Venous insufficiency is a medical condition in which the veins fail to work effectively, impacting the flow of blood to and from the heart. When damage to the vein valves keeps them from circulating the blood properly, it can pool in the veins. This causes varicose veins, which are raised, twisting blue, red, or purple lines just below the skin’s surface. These lines are unsightly and can cause you to feel uncomfortable while wearing shorts, skirts, bathing suits, or other revealing apparel. If left untreated, they can also create uncomfortable physical symptoms. Services offered at Advanced Vein Therapy help to address and correct these issues. While stress itself does not cause venous insufficiency or varicose veins, it can play a role in increasing your risks.
The Impact Of Stress On Your Health
Many people have grown accustomed to juggling multiple tasks and spend long hours each day dealing with work, home, and family responsibilities. General anxiety and fears about financial security or safety may weigh heavily on your mind at the same time. As a result, you may be suffering the ill effects of stress, regardless of whether you are actually conscious of this feeling.
Stress can have a major impact on your mental health. It impacts your energy levels, your appetite, your sleep schedule, and how you think about or view certain situations. Researchers have also painstakingly documented the ill effects of stress on your physical health. In addition to impairing brain function and memory, stress impacts your heart and central nervous systems. As a result, stress increases your risk for the following:
- Circulation issues, which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood through the veins;
- High blood pressure, which affects the force of your blood on your artery walls;
- Increased risk of blood clotting, which can restrict blood flow.
All of these issues can contribute to venous insufficiency and the development of varicose veins.
Stress & Varicose Veins
At Advanced Vein Therapy, we work with patients to help eliminate their varicose veins. Through procedures such as VenaSeal and other non-invasive treatments, we can reroute blood from damaged areas, encouraging it to flow instead through healthier veins.
One of the first steps in treatment is identifying risk factors that contribute to your varicose veins. While age and heredity often play significant roles, stress is related to many other common causes, including the following:
- Inactivity: Stress can make you feel tired and zaps your energy, causing you to be less physically active.
- Standing on your feet for long periods: Stress over job performance can cause you to not take needed rest periods.
- Being overweight or obese: Many people eat more than they should or choose unhealthy foods when they are feeling stressed, increasing the likelihood of weight gain.
In addition to contributing to the underlying causes of varicose veins, stress can play a role in the worsening of venous insufficiency by causing you to delay seeking the treatment you need. It can also make symptoms associated with venous insufficiency much worse. Pain, swelling, cramping, and sensations of heaviness in your legs or feet are likely to be more obvious and bothersome when you are already suffering from stress, to begin with.
Lifestyle Changes To Reduce Stress
During your first visit at Advanced Vein Therapy, you will meet with one of our highly trained and skilled interventional radiologists to discuss your health history, the treatment options available, and ways to manage your symptoms. This includes making lifestyle changes, both before and after any procedure that is performed. Changes that can help both in dealing with venous insufficiency and in managing your stress include:
- Eating healthy: Smaller portions of healthier foods periodically throughout the day can help improve blood flow while lowering your stress level.
- Getting regular exercise: Walking, jogging, swimming, or bicycling are all good activities that can help you relax while improving circulation.
- Practicing good habits on the job: Taking regular breaks and not standing or sitting in one position for long periods can lower stress while improving your productivity on the job.
There are other healthy changes you can make that help decrease stress, such as doing deep breathing exercises when anxious and maintaining a regular sleep schedule. These also aid in overall body functioning, helping to decrease your venous insufficiency risks.
Schedule Your Consultation With Advanced Vein Therapy Today
Advanced Vein Therapy is your trusted provider for varicose vein treatment in Boise and the surrounding areas. To discuss your options and how we can help, call or contact AVT online to schedule your initial consultation today.