Veins and arteries are some of the most important but often overlooked parts of your body. This complex wiring of the circulatory system is essential for delivering healthy blood to the rest of the organs in the body. Below, we cover bah habits for your vein health.
Maintaining the health of your veins isn’t always easy, as there are a number of bad habits that can sneak up on you and negatively impact the health of your veins. This in turn can lead to further health problems down the road, like deep vein thrombosis.
Bad Habits for Your Vein Health
If you’re concerned about the health of your veins or simply want to stay on top of the health of this important part of your body, take a look at this guide that describes some of the bad habits that can negatively impact your vein health.
Dehydration
Chronic dehydration has the potential to wreak havoc on one’s veins. Your body is primarily composed of water, and when that crucial element is lacking, then one’s health is bound to suffer. Dehydration has the potential to inflame and make worse pre-existing veinous insufficiency as well.
Smoking
Smoking isn’t just bad for your lungs and respiratory system – this harmful habit has the potential to negatively impact every element of your health. This includes cardiovascular health and the health of the veins.
Smoking contains harmful chemicals that actively remove oxygen from the blood, which makes the blood thicker. This subsequently leads to a narrowing of the veins. Quitting smoking will inevitably give you a much stronger lease on life and improve the health of your veins.
Sedentary Lifestyles
Veins and the rest of the cardiovascular system depend on frequent physical activity in order to feel well. Thus, overly sedentary lifestyles can have very negative impacts on the health of one’s veins and heart. Suppose you work at a desk or live a generally sedentary lifestyle. In that case, you’ll want to figure out ways to regularly engage in vigorous physical exercise to avoid the negative impacts that sitting around can have on your veins.
Dry Brushing
Dry brushing has recently become a cosmetic craze. This practice does have the potential to unclog one’s pores and brush away dead skin cells. However, it can also damage one’s veins as well. Much of this has to do with the frequency at which dry brushing is engaged in.
If you’re just dry brushing occasionally and gently, the practice can stimulate healthy blood flow. However, too much frequent brushing can cause micro-tears in your skin that open the door to infection and the like. Dry brushing can also inflame existing vein problems.
Sugar Consumption
Diets that are high in refined sugar have the potential to increase blood pressure. High blood pressure can weaken your veins, as high-pressure blood can damage the walls and the one-way valves of your veins, leading to the development of venous disease.
Tight Clothing
Tight clothing may look very good, but it has the potential to negatively impact your veins. This is because overly tight clothing has the potential to restrict your blood circulation. Wearing more loose-fitting clothing can allow your skin and circulatory system more breathing room.
Sleeping on Your Back
Sleeping on your back has the potential to apply pressure to a vein known as the inferior vena cava, a large vein that transports the blood from your legs to your heart. This can be easily prevented by sleeping on your left side. Avoid sleeping on your right side, as this has been found to correlate with heart problems later in life.
When To See a Doctor
The development of problems with the veins has the potential to be very subtle and can often creep in on someone. Keep your eyes out for the following symptoms, as they may indicate that you are having a problem with your veins:
- Visible veins
- Bulging veins
- Aches and pains
- Swelling
- Skin discoloration
- Throbbing or cramping
- Itching
- Burning
- A sense of heaviness in your legs
If you’re experiencing any of these issues chronically, you may want to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist in order to diagnose the issue. This can help save you time and money later before the issue gets out of hand.
The Vein Experts of Beverly Hills
Dr. Hooman Madyoon and the rest of the team at Beverly Hills Vein and Cardiovascular Institute are completely dedicated to the well-being of their patients. If you’re interested in receiving a diagnosis regarding some issues you’ve been having with your veins, contact us today in order to receive a consultation from our cardiovascular specialist.