Is Menopause the Cause of Your Varicose Veins?
It's been well established that menopause is a time of great change for women. Hormone levels fluctuate, and many women experience a wide range of symptoms, but could menopause also be responsible for vein disease? In this article, we'll go over how menopause might be related to vein disease and what you can do to prevent venous insufficiency when undergoing menopause.
What is menopause and what are the symptoms?
Menopause is a natural process that all women experience as they age. It is the end of the menstrual cycle, and it signals the end of fertility. The average age for menopause is 51, but it can happen anytime between the ages of 45 and 55. During menopause, your ovaries stop producing hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. This can cause a variety of symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and difficulty sleeping.
What is vein disease?
Vein disease is a common condition that affects millions of Americans, and unfortunately, it affects women almost twice as much as men. It occurs when the valves in your veins weaken, causing blood to pool in your legs. This can cause symptoms like pain, swelling, and cramping, many of which can lead to more serious problems such as blood clots.
How might menopause be related to vein disease?
The menopause transition is often accompanied by changes in hormones, including a decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels. Estrogen and progesterone are thought to play a role in the development of vein strength, so it's possible that menopause may contribute to an increase in the risk of vein disease. Menopausal women might be more likely to experience vein problems such as varicose veins and venous insufficiency due to that link. When the levels of those hormones decrease, the veins can weaken leading to an increase in the likelihood of pooling blood in the legs.
Additionally, menopausal women may be less active than pre-menopausal women, and this lack of activity may also contribute to vein disease. Similarly, the older you get, the weaker your veins become so older women who have gone through menopause are more likely to suffer from vein disease.
What can you do to prevent venous insufficiencies during menopause?
Regardless of if you are going through menopause or have yet to go through the process, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk of developing vein disease:
1. Maintain a healthy weight:
Obesity is a major risk factor for vein disease because the extra weight puts added pressure on your veins. This creates more work for them to do when they already have an uphill battle to get that blood back to the heart from the legs.
2. Exercise regularly:
Exercise helps improve circulation and reduces the risk of obesity. If you tend to be more inactive this will really help reduce your risk for vein disease as well as many other diseases that can be attributed to a lack of exercise. While it may get harder to be active as you get older the need for some type of daily physical movement is still there. Fortunately, there are many low-impact exercises available such as walking, swimming, water aerobics, yoga, tai chi and so much more. It may help to have a friend or loved one join you because doing things together keeps everyone accountable.
3. Avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time:
When you sit or stand for a long time, it increases the work the veins have to do by putting pressure on them. It is good to switch periodically throughout the day between sitting and standing and if you are not able to stand, try to elevate your legs above your head or flex your feet. You can also move them in circles or any other way that can get the blood circulating better than it does from sitting alone.
4. Wear compression stockings:
Compression stockings help improve blood circulation and can help prevent vein disease. They come in many varieties and sizes so consulting with a vein specialist about them is a smart step to preventing or mitigating your vein disease.
5. See your doctor if you experience any symptoms:
These may include symptoms such as pain, swelling, or redness in the legs. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing more serious problems that only get worse the longer you wait to address them.
Are there any treatments for vein disease during menopause?
While trying to prevent vein disease is always encouraged, sometimes you can suffer from vein disease even when doing these prevention methods. When that is the case, a vein specialist is the one who can get rid of those unsightly varicose or spider veins. Some of these treatments include:
Sclerotherapy: Sclerotherapy is one of the most effective and widely used methods for treating vein diseases. An irritating (sclerosing) solution is injected directly into the vein through a tiny micro-needle. The vein closes and then disappears with normal healing.
EVLT: Also known as Endovenous Laser Therapy, this is regarded as the best available treatment for large abnormal veins. Through a single needle stick, a fine laser fiber is inserted into the incompetent vein. Laser energy is used to generate heat which seals the vein closed.
Microsurgery: Microsurgery is a technique that utilizes special instruments to remove veins through a few, very tiny, "micro" incisions. The incisions are so small that, with normal healing, one can scarcely find them on the leg
Though menopause and vein disease are not always directly related, there is a significant correlation between the two. There are many things women can do to help prevent or treat vein disease before during or post-menopause. If you are experiencing symptoms of menopause and vein disease, it is important to consult with your doctor and vein specialist to create the best possible treatment plan for you.
Elmore Medical Vein & Laser Treatment Center is the premier vein specialty medical practice in the Central Valley. Dr. Mario H. Gonzalez and his staff offer years of experience and medical expertise that you won’t find anywhere else. Contact us to set up a consultation appointment.