Most people are aware of the detrimental health effects behind smoking, yet many are still unable to stop the habit. While the numerous cancerous effects of smoking are common knowledge, many individuals are unaware of the cause they have on venous health.
The way in which smoking is related to varicose veins and overall vein health is through the damage smoking causes to the heart. Smoking cigarettes, or other tobacco products cause your heart to need to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. The nicotine and carbon monoxide can cause damage to the walls of your blood vessels – this can make it easier for plaque and other substances to stick on their walls. This weakening of the venous walls, causes irreparable damage to the one-way valves in your veins, which can ultimately lead to the condition of varicose veins. When the valves in your veins malfunction they lead to the pooling of blood in your lower extremities which is when the varicose veins begin to form.
While varicose veins are not a life-threatening issue, they come with a variety of troublesome symptoms including: itchiness, pain, tenderness, swelling, and heaviness of the legs. It is also important to note that varicose veins are a progressive disease, meaning they will not get better until you get them treated. Further, varicose veins can lead to the development of much more severe venous diseases. If you would like to read more about the dangers of varicose veins checkout one of our other blogs, here.
Contact us!
At Canada Vein Clinics we specialize in the treatment of varicose veins. We offer numerous
treatments for this condition and help to find the best treatment for you. Book a consultation to
find out more information! Give us a call today at 1-888-876-8346, or email us at
askdoctor@canadaveinclinics.ca.
