Alcohol use is prevalent among American adults, with 86.3 percent of people claiming to have confused it at some point in their lives. While it is enjoyable in moderation, alcohol can have a host of detrimental effects on your mental and physical wellbeing.
Not only does alcohol use increase your risk for coronary heart conditions and stroke, it also impacts your tendency to develop venous diseases.
The Cause Of Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are caused by poor functioning and loss of elasticity in vein walls. The condition can be caused by a variety of factors including weight, age, sex, family history, and standing for long periods of time.
Lifestyle factors—including smoking, diet, and alcohol—have also been studied as possible causes for the unsightly and excruciatingly painful venous condition. In fact, the study found that alcohol played a vital role in the increased risk of varicose veins.
How Does Alcohol Aggravate The Condition?
Drinking is not necessarily a direct cause for varicose veins but its impact on the development and exacerbation of venous conditions cannot be denied.
Increased blood flow
Drinking alcohol can have an adverse effect on your cardiovascular system. Alcohol alters your heart rate and increases the amount of blood pumped throughout your body. As the blood pools between the strained vein valves and stretches out the vein walls, purple and blue veins can emerge.
The additional stress on your veins owing to alcohol consumption only exacerbates existing varicose veins, worsening the appearance and leading to painful symptoms.
Compromising your heart health
Heart disease is commonly associated with alcohol consumption. Indulging in a lifestyle of heavy drinking and alcohol abuse, you’re more likely to be at risk of coronary disease and heart conditions. These are closely linked with the incidence of varicose veins; an unhealthy heart invariably affects your vein health.
Damaging the liver
Liver function is hampered by the consumption of excessive alcohol. An influx of the substance debilitates the liver from effectively processing all the toxins. The resulting, thicker blood places an additional strain on the veins and makes varicose veins more likely.
There is plenty of evidence to suggest that alcohol consumption and varicose veins are closely related. The negative effects of the substance can make the existing condition significantly worse, leading to bulging, ropey, and blue veins that are more significant.
If you’re currently struggling with varicose veins or fear your drinking habits may aggravate them, it’s important to visit varicose veins physicians in NYC. At Varicose Veins Doctors, we help you overcome the painful symptoms of various venous diseases through a range of minimally-invasive, safe, and effective treatments.
Get in touch with our varicose veins specialists by calling at 212-906-9111 and find out more about our treatments for various vein diseases.
