The health risks of high blood pressure are significant, because your blood flows to every part of your body. Having high blood pressure has been linked to stroke, aneurysms, heart failure, heart attack, and chronic kidney disease. But an even stronger link exists between high blood pressure and the development of varicose veins.
At Vein Care, we offer expert consultations and tailored treatments for vein conditions in Melbourne including varicose veins. Below we take an in-depth look at the link between high blood pressure and varicose veins and the range of treatments available.
What is High Blood Pressure? – Looking at Definition of Hypertension
Blood pressure measurement is expressed in units as millimetres of mercury, which is expressed as mmHg. Your blood pressure is considered high if the reading is more than 140/90mmHg. The definition of hypertension is having a blood pressure reading over this level. This is true whether the first number is higher than 140, or the second number is higher than 90, or both.
Over a third of Australians over the age of 18 have high blood pressure. It’s a condition that puts you at higher risk of cardiovascular disease along with other health issues such as chronic kidney disease, eye disease, erectile dysfunction and the development of varicose veins .
Are Varicose Veins and High Blood Pressure Related?
Having high blood pressure means that the force of the blood pumping against your vein walls is too high. When the pressure becomes too much, the valves in your veins can begin dysfunctioning, causing the veins to bulge. To compensate for the newly developed varicose vein, your other veins will pick up the additional blood flow, however, this additional blood flow and stress puts those veins at a higher risk too.
If you have high blood pressure, you are more susceptible to developing varicose veins that could instigate the development of more. While high blood pressure is attributed to age, genetics, and chronic conditions, there are a few lifestyle changes you can implement to manage your blood pressure before it causes vein problems.
Connection Between Varicose Veins and High Blood Pressure
Damage to the valves in veins can lead to venous hypertension. Once varicose veins start to occur, blood pools in the affected vein. This puts the heart under more stress as more force is required to return blood elsewhere in the body back to the heart.
The entire cardiovascular system needs to function as one to efficiently pump blood around your body. When one part of the cardiovascular system is forced to start working harder than it should, the entire system has to compensate for the inefficiency.
Common Risk Factors of Varicose Veins and High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure and varicose veins occur simultaneously because they share many of the same risk factors. You have a higher risk for hypertension and varicose veins as you age, for example. Other common risk factors and varicose veins causes include:
- Being overweight or obese – Excess weight increases the amount of blood you have, meaning more pressure is required to circulate it throughout your cardiovascular system. Extra weight also adds pressure on the veins in your legs, adding to your risk of developing varicose veins.
- A sedentary lifestyle – Sitting for long periods reduces blood flow, increasing your risk of varicose veins. People who are less active also tend to have higher heart rates, which increases blood pressure. If you work at a job that requires you to sit in one place all day, try to take breaks to walk throughout the day to keep your blood flowing.
- Stress – When you’re stressed, your blood pressure rises. The best way to deal with stress is through a healthy diet and physical activity. Unhealthy coping mechanisms like smoking, drinking, or eating junk food can further increase blood pressure and increase your risk of varicose veins.
- Sodium and Potassium Intake – Eating excess sodium causes your body to retain fluid, which increases blood pressure and increases the likelihood of varicose veins. Potassium is essential to balance the amount of sodium in your cells. Make sure your diet is rich in potassium to regulate fluid retention.
- Female – Women and AFAB (assigned female at birth) individuals have a higher chance of developing varicose veins due to hormone changes like pregnancy, use of contraception, and menopause. Hormonal fluctuations also increase the risk of hypertension.
Treatment for Varicose Veins
Treatment for varicose veins can be conducted in as little as 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. Depending on the circumstances and severity of the condition, multiple treatments may be required to achieve the best results. At Vein Care, our treatment options include:
- Sclerotherapy and microsclerotherapy – Using a micro-needle, this treatment involves injecting a special solution into the varicose vein. This causes the vein wall to collapse and seal before your body’s immune system absorbs it into your body.
- Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (UGS) – When the affected veins being treated aren’t as prominent or numerous within an area, UGS improves accuracy by injecting the special solution under ultrasound guidance.
- Endovenous laser therapy – Ideal for larger varicose veins, this laser procedure involves heating the problem vein, causing them to shrink and close, This allows blood to flow to other nearby veins instead.
- Cyanoacrylate vein glue – Under ultrasound guidance, this treatment involves injecting a special type of medical glue into the affected vein, sealing it off until it gets absorbed by the body.
- Ambulatory phlebectomy – Commonly used to address severe, bulging varicose veins, this procedure involved making tiny incisions and removing problem veins with a special hook.
Various lifestyle changes and home remedies can also help reduce the severity of symptoms or prevent them arising if you are already genetically predisposed to developing varicose veins. This includes maintaining a nutritious diet, keeping active, avoiding tight clothing around your waist, avoiding sitting or standing in one spot too long and minimising alcohol intake.
Treatment for High Blood Pressure
Lifestyle changes can also help with the health risks of high blood pressure. This includes avoiding smoking, doing regular physical activity, reducing salt and fat in your diet and limiting your alcohol intake to no more than 2 drinks per day for men or 1 drink per day for women. Some people may also need medicines to reduce blood pressure levels to normal levels, including:
- ACE inhibitors
- Angiotensin receptor blockers
- Beta blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
- Thiazide diuretics.
Health professionals typically recommend starting on a low dose and adjusting based on how it works. If they are ineffective or cause adverse side effects, other medicines may be used. In some cases, more than one medicine may be needed to control your blood pressure.
Monitoring Your Blood Pressure
Measuring your blood pressure is done using an inflatable pressure cuff that wraps around your upper arm. This is part of a machine called a sphygmomanometer. Since your blood pressure changes from moment to moment, your doctor may want to remeasure at another point if the reading is high before diagnosing you with venous hypertension.
Depending on the result, your doctor may also recommend monitoring your blood pressure at home. Called a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, this involves measuring your blood pressure at regular intervals while you go about your regular activities, including sleeping. If you are thinking about getting a home blood pressure device, speak to your doctor for advice.
Proper Techniques for Blood Pressure Monitoring
To get the most accurate blood pressure measurement results, ensure you are relaxed and sitting. You should also avoid smoking, exercising and caffeine 30 minutes beforehand. Ensure your bladder is empty, uncross your legs and keep your feet flat on the floor. Remain still and avoid talking during the measurement.
Understanding the Results of Your Blood Pressure Readings
Blood pressure readings are recorded as two numbers. The larger number is called the systolic blood pressure and refers to the pressure in the arteries as the heart pumps out blood during each heartbeat. The lower number is the diastolic blood pressure, which is the pressure as the heart relaxes before the next heartbeat. Both are measured in units called millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
| Result | Systolic mmHg | Diastolic mmHg |
| Optimal | Less than 120 | and less than 80 |
| Normal | 120 to 129 | and/or 80 to 84 |
| High-normal | 130 to 139 | and/or 85 to 89 |
| High | Over 140 | and/or over 90 |
Complications of Untreated High Blood Pressure
There are typically no hypertension symptoms. You can have high blood pressure and feel perfectly healthy. The only way you can find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it regularly checked by your doctor. Left untreated, the condition can lead to various conditions, including:
- Heart disease
- Strokes
- Chronic kidney disease
- Eye disease
- Aneurysms
- Erectile dysfunction
- Varicose veins and other vein conditions
Early detection and management is essential to prevent severe outcomes from untreated hypertension symptoms. If you’re over 18 years old, you should get your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years, or more if advised by a doctor.
Enquire About Varicose Vein Treatments in Melbourne
Book an appointment at Vein Care in Melbourne to learn more about varicose veins causes or our range of minimally invasive, non-surgical treatments for vein conditions. Call us on 1300 730 100 or contact us online.
