Did the 2018 summer heatwave play havoc with your varicose veins?

The summer of 2018 saw record-breaking temperatures, with experts predicting the warmer weather will continue throughout the autumn. As many rejoice at this unusual UK weather event, others are struggling to stay comfortable.

If you suffer from varicose veins, you may find the higher temperatures are making them even more uncomfortable than usual. Here, you’ll discover how the heat can impact varicose veins and what you can do about it.

How the summer heat impacts varicose veins

When your body gets too hot, it naturally tries to cool itself down. Part of this natural process is to dilate the veins in order to push more blood up towards the skin’s surface. At the same time, you start to sweat, and this combined with the extra blood flow, cools down the blood on the skin’s surface. This, in turn, cools down the entire body.

Varicose veins are typically found just under the skin, where that extra blood is being pumped to. As they already don’t function correctly, the extra blood volume can place them under additional pressure. It is this which causes the symptoms of varicose veins to worsen.

The symptoms it can cause

The most common symptoms you’ll experience in the summer heat, are swelling, aching and cramps. All can be particularly uncomfortable and unpleasant to deal with.

As the veins need to work harder anyway to pump blood up to the heart when you have varicose veins, aching is a common symptom. However, the extra blood being sent through the veins to cool the body down, puts even further pressure onto them, worsening the aching feeling you experience.

Similarly, the extra pressure placed on the veins to cool the body down, can cause further problems with circulation. It is this which can lead to swelling, especially within the feet and ankles.

Cramping also occurs due to the pressure the veins are under, although it could also be a sign of dehydration or a lack of salt.

What can you do about it?

Unfortunately, the only way to really stop these unpleasant side effects is by seeking treatment for your varicose veins. While there are things you can do to ease the symptoms, such as wearing compression stockings or keeping yourself cooler, these are only temporary solutions.

Left untreated, varicose veins will never disappear by themselves. So, if you want to ensure you don’t experience the same issues next year, you’ll want to seek treatment as soon as possible. Contact us today to find out just how simple and affordable varicose vein treatment can be.