Obese people are at risk for varicose veins, this is the medical explanation

The reason obese people are at risk of varicose veins

Varicose veins occur due to weakened or damaged venous valves to hold back the accumulated blood. Blood that comes from body tissues should flow to the heart.

However, because the venous valve is problematic, the blood can reverse direction and cause the veins to swell so that they appear on the surface of the skin.

There are some people who have a greater risk of developing varicose veins. For example, heredity, age, and trauma to the foot.

In addition, apparently, obesity is also a factor in a person's risk of developing varicose veins.

As reported from Huffington Post , Eddie Chaloner, a consultant vascular surgery, said that about 30% of people have varicose veins, and among them are known to be overweight, aka obese.

So, how can obesity make a person develop varicose veins?

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, explains why. People who are very obese or obese put extra pressure on the veins.

This is what causes the venous valve to not work optimally to drain blood.

The high pressure also makes the venous valve work harder, potentially causing damage over time. This condition then causes the veins to swell, forming varicose veins.

Unfortunately, obese people often do not realize that they have varicose veins. This is because the swollen veins are not visible on the surface of the skin because they are covered in fat.

As a result, varicose veins cannot be treated from the start until they eventually cause the skin of the lower legs.

Apart from obese people, pregnant women are also at risk for varicose veins. The reason is, during pregnancy, pregnant women tend to gain weight.

However, varicose veins that occur in pregnant women are usually temporary and will get better within 3 months to 1 year after giving birth.

How to reduce the risk of varicose veins in obese people

In some cases, varicose veins may not be prevented. Especially, those who have families with similar conditions or are pregnant.

The elderly too. As we get older, the condition of the veins also gets old so they can't work properly.

However, it is slightly different from the case of obesity. Even though people who are overweight are at risk of developing varicose veins, it does not mean that this condition cannot be prevented or reduces the risk.

Some things that need to be done are living a healthy lifestyle, such as the following.

1. Maintain a diet

Eating arbitrarily, especially those high in calories in large quantities can cause body fat and lead to obesity.

Given that obese people are at risk of varicose veins, this bad habit needs to be changed if you don't want to get varicose veins. One of them is by applying a diet, aka a healthy diet, so that the body weight is more ideal.

Cut back on high-carbohydrate foods slowly. Instead, you can eat foods that are high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. For example, vegetables, fruit, nuts, and seeds.

Also limit consumption of fast food that is high in salt and foods that contain lots of saturated fat, such as fried foods and offal.

2. Actively moving

For a successful diet, you need to balance it with physical activity. People who are obese or obese should increase their physical activity, such as doing regular exercise.

One other tip is not to sit too often with your legs bent into your eyebrows, sitting cross-legged or standing for long periods of time.

3. Drink plenty of water

Not only prevents dehydration, drinking enough water can actually help reduce the risk of varicose veins in obese people. The reason is, water helps blood circulation to be better.