As you may already know, being overweight can cause many medical issues. From heart problems to diabetes, excessive weight can cause harm to the body. But, did you know that those unsightly, painful veins on your legs, known as varicose veins, can also be caused by obesity?

When you have excess weight on the body, your body has a lot more pressure put on it. Your venous system and circulatory system both experience this added pressure. This pressure can eventually make large leg veins bulge and blood will begin to pool. If blood pools, the vein walls will stretch and the vein valves will become damaged. Often, obesity is also associated with high blood pressure, as well as a high level of inactivity, which can weaken veins over time.

If your veins become damaged or varicose, your body will begin to show signs. You may start to feel itchiness in your legs, along with achiness, heaviness, pain, swelling, cramps, and restless legs at night.

People who are overweight can sometimes ignore venous issues and attribute their discomfort to their excess weight. While varicose veins are highly visible on the skin of a person within a healthy weight range, these veins cannot always be easily seen on someone with excess fat under the skin. Because of these reasons, an obese person may be less likely to see a doctor for venous issues; the issues can get overlooked or ignored. The longer the problem is ignored, the harder it can be to treat and the more serious the problem becomes.

Overweight individuals are also harder to treat for venous insufficiency. Minimally-invasive techniques may be more difficult to perform since problem veins are located more deeply through layers of skin and fat than they are in a person of a healthy weight. These surgical procedures pose more risks for overweight people, so it’s not always easy to find the right treatment.

If you currently have varicose veins or are looking to prevent them, losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight is a great way to manage or prevent varicose veins. It’s never too late to work on bettering your physical health. However, losing weight cannot make current varicose veins disappear. Your varicose veins will have to be treated through compression therapy or a minimally-invasive surgical procedure. As you lose weight, you will be able to exercise and move around more, which will also keep varicose veins at bay, and keep them from getting worse. It’s best to talk to your doctor about the best diet and exercise regimen that will be good and safe for you.

If you’re in the greater Tampa area, including Clearwater and New Port Richey, and looking for a vein doctor, Dr. Peter Mikhail treats patients with a variety of different venous inefficiencies through compression therapies and minimally-invasive surgeries. To book a consult, click here or call 727-312-4844.

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