Venous insufficiency and chronic venous disease are two conditions you have heard about in your consultation with Dr. Jimenez and likely during your visit with the cardiologist. Vein disease develops within the body based on external and internal stresses that affect the way in which one-way (upward) venous blood flow drives blood from the lower legs and organs to the heart. All of this venous blood moves against gravity and that action itself can be difficult if the veins are stressed, stretched and incapable of carrying excess blood. Years of patient care and clinical studies focused on vascular health make a distinct connection between weight gain and vein disease. But how are weight gain and venous disease related?
Veins, Valves and Their Function
At Vein Center of Florida, our goal is to share as much about vein care with you as possible, so you know what to expect and how to solve the problem. Vein disease, as mentioned above, starts with a variety of factors that contribute to the inability of veins in the lower sector of your body to push your blood from your legs to your heart. Venous valves keep the blood flowing in the proper direction. However, inefficient valve function results in excess blood waiting to circulate up from one part of the vein to the next, causing these veins expand. Expansion of the vein walls causes stretching, and that stretching continues until the vein is no longer able to resist and relax to its normal state, resulting in bulging visible veins. Bulging varicose veins are a sure fire way to tell this is happening to you.
Symptoms of Vein Disease:
- Pain in the legs or heaviness
- Tired/heavy legs
- Discoloration in the ankles and calves (redness or dark tinge)
- Tightness in the legs
- Varicose vein formation
- Fluid buildup or pedal edema
- Pain relief upon elevation or position change
- Tenderness
- Restless legs
- Ulcer formation
- Itching or burning skin
While these symptoms of vein disease are common indicators, they’re not always present, and it’s a good idea to have a vein screening at some point in your mid-thirties at the earliest.
A Few Extra Pounds Can Affect Vein Health
Inactivity and extended periods of standing or sitting are a considerable issue no matter your size, however, adding excess weight and applying additional pounds of pressure on the body can cause serious exertion on the veins and their valves. If you’re already prone to vein insufficiency based on your family history, you want to make sure that you’re covering all of your bases and lowering your weight.
We think of the veins as pressurized tubes that work hard to move blood upward but the pressure in these veins can vary based on our position and how much weight pushes down on the lower half of your body at any given time from weight gain. Walking decreases the pressure on our veins because the calves help the leg veins pump; adding more weight, makes this mechanism ineffective. More pressure from above means more pressure is needed to move your blood. To lower the pressure in the legs and pelvic area, a reduced weight will improve the symptoms but long term awareness, activity and care are necessary.
A few types of vein conditions you may hear about in consultation with Dr. Jimenez include:
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
Chronic venous insufficiency worldwide is a very common problem whether it’s the result of pregnancy, genetics, race, sex or immobility. Weight gain may initiate the process of vein pain and discomfort, often followed by restless legs and problems with movement if left unchecked. So if you’re feeling some of these things now, you may have chronic venous insufficiency which may symptomatically progress as you age.
- Leaking Valves and Stressed Veins (Varicose Veins)
Overstretched and stressed veins, often purple and deep green, become prominent in the legs after significant weight gain and genetic factors. Varicose veins are stressed superficial veins prevalent in men and women over the age of 60, but they may occur in much younger individuals, especially with a family history. Women are at a greater risk of developing varicose veins than men, although they are very common in both sexes.
Activity, weight maintenance, and a nutritious diet can help to minimize the risk of developing significant venous disease, however, everyone should be educated about vein disease as early as possible. Call The Vein Center of Florida today at 800-910-VEIN for more information on vein disease and to schedule your vein screening.
Working out, eating well and maintaining low stress levels can keep your heart running efficiently, but what about your veins? A fit heart pumps blood vigorously through strong arteries. When the blood needs to cycle back to your heart, it flows through a network of veins. The only way your blood is permitted upward flow (against gravity) is by clear and elastic veins that can move blood in one direction back to your heart. 
You always keep your ear to the ground when it comes to healthy tips for problem-free veins and Dr. Jimenez has a few for you. Impeccable vein health starts with the rest of your body including how supported your feet are, how much activity you get on a daily basis and how well you maintain an appropriate weight. Everything is a factor since your veins respond to pressures created by excess weight, inactivity and improperly supported feet. Instead of simply thinking in terms of your cholesterol levels and whether or not you’re alternating positions enough at work, let’s go a little deeper. Here are your tips for supporting vein health: 
When you think of Florida, white sandy beaches with beautiful sherbet sunsets take shape in your mind, and this image holds true to the area. Florida, and Destin, in particular, is known as one of the best places to jump into spring and summer. The weather at this moment is warm, but not as hot as it normally is during our peak point in June, when temperatures hover over 100-degrees. Spring is the perfect time to enjoy calm weather and family activities that cannot be experienced anywhere else. Destin is also at the central hub of spring activity, which is why Vein Center of Florida is located at its center.
It’s getting warmer out, and that means you’ll want to show off your legs. But for those that struggle with varicose and spider veins, spring and summer clothes are a scary thought. I can’t wear those shorts; they show off my veiny legs. You’re not sure when you started getting varicose veins on the backs of your knees, but varicose veins have kept you from dressing the way that you want for some time.
When you think of spider and varicose veins, those visible lines on your legs are probably what come to mind. While the legs are the most common place to see these veins develop, they are not the only one. Check out these surprising areas where those visible veins might crop up.
You may not think much about your veins – until one of those bulging varicose veins suddenly appears on your lower leg. While it may seem like that vein came out of nowhere, there was an entire process that went on inside your veins to contribute to its development. To understand varicose veins, it is helpful to know how the veins function and what can go wrong inside of them to make those swollen vessels form. Check out these basics on vein health from the team at the Vein Center of Florida & South Baldwin.
Vein disease is a common condition that could affect as many as half of all adults by the time they turn 60. The key to effective treatment is to address the condition as early as possible. The Vein Center of Florida & South Baldwin have listed the major stages of vein disease to help you understand if your condition requires the evaluation of a vein specialist. 
You may not be giving your veins much thought this season, as cooler temperatures allow you to hide unsightly, visible veins under tights and pants. However, out of sight and out of mind won’t give you the sexy, vein-free legs you want when warm weather rolls around again. In addition, if those swollen vessels are causing physical symptoms like pain and swelling, you are destined to suffer all winter long if you don’t seek treatment for your condition sooner rather than later. Fortunately, there are plenty of good reasons to use the winter months to treat those unattractive, uncomfortable varicose veins.
No one welcomes the appearance of those visible networks of lines known as spider veins. Why do some people get them and others don’t? While there is no way to tell for sure if you will develop spider veins at some point, there are some factors that put you at higher risk they will make an appearance. Some of those risk factors are under your control, while others you won’t be able to do much about.