When To Worry About Varicose Veins? Symptoms, Complications, and Treatments

It occurs when faulty valves in the veins cannot send blood back to the heart. Although in preliminary stages it just looks bad, leaving it unattended can cause severe pain. Identifying varicose veins early on can prevent potential future problems and improve quality of life.

There are many ways to treat varicose veins. Some are non-intrusive while diagnosing one at a later stage can require surgery. In recent years there has been great success in red light therapy to reduce varicose veins too!

So when should you start worrying about varicose veins? Read on to find out ways you can prevent them early on!

Key Takeaways: Varicose Veins

• Varicose Veins appear on the leg due to poor blood flow.
• You should worry when:
  • Persistent pain or swelling spreads rapidly
  • Skin changes color or thickens
  • You bleed small injuries to the veins
• Next Steps: Ultrasound to assess blood flow and check for clots, and Imaging tests like venography.
• Treatments: Lifestyle changes and Medical procedures like sclerotherapy, laser therapy, radiofrequency ablation, and in severe cases, surgery.
• Alternate Treatments: Red light therapy, VenaSeal.

Understanding Varicose Veins

Swollen varicose veins appear twisted, bulging out beneath the skin. You can primarily see them on limbs but they can in special cases appear in other parts of the body too. When the valves in the vein cannot send blood back to the heart, they clot and increase pressure.

Common causes include:

• Genetics: Genetics can be a leading cause of varicose veins.
• Prolonged Standing or Sitting: Desk jobs can reduce blood flow leading to varicose veins.
• Obesity: If you weigh a lot, the extra weight can put pressure on your veins causing them to enlarge.
• Hormonal Changes: For women, hormonal changes like pregnancy and menopause can relax vein walls, leading to varicosities.

Symptoms Of Varicose Veins

• Swelling in the Legs or Ankles
• Aching or Heavy Legs
• Visible Twisted Veins blue in color
• Itching Around the Veins can be a sign of a very unhealthy vein.

Risk Factors

Several factors contribute to the likelihood of developing varicose veins, including:

• Age: People with old age are more likely to develop varicose veins.
• Gender: Women are more prone to developing varicose veins.
• Lifestyle: Lack of exercise, high heel usage, and tight clothing can all influence vein health.

Symptoms to Watch For

Mild Symptoms

Mild symptoms of varicose veins can include:

• Mild Swelling around the feet and ankles
• Aching Legs where the legs feel heavier than usual
• Blue or dark purple veins can be visually disturbing for the individual.

Severe Symptoms

Certain symptoms associated with varicose veins require prompt medical evaluation as they could indicate more severe complications. If you experience any of the following, seek medical attention:

• Persistent Pain or Swelling that can worsen very quickly.
• Skin discoloration to a brownish or blue shade. Skin can also thicken with a risk of ulcers popping up near the ankles.
• Bleeding Veins from minor injuries can indicate that the vein walls are very fragile.
• Signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis like sudden and severe swelling, pain, warmth, and redness in the leg. This is a serious condition where a blood clot forms in a deeper vein often requiring surgery to treat.

Potential Complications

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

Chronic Venous Insufficiency can occur when valves in the vein fail to work as intended. As a result, there is a disruption in the natural flow of blood back to the heart. As a result, varicose veins form as blood pools in the veins increasing pressure and causing further damage and dilation. Symptoms of CVI are swelling, pain, and changes in skin color.

Leg Ulcers

When varicose veins are left untreated, they can lead to leg ulcers near the ankles. They are very painful and have the risk of infection. The increased pressure in the vein damages the skin which eventually turns into open sores.

Blood Clots

Varicose veins increase the risk of developing blood clots, which can be either superficial or deep:

• Superficial Thrombophlebitis: This occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein just below the skin's surface. As a result, the skin turns red and gets swollen.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): This is more serious than the previous type of clot. They show up in more inaccessible veins that require surgery to remove.

Bleeding

You can bleed from a varicose vein if the vein is injured. This is because the skin above it becomes very thin. This is very serious as immediate care is required to stop the bleeding.

Diagnosis and When to Seek Help

You should see a doctor if you go through the following complications:

• Intense pain or swelling in the legs.
• Changes in the skin color around the veins.
• Bleeding from varicose veins.
• If varicose veins cause problems in daily life.

Diagnostic Tests

You can diagnose varicose veins through the following tests:

• Ultrasound: An ultrasound can be used to assess the blood flow in the veins. It checks for blood clots and is more of a preliminary stage.
• Venography: During venography, a fluid is injected into the vein which shows up on an X-ray.
• Photoplethysmography (PPG): You can do a PPG to measure changes in blood volume around the leg.

What to Expect During a Consultation

During a medical consultation, a doctor can ask you for the following information:

• Medical History
• Physical Examination
• Discussion of Symptoms
• Diagnostic Testing.
• Plan an effective Treatment method

Treatment Options

Lifestyle Changes

Changing your lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing varicose veins. Try to incorporate the following into your daily life:

• Incorporate Exercise
• Wear Compression Stockings
• Keep your legs elevated to reduce pressure
• Maintaining a low Weight
• Avoid Standing or Sitting for too long

Medical Treatments

If symptoms do not go away after the above you can look into various medical treatments to get rid of varicose veins. They include:

• Sclerotherapy: During this procedure, a solution is injected into the veins which scar and close. As a result, blood is rerouted to a healthier vein. With time, the treated vein completely closes off and is absorbed by the body.
• Laser Therapy: Lasers are used to close off smaller less problematic veins.
• Radiofrequency Ablation: Here, radiation is used to heat a vein and close off a vein
• Surgical Options: If the above does not work for you, a doctor may operate on the affected vein to remove it completely.

Emerging Treatments

Research has brought a lot of new alternative treatments that you can consider instead of the classic ones.

• Red Light Therapy: Red light therapy has proven a successful alternative to treating a lot of problems, one of which is using it to increase blood flow. While it may not be a direct solution to removing varicose veins, it can be an early preventive measure that can reduce the chances of getting them.
• VenaSeal: This is the least intrusive technique available now to close varicose veins. It requires no anesthesia where an adhesive is injected into the vein to close it off.

7 Ultimate Prevention Tips

Here are some tips you can follow to reduce your chances of getting varicose veins:

• Do exercises like cycling, walking, and yoga at least 6 days a week for better blood circulation
• Keep your weight at a healthy level
• Improve your diet by including high-fiber, low-salt food
• Drink a lot of water throughout the day
• Stay away from Tight Clothing that can increase pressure on your legs.
• When resting or lying down, try to keep your legs elevated from the level of your heart
• For women, it is best to wear flat sandals over high heels.

Regular Check-ups

If you have a risk of getting varicose veins it is best to check with a medical consultant on the regular. It is better to prevent it from happening to you rather than find a cure when it eventually happens. A doctor can assess your current condition and give you recommendations to keep them away.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Do Varicose Veins Become Serious?

When a varicose vein swells up to a point where it is visible. You can also notice a change in the color of your skin around the area of the varicose vein. If it is painful, you may also need to check for vein ulcers or clots.

Is It OK To Live With Varicose Veins?

Many people live with varicose veins as they can also be a normal part of life. Regular checkups can help maintain them. You can also take precautionary measures to make sure they do not affect daily life.

What Is The Last Stage Of Varicose Veins?

Chronic venous insufficiency is the last stage of the varicose vein. At this stage, you can suffer from ulcers and severe pain. For this, you may need surgery to remove them completely.

Is It OK To Leave Varicose veins untreated?

The answer is a resounding no. Leaving a varicose vein untreated can worsen the condition leading to life-altering complications.

Get Rid Of The Ugly Varicose Veins

Varicose veins can be a normal part of life if you lead a healthy lifestyle. Keeping yourself in check can keep you away from ever seeing a doctor. Even if you do suffer from it, you look towards many treatments to prevent it or get rid of it with ease. Remember it is better to prevent a disease from happening than spending thousands to cure it.