Is Your Lifestyle Fueling Vein Problems?

Your circulatory system is a network of blood vessels with the task of supplying oxygenated blood and nutrients to your body’s tissues and returning deoxygenated blood back to the lungs and heart. The arteries manage the former, and the veins take care of the latter.

Veins, though, have the harder task — they have to move the blood to the upper body regions against the pull of gravity. When the system breaks down, it’s termed venous insufficiency because the veins are insufficient to meet the body’s needs.

Interventional radiologist Dr. Dev Batra at Dallas Vein Institute and Texas Vascular Institute in Dallas and Hurst, Texas, specializes in screening for, diagnosing, and treating vein conditions, including varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, and deep vein thrombosis.

To help his patients understand their risks for developing vein problems due to lifestyle factors, Dr. Batra has put together this guide.

Venous insufficiency, varicose veins, and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)

If a vein wall becomes damaged or weakened, perhaps due to injury, high blood pressure, or plaque formation, the one-way valves may become damaged and fail to close completely. That means the venous blood is free to backtrack, and it often pools around the damaged area. The vein swells as a result, and if the vein is superficial (close to the surface), it causes thick, ropy, colored bulges on your legs — varicose veins.

The condition underlying the varicose veins is called venous insufficiency.

CVI happens when venous insufficiency isn’t treated, resulting in poor circulation. It affects 40% of the population at some point during their lives, and it can lead to the progression of vein disease characterized by the following symptoms:

• Flakey or itchy skin on the lower legs
• Leathery or shiny skin
• Swelling in the lower legs and ankles (edema)
• Skin discoloration (venous stasis dermatitis)
• Slow-healing ulcers on the lower legs, ankles, or feet

CVI can lead to additional complications, including deep vein thrombosis, a clot in a vein deep in the leg tissue that can: 

1. Further prevent blood flow 
2. Break free, travel to the lungs, and block your airway — a life-threatening emergency

Call the office today if you are experiencing any troubling symptoms. 

Lifestyle factors that fuel vein problems

Aging and being female are two risk factors for vein disease beyond your control. However, there are risk factors you can mitigate with lifestyle choices:

• Weight challenges (puts pressure on veins)
• Smoking (leads to plaque formation)
• Standing or sitting for long periods (puts pressure on veins)

There's no way you can completely prevent CVI, but by improving your circulation and muscle tone, you can reduce your risk. Try to:

• Exercise regularly
• Eat a high-fiber, low-salt, low-fat diet
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Avoid high heels and tight socks
• Elevate your legs regularly
• Change your position regularly

The little things add up to a big payoff — healthy veins.

Want more lifestyle tips for healthy veins or need to come in for a check-up? Give Dallas Vein Institute and Texas Vascular Institute a call at either location or book your appointment online.