Is Your Weight Affecting Your Veins?

It’s really no secret that obesity has the potential to cause a great deal of health issues, so you probably don’t need me to tell you that weight loss will positively impact your body. However, finding the motivation for it can be difficult, so while having an awareness that obesity may potentially lead to physical complications is important, really understanding the strain it puts on your cardiovascular system is crucial.

Your circulatory (or cardiovascular) system is comprised of a connected web of arteries, veins, and capillaries that circulate blood throughout the body, along with an assortment of nutrients such as oxygen, amino acids, electrolytes, and carbon dioxide. When the system works as it should, it plays an integral role in helping the body fight disease and generally maintain the “status quo.”

WHAT HAPPENS?

Conversely, when obesity is a factor, the body is saddled with additional tissue that the cardiovascular system has to work extra hard to supply. While this not only intensifies the amount of strain placed upon the heart (since its output must increase), the veins often struggle to deal with the resulting rise in blood pressure. As this happens...

To read the rest of the article, please click here.

Dr. Joseph J. Ricotta II MD, MS, FACS
Vascular Institute of Atlanta
www.AtlVascular.com
470-355-3053