Inflamed Veins After Exercise

Inflamed Veins After Exercise

Blood vessels become more prominent during and after exercising as a result of normal physiological processes; the swelling goes down after you have finished exercising. If the inflammation does not go away, you may have varicose veins, which can cause pain and ulcers. Conversely, blood vessels that "come out" after exercise are not usually painful. Talk to your doctor if your veins cause pain or other symptoms.

The circulatory system

A complex series of arteries, arterioles and capillaries carry blood from the heart, while veins and venules transport them back to your heart. During exercise, your heart works harder to supply blood and nutrients to active cells. The arteries receive more blood and more pressure during exercise. The systolic blood pressure, the amount of pressure on the walls of the vessels, increases with exercise intensity, increasing to "close to 200 mmHg during high intensity aerobic exercise and more than 400 mmHg during weight lifting," reports an article of November 2006 in "Scientific American". The veins contract to push the blood towards the heart, however, they reduce the global pressure in the venules and veins.

Causes of swelling

During or after exercise, the veins swell and press against the skin as a result of the plasma instead of the venous blood pressure. The increase in arterial blood pressure affects the plasma fluid in the capillaries. Normally, resting in the capillary, the plasma is forced out through the thin walls of the vessel and into compartments surrounding the muscles. As a result, the muscles swell and harden, pushing the cutaneous veins, or those under the skin, up and out of sight. The less subcutaneous fat you have, the greater the chance of seeing the veins during exercise.

Varicose veins

If your veins remain constantly swollen, they may be varicose. Varicose veins, often twisted or "spider" shaped, commonly affect older adults, pushing through the skin of the legs and sometimes the arms. Although they are not usually harmful, varicose veins can cause pain, blood clots, skin ulcers or other complications. Unlike the inflammation experienced by exercise, varicose veins occur when the valves of the blood vessels weaken. The valves are one-way; they prevent the blood from flowing backwards. A valve malfunction allows blood to accumulate in the vessel, causing swelling and eventually leading to varicose veins.Obesity, lack of exercise and sitting for prolonged periods increases the likelihood of developing varicose veins.

Conclusions

Experiencing swollen veins during or after exercise is a normal biological process. If the swelling goes away soon after, there is no cause for alarm, unless you experience pain or other symptoms; Talk to your doctor if this is the case. Varicose veins remain swollen and visible with or without exercise, but are probably not a medical emergency. There are procedures available to reduce its appearance. Talk to your doctor about the prevention or treatment of varicose veins.

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