Are you concerned about how your weight is affecting your health? Have you noticed that the veins in your legs have become more noticeably twisted or bulging? These veins, called varicose veins, appear larger and darker when your blood vessels aren’t functioning properly. This lets blood pool within your veins, weakening your calves. Weight gain is one of the causes of this.

Fortunately, doctors Steven Heird and David Winand at Advanced Vein & Laser Center, with two locations in Pennsylvania, can help you manage both conditions: your weight and your varicose veins.

How obesity affects varicose veins

Significant weight gain can put stress on your body, veins included. The increased pressure causes the valves in your veins to grow weaker as they pump less blood. Damaged veins have to work harder to allow for blood flow. When your blood can’t flow, it goes backward and ends up pooling in your veins.

Sometimes, weight gain can disguise the symptoms of varicose veins. Varicose veins are usually quite obvious, but they can become less noticeable when the body has excess amounts of fat. This can obscure any swelling that you might otherwise notice at a healthier weight. While obese people may feel tired because of excess weight, it may also be that fatigue is a side effect of untreated varicose veins.

Common symptoms of varicose veins

Despite their distinct appearance, the damage of varicose veins occurs beneath the skin where it’s not always noticeable. People with varicose veins have legs that feel heavy, ankle swelling, tired or restless legs, itching or burning sensations, or leg cramping. Symptoms can worsen if left untreated and may result in ulcers or blood clots.

How varicose veins are treated

Doctors Heird and Winand will examine your veins and may recommend some treatment options depending on your condition. Some of these treatments include radiofrequency ablation (which uses energy to heat and collapse certain blood vessels) and sclerotherapy (injections into problematic veins with a special foam to make them shrink). Both treatment options have a minimal amount of recovery time and may require wearing compression socks for a few days or weeks afterward.

Learn more about how weight gain affects your veins

If you’re concerned about the appearance of your varicose veins or notice that you’ve been experiencing symptoms of problematic veins, you can reach doctors

Heird and Winand at 717-741-2214 for the York location, and 717-295-8346 for the Lancaster location. We look forward to hearing from you.