Varicose veins

Varicose veins (varicosis) can also be an expression of weakness of the connective tissue. This occurs when the walls of the veins, which are supposed to ensure the return flow of blood to the heart, lose their elasticity. As a result, the venous valves, which determine the direction of blood flow, no longer close properly and blood flows back towards the feet.

Due to the changed pressure conditions in the venous system, the superficial veins become tortuous, resulting in cramping. Varicose veins are an aesthetic problem on the one hand, but in advanced stages they can also cause symptoms such as calf cramps, a feeling of heaviness or pain and skin changes. In this case the varicose veins should be surgically removed. As a preventive measure, sufficient exercise is recommended to prevent the development of varicose veins caused by connective tissue. Sports such as Nordic Walking or cycling, which train the calf muscles to a reasonable extent, are well suited.

Hanging chest

A weakness of the connective tissue in women primarily affects the breast. The female breast consists mainly of connective tissue, fat and glandular tissue. In addition to the hereditary predisposition for weak connective tissue, the size of the breast, diet, lifestyle and smoking also have an influence on the firmness of the breast tissue.

Even after reaching menopause, the connective tissue of the breast loses its firmness, as it becomes smaller due to the degeneration of the glandular part. In contrast to what has long been propagated, pregnancy and breastfeeding do not seem to have any negative effects on the firmness of the female breast. Unfortunately, the therapy of “sagging breasts” mainly consists of an operative tightening. Sport and muscle building usually have very little influence on the firmness of the female breast due to the very small amount of muscle in it. Women with medium to large breasts are recommended to wear a special supporting sports bra during sports to maintain the shape of the breasts.

Lowering of the pelvic floor

A weakness of connective tissue structures and the muscles of the pelvic floor can cause organs such as the uterus or vagina to sag. Apart from childbirth, congenital weakness is the most important risk factor for uterine prolapse, which one in three women suffers during her lifetime. Milder forms are often asymptomatic, whereas in more severe cases abdominal and back pain and a permanent feeling of pressure are characteristic. The therapy also depends on the severity of the disease and ranges from pelvic floor training to surgical intervention.

Hernias

Advanced weakness of the connective tissue can lead to the formation of hernias. In this case the abdominal wall, as a connective tissue structure, no longer fulfils its supporting function, so that abdominal viscera (often small intestine or net) protrude through a gap in the abdominal wall, where they can often be palpated from the outside. As there is a risk of entrapment and consequently of death of parts of the intestine in a hernia, a hernia is usually surgically repaired by inserting a plastic mesh.

As the most important factor for weak connective tissue is inherited from the parents, it is not possible to treat the cause of the connective tissue weakness. This does not mean, however, that those who have “bad” genes in relation to the connective tissue must accept this and it must automatically lead to a disturbing development at a young age. Thus, the predisposition to develop a connective tissue weakness remains for a lifetime, but a clear success can be achieved by reducing the typical risk factors such as smoking, overweight, high-fat diet or lack of exercise.

An important step towards stabilising the connective tissue is to maintain a constant normal weight. In both overweight people and people with severe weight fluctuations (e.g. due to the yo-yo effect in many diets), the connective tissue becomes downright worn out and can no longer fulfil its original function. The consequences are cellulite, stretch marks and visibly flabby, sagging skin, preferably on the stomach, chest, thighs and upper arms.

In addition to its well-known dramatic effects on the cardiovascular system, obesity, in combination with a weakness of the connective tissue, can also cause hernias, which can lead to dangerous complications. People of normal weight should therefore maintain their optimum weight with healthy food and overweight people should definitely reduce their weight through healthy food in combination with sport. Zero diets often lead to rapid weight loss, leaving behind a flabby skin that does not disappear even with a lot of exercise and continued starvation.

In terms of nutrition, care should be taken to ensure that a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables are on the menu and that sugar and animal fats are avoided as far as possible. In healthy people, a varied diet completely covers the body’s vitamin and mineral requirements, so that food supplements are generally unnecessary. It is also important for the metabolism of the connective tissue to drink a sufficient amount of at least 2 litres a day.

Only in this way can the waste products of the connective tissue be removed and excreted. In addition, the connective tissue is an important water reservoir in our body. By drinking a sufficient amount of water, the connective tissue appears padded and the skin appears firm and taut.

In this context, it is also worthwhile to abstain from alcohol and is highly recommended, especially for more severe forms of connective tissue weakness. Regular exercise is also indispensable in combating connective tissue weakness, and a combination of endurance sports and weight training is considered ideal. Many gyms offer special programmes for tightening “problem zones” (e.g. abdominal, leg and bottom training).

Many affected people also swear by alternating showers (showering with cold and warm water alternately for about 5 times each), which is supposed to improve the blood circulation in the connective tissue and thus boost its metabolic activity. The same effect is said to be achieved by massages, which additionally promote the lymphatic transport in the tissue. The fact that a weakness of the connective tissue often manifests itself in the aesthetically disturbing cellulite has been extremely exploited by the cosmetic industry in recent years.

In all drugstores, pharmacies and perfumeries creams and other care products of all price ranges are offered which want to make the unsightly orange peel skin disappear. However, it is important to know that all creams cannot replace the change in lifestyle (sports, healthy nutrition, etc.). As the partly promising active agents of the creams are applied on the skin surface and thus hardly reach the subcutaneous layer where the development of cellulite takes place, their benefit is not undisputed.

However, in addition to a regular sports programme and a balanced diet, such a cream may be worth a try, in any case it will make the skin look more nourished and well cared for. The last option is a connective tissue tightening in the form of cosmetic surgery. Especially after pregnancies or severe weight loss, very good aesthetic results can be achieved with a surgical tightening.

Commonly used are abdominoplasty, breast lift or lifting of the upper arm or thighs. As this is a surgical procedure under anaesthetic, the benefits and risks should be carefully weighed up with the advice of a competent doctor. Cosmetic surgery is usually not covered by health insurance and has to be paid for by the patient himself, although depending on the clinic, a few thousand euros should be reckoned with.