Weight loss and BULGING veins

One in eight American adults is taking a GLP-1 medication for weight loss. That’s about 30 million people, many of whom are noticing something they had not noticed before: bulging veins, including varicose veins.

No, these medications do not cause varicose veins. Instead, it is the weight loss that is finally revealing what was likely already there.

Veins that are subject to varicosity lie in the spongy tissue between the muscles and the skin. When weight loss occurs, this fatty tissue decreases in volume, making the veins more visible.

You may also have noticed that your veins are more prominent after exercise. That’s because exercise creates body heat, and our veins protrude to help dissipate that heat by allowing greater airflow over the veins. Healthy veins will return to normal once the body has cooled down.

No matter how you lose weight—through exercise, diet or medications—the loss of fatty tissue can reveal varicose veins that have been hiding there for a while. Varicose veins rarely pop up suddenly. Typically, venous disease is the result of a slow, chronic, progressive process until reduced blood flow begins to cause symptoms, whether or not the varicose veins are visible on the skin.

So please give our office a call if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms: • leg pain or swelling • heaviness or fatigue • itching, tingling, or burning • inflammation • skin discoloration • restless legs syndrome.

Dr. Sonja Stiller is a diplomat of both the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and the UIP 2023 lead chair for scientific abstracts. She is the founder of the Center for Advanced Vein Care and Elite Vascular Wellness, a Tier 1 provider with Lake Health Hospital System. The center is at 7200 Mentor Ave. in Mentor. For an appointment, call 440-710-1140 or visit YourHealthyVeins.com.