Is stress the culprit causing your vein health to decrease? We all deal with different levels of stress daily. There are many negative impacts of chronic stress which can include your vein health. Stress does not actually cause varicose veins to develop but it can worsen the condition for someone who already has varicose veins.
Stress and Blood Flow
When you become stressed, your blood pressure rises, which weakens your veins. This causes blood circulation to decrease and ultimately will lead to pooling of blood in the legs. The collection of blood is what leads to the formation of the visible bulging veins. The more stressed you are and the longer periods of time that you are stressed for, the worse your symptoms and the development of your condition will be.
Hormones and Varicose Veins
A stress hormone associated with weight gain named Cortisol can also be a culprit in worsening varicose vein symptoms. The main purpose that cortisol has in the body is to elevate blood sugar levels when dealing with stressful situations. It signals to the body that it needs fuel as your energy levels have lowered. For people who struggle with high-stress regularly this can be a problem, as cortisol levels will not have a chance to lower, leading to extremely high blood-sugar levels. Over a long-period of time the pressure on your body can lead to excessive weight gain because the cortisol is always telling your body to refuel. In the context of varicose veins this is dangerous because obesity and weight gain are a main factor that can cause varicose veins. Therefore this will lead to weakened blood vessels and varicose veins may present themselves on your legs. For people who do struggle with obesity it can be difficult to initially see the varicose veins develop because of the excess fat. This also can lead to a more difficult treatment for the removal of the veins.
Ways to De-Stress
There are a number of exercises and lifestyle changes that you can implement in order to alleviate stress in your life.
- Meditation
- Exercise
- Learning a new skill
- Creating art
- Walking
- Eating healthy
- Drinking water
The list above provides good solutions to remove stress and this can improve your venous health. It is important that once you develop varicose veins you make an appointment with a specialist to help provide you with the best treatment options and care.
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
