Vein Clinic in Washington DC Metro Area: Vein Health

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One of the most-asked questions at our Washington DC metro area vein clinic is whether there is a connection between vein health and heart health. Naturally there is a connection, because both fields of medicine deal with the circulatory system, and its health depends on the proper functioning of your heart, veins, and arteries, all of them working together to convey nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood to your body. Because all of these parts of the circulatory system are interconnected, it follows that all conditions that affect the cardiovascular system are related.

That said, there is little evidence of a direct connection between your vein health and your heart health. So having varicose veins doesn't increase your risk of heart disease, or vice-versa. So there doesn't seem to be a one-to-one link between vein disease and heart disease, except in one important sense.

Vein disease and heart disease share a common set of risk factors

The link between vein disease and heart disease is that they have a shared set of risk factors, many of which increase your risk of vein disease at the same time they increase your risk of heart disease. Two of the risk factors for both – age and genetics – you can't do much about, but other risk factors involve lifestyle choices that you can change, thus reducing your risk. For example, obesity is a major risk for both, because every extra pound you carry around strains your heart and increases your blood pressure, putting stress on the tiny, one-way valves that enable your veins to keep blood flowing properly. Smoking is another risk factor you can control – stop smoking, and you can cut your risk of getting either vein disease or heart disease in half within a few months.
Another strong risk factor for both vein disease and heart disease is inactivity, by which we do not just mean "not getting enough exercise," but the much more common risk these days of spending too much time sitting. The latest research has shown that every hour of the day you spend sitting increases your risk of cardiovascular disease and many other serious conditions, and that in fact inactivity now kills more people worldwide every year than smoking.

What more can you do to prevent vein disease and heart disease?

Reducing the risk factors under your control should be your first step – lose weight if you need to, stop smoking, get more exercise, and eat a balanced diet low in salt and fats. But you can also act proactively by seeing a Washington DC vein specialist to find out the state of your venous health, or your cardiologist to find out the state of your heart health. Thanks to advances in medical science, both types of checkups are painless and non-invasive, and can be completed in just a few minutes. These screenings can detect even minor problems, so that they can be treated and eliminated before they become serious problems.

So if you are serious about preventing cardiovascular disease, give our vein expert in the Washington DC metro area a call today at 301-637-3088 and set up an appointment for your own screening. You'll be happy you did.

Author Bio: A Vein Clinic in Washington DC Metro Area specialist explains how Best Vein Doctor In Washington DC can detect your vein disease and heart disease problems.