Your body regulates many of its processes with the help of chemical signals called hormones. These chemicals control many factors of your life, including your mood, sleeping habits, and metabolism. They also can contribute to your vascular health, so if your hormones fluctuate, you can notice some changes in your veins.
In some cases, changes in your hormone production can increase your likelihood of vascular diseases like varicose veins. You might wonder how these two health conditions influence one another. Read on to learn more about the connection between your hormones and your vein health.
What Happens to the Veins If Hormones Fluctuate?
Two hormones, in particular, can affect the function of the veins as well as the potential for vein diseases. Estrogen, a hormone linked to female reproductive health, and progesterone, a hormone related to the functions of menstruation and pregnancy, both can affect the blood vessels.
In some ways, these hormones help cardiovascular health. Estrogen can widen blood vessels and improve circulation, and progesterone can add collagen and therefore strength to the walls of the veins. But if you generate too many of these hormones, your vein health might suffer.
Too much estrogen might weaken the blood vessels which can negatively impact the blood flow, encouraging blood to pool under the skin. This can make the veins bulge, resulting in varicose veins.
Elevated progesterone levels might make the blood vessels dilate, heightening blood pressure and increasing the risk of a valve malfunction within the veins. This damage might also allow the blood to pool and cause varicose veins or other vascular concerns. Hormone levels can change for a variety of reasons. So it is important to consider preventive care for your veins, especially if you have a history of vein disorders.
What Factors Can Lead to Hormonal Imbalance?
Estrogen and progesterone can fluctuate for several reasons. But many people experience a significant change in these hormone levels during pregnancy. Pregnant people can face a higher risk of varicose vein formation than non-pregnant patients. These individuals should pay attention to their vascular health.
Aging may also affect the balance of these specific hormones because the cells can change over time. Women can also experience menopause at a certain age, which affects estrogen and progesterone levels and therefore puts them in danger of varicose veins.
Men can face hormonal imbalance as well, which means they are not immune to vein diseases. Certain health conditions can affect hormone production. So make sure you speak with your doctor to maximize preventive care for your veins and the rest of your body.
Sometimes factors like pregnancy, age, or genetics may increase your danger of vein disorders outside of your control. But you can promote good vascular health with regular exercise and a healthy diet.
It may be a good idea to visit a vascular specialist if you have risk factors for varicose veins in order to prevent the disease’s formation. To improve overall circulation, ask your vein doctor if you can benefit from wearing compression socks.