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What Causes Spider Veins On Both The Legs While On Benicar?
Question: Doctor i have gained about 15 pounds over the past year.... Im 5'6" and weight is 189... No clothes. Ive developed lots of spider veins on both upper thighs and legs... There are many veins that also are really everywhere on both legs...some seem like vericose veins... A few are a little sore . I dont have high blood pressure....i take 20 mg of Benecar daily. This has happened within the last year. Can weight gain cause this?? What else can it be
Brief Answer:
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome back on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that it is quite normal to have more prominent veins under the skin after gaining weight. This is related to the increased blood supply needed for the fat tissue (which lies right under the skin). Prolonged standing up position during the day can also lead to such symptoms.
Anyway, there are some other health conditions which can lead to increased body weight (or fluid retention) and increased vein visibility (or vein dilation):
1- Liver disease. Advanced stage of liver disorders can lead to a similar clinical scenario.
2- Adrenal gland disorders (Cushing syndrome) or overproduction of cortisol, which is a hormone produced by this gland.
3- Increased fluid retention. This could be caused by heart failure, renal and kidney disease.
4- Chronic vein insufficiency in the lower limbs.
Benicar is not related to this symptomatology, because it does not have any similar adverse effects.
Coming to this point, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician and performing some tests to investigate for the possible causes:
1- a resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound for your cardiac function and structure
2- a chest X ray study
3- an abdominal ultrasound
4- some blood lab tests (complete blood count, blood electrolytes, fasting glucose, cortisol plasma levels, kidney and liver function tests, PCR, sedimentation rate)
5- a Doppler ultrasound of the leg vessels to exclude possible chronic venous insufficiency
You should discuss with your doctor on the above tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
I am always at your disposal whenever you will have any other uncertainties!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome back on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that it is quite normal to have more prominent veins under the skin after gaining weight. This is related to the increased blood supply needed for the fat tissue (which lies right under the skin). Prolonged standing up position during the day can also lead to such symptoms.
Anyway, there are some other health conditions which can lead to increased body weight (or fluid retention) and increased vein visibility (or vein dilation):
1- Liver disease. Advanced stage of liver disorders can lead to a similar clinical scenario.
2- Adrenal gland disorders (Cushing syndrome) or overproduction of cortisol, which is a hormone produced by this gland.
3- Increased fluid retention. This could be caused by heart failure, renal and kidney disease.
4- Chronic vein insufficiency in the lower limbs.
Benicar is not related to this symptomatology, because it does not have any similar adverse effects.
Coming to this point, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician and performing some tests to investigate for the possible causes:
1- a resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound for your cardiac function and structure
2- a chest X ray study
3- an abdominal ultrasound
4- some blood lab tests (complete blood count, blood electrolytes, fasting glucose, cortisol plasma levels, kidney and liver function tests, PCR, sedimentation rate)
5- a Doppler ultrasound of the leg vessels to exclude possible chronic venous insufficiency
You should discuss with your doctor on the above tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
I am always at your disposal whenever you will have any other uncertainties!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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