Does Height and Weight Predispose To Varicose Veins?

If you have weakened vein walls and dysfunctional vein valves you will most probably have varicose veins. This is because if the vein valves do not work properly, normal venous blood flow is affected. This results in enlarged veins due to blood pooling in the veins rather than blood traveling towards the heart.

While any vein can become varicose, the veins most affected are those in your legs and feet. This is due to increased pressure in the veins while standing or walking. Sometimes, varicose veins may not cause any concern or symptoms and are typically a cosmetic concern, whereas for others, they are a significant source of pain and discomfort.

You need to worry about varicose veins when you have certain symptoms. The symptoms of varicose veins include but are not limited to:

• Swollen, twisty, bluish-purple veins just underneath the surface of the skin
• Pain and discomfort that is worse while standing and at night
• Discolouration in the skin
• Swelling, itching, cramping, and burning
• Heaviness in the legs and fatigue

In severe cases, you may get clots in the deep veins that can travel to the lungs and are potentially dangerous. This is called Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Varicose veins can also result in other varicose veins complications, such as venous ulcers and bleeding.

There are several factors that can predispose to varicose veins. Some of them are: Gender (women are more at risk), Pregnancy, Birth Control Pills, Heredity, Obesity, Getting older, Desk jobs, a History of blood clots, and damaged veins. While an increase in weight can predispose to varicose veins, what is interesting however, is that increased height (being tall) is also a risk factor for varicose veins.

A Stanford University School of Medicine study confirms this link between increased height and a predisposition to varicose veins. The findings show a strong genetic link between height and varicose veins and suggest that the genes that determine height are also likely to cause varicose veins.

While you cannot change your height, you can resort to certain preventive measures to reduce the stress on your veins and help prevent the formation of varicose veins. Vein care can play a large role in how to prevent varicose veins and in determining whether you will develop varicose veins. Some of the measures you can take are:

1. Exercise: When you exercise regularly, you strengthen your entire circulatory system, not just your veins. Regular exercise also helps lower your blood pressure, which keeps your vein walls from becoming stressed, damaged, and weak. Pumping your muscles can also help improve blood flow, and can aid blood returning more efficiently to the heart.
2. Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity and extra weight can put added pressure on your veins. In those veins that have insufficient valves, blood can pool in the legs, which will damage the veins even further. Added weight can also hide the veins that require treatment, thereby causing more serious problems.
3. High Fibre and Low Salt diet: Eating a high fibre diet can reduce constipation and can help maintain a healthy weight and cholesterol level. If you already have varicose veins, reducing salt intake can help reduce swelling. This is because salt intake in high quantities makes your body retain water.
4. Avoid high heels and tight leg wear: High heels are not good for varicose veins because they limit the leg muscle’s range of motion. This makes it harder for blood to move back to the heart. Tight clothing on your groin, legs, and waist can also block blood from getting back to the heart, putting a strain on the veins of your lower legs. Compression stockings are an exception, as they push blood upward and keep it from pooling.
5. Leg elevation: Elevating your legs to the level of your heart or higher can relieve pressure on your veins and can give them a break. Elevation also removes the pressure on the veins and results in blood flowing more easily away from the legs. Frequent leg elevation breaks can help decrease pain and improve vein function.
6. Changing sitting and standing positions: Standing or sitting for long periods of time can put stress on your veins. You should take frequent breaks or change your positioning to relieve pressure in your veins. You can wear compression stockings if you intend standing or traveling for long periods. However, taking frequent breaks and moving around to increase blood flow to the different parts of the body are still needed.

If you suffer from varicose veins, you need to consult the right vascular surgeon. One such surgeon is Dr. Abhilash Sandhyala, of the Flow Vascular Clinic. He is an expert in varicose veins treatment. He will work closely with you to recommend the treatment of choice for you. He is also an expert at performing Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT), a minimally invasive procedure carried out to treat varicose veins.

If you contact Dr. Sandhyala, you can be rest assured that there would be no complications from your varicose veins or their treatment. He is a skillful, empathetic, and gifted surgeon and has successfully treated thousands of cases of varicose veins using EVLT.

So, if you suffer from varicose veins or their complications, do consult with Dr. Abhilash Sandhyala, and be completely worry-free, as you have consulted the best possible surgeon for your varicose veins!

For more information about Varicose veins and their treatment, as well as the treatment for DVT, or other vascular conditions, contact Dr. Abhilash Sandhyala at (+91) 9989649498 or 9959033037, or at [email protected] or visit our website at www.drabhilash.com

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