much more likely to develop vein problems due to the increased pressure put on the veins under the fatty layer. Considering that over 50% of American adults are either overweight or obese, this topic is of great relevance.
Causes and Effects of Varicose Veins
The cause of varicose vein is a common question patients ask. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about the cause, and in many cases, doctors are unable to provide a precise answer. This booklet helps to explain the current understanding of the cause of varicose veins and their effects on health. (It is likely to be of more interest to those with more severe vein problems. If you are happy with the current level of your knowledge, and your veins are not troubling you, you will probably not wish to read it.)
Most patients come to a doctor with the complaint that their legs feel heavy, or tired. Many also use the word “aching”. It is recognized that symptoms due to varicose veins worsen with prolonged standing and are lessened when the legs are elevated. Night cramps are very common. Patients may also complain of swelling, itching or eczema of the affected skin. In its more severe forms, varicose veins can lead to chronic inflammation of the skin.
Venous diseases are long-lasting conditions that alter daily life significantly. Rates of leg ulcers, long-term (or chronic) swelling, skin changes, and/or inflammation complicated by clotting in the veins are increased in patients with varicose veins or more severe chronic venous disease. Both varicose veins and its more serious sequelae represent more than simply a cosmetic problem.
The Relationship between Obesity and Varicose Veins
In the legs, the primary method of disease prevention is avoiding an increase in venous pressure. We’ve mentioned previously that the job of the venous valves is to prevent backward flow as the blood is returned to the heart. Anything that increases pressure on the veins puts the valves at risk and increases the likelihood of vein disease. Venous pressure varies with posture and is determined by the difference in height of a column of blood from the heart to the peripheral veins. When a person with vein disease is standing, the venous pressure at the ankle is already elevated compared to a person with healthy veins. This predisposition makes weight control all the more important. Studies have shown that moderate weight loss can decrease the incidence and the progression of venous disease. So for an overweight person with vein disease, weight management could be the key to halting the disease process.
We’ve come to realize that obesity is a significant risk factor. The Nurses’ Health Study has shown that obesity increases the risk of vein disease. In the study, women with a BMI (body mass index) greater than 24.9 had a significantly greater chance of developing vein disease. Obesity puts additional pressure on the veins from the added weight and increases the force on the venous valves. As a result of the increased pressure, the veins are at a greater risk of becoming dilated and the valves are more likely to become incompetent. Vein health, particularly in the legs, revolves around body weight. Although the idea is fairly straightforward, it can be difficult to achieve weight loss. It is often frustrating when a person makes the effort to lose weight and finds that their vein disease symptoms do not improve.
Managing Weight for Vein Health
Calories consumed and calories burned is the simplest method of explaining weight loss. Should the goal be to shed off extra pounds, it is recommended to consume more fibrous foods with a lower calorie density. These foods will provide a full feeling and maintain it for longer than foods with higher calorie density. An example meal would be a sandwich made with whole grain bread, lean turkey, veggies, and a piece of fruit. A food diary can be used to tot up the calories eaten during a day. Set a goal for weight loss and track it at a pace of 1 pound per week. A 500 calorie deficit daily is equivalent to 1 pound of weight loss per week. An easier way to create this deficit is by trimming calories off regular eating patterns and burning extra calories. This money saving calculator can put into perspective how little changes with food and activity can add up to weight loss and money saved over the course of a year.
Weight management is important for both preventing and managing varicose veins. This need is amplified for individuals on their feet all day. In these cases, every extra pound places added pressure on the veins. Adopting a diet long-term rather than a “lose weight fast” craze can be beneficial to your health in numerous ways.