If you have varicose veins it may be a serious vein health problem. For some people, it may be common. You should know what dangerous things it can cause. When to worry about varicose veins? Is it your concern? You will get information in this article.
What Are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are damaged veins that bulge and look like small pipes running attached to the skin. It appears in blue or red. Hemorrhoids are also a type of varicose vein. Varicose veins are more visible in the legs as the legs may stress against the ground. It can develop in anyone but is more common in women. As age, the visibility of the varicose veins increases.
Other factors that can increase the chance of varicose veins include;
- Heredity of varicose veins
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Continuous standing or sitting
- Smoking
- Trauma or injury
- Using birth control pill
- Hormone replacement therapy
Spider Veins
Knowing about spider veins can help to identify the difference between varicose veins and spider veins. Both spider veins and varicose veins come under the same family. Spider veins appear like a cluster of twisted veins in red or blue color. These veins usually not bulged out, and only appear under the skin. These painless veins are more common on the face and legs.
The poor circulation can cause spider veins, which could also develop into varicose veins. But not all spider veins turn into varicose veins. Since the spider veins have a chance to develop into varicose veins, most people will go for a cosmetic procedure to remove them.
Symptoms Of Varicose Veins
You could see visibly the varicose veins bulging out to the skin. Besides its appearance, the other symptoms include;
- Continuous pain in the area
- Itching and burning around the vein
- Irritated and inflamed skin around the vein area
- Fatigue and heaviness in the leg
- Muscle cramping
- Open skin wound
- Swollen legs
Some serious symptoms seek immediate medical attention. They are
- Discoloration of the skin
- Sores or ulcers
- Bleeding in the veins
- Painful and hot veins
- Swelling and pain
Do Varicose Veins Possess Health Issues?
Varicose veins will not cause serious generally. But people with varicose veins may have some rare complications like blood clots, bleeding in the skin, sores, and ulcers near the area of the veins. The conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism can also develop in people with varicose veins. The blood clots in the thigh or lower leg veins are referred to deep vein thrombosis. Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs.
Is Need To Worry About Varicose Veins?
Varicose is not a serious concern; it may be harmless in most cases. In rare cases, it can be dangerous. If left untreated, it can cause some health issues such as;
- Severe pain and heaviness in the limbs
- Muscle cramps can occur, especially at the night.
- Itching and burning due to leaky blood vessels and low oxygen flow.
- Blood clots are possible
- Skin ulcers due to a lack of blood circulation.
- Can damage the lymphatic system and cause lymphedema. It can result in cellulitis which is a serious skin infection.
- A skin ailment like venous stasis dermatitis can develop due to unhealthy veins.
- Diseases like peripheral artery disease (PAD) may occur. The blood flow to the limbs gets disturbed when PAD develops.
Tips To Prevent Varicose Veins
You may stop the occurrence of varicose veins if it has to. But you can take steps less likely to develop. The following tips will be helpful for people with small varicose veins.
- Exercise regularly: You can stop blood stagnating by doing exercise regularly. It improves blood circulation.
- Reduce weight: Extra body weight can add extra pressure to your veins. Follow a healthy diet to keep weight in control.
- Reduce or cut back on salt: Increased salt intake can increase your blood pressure and fluid retention may occur.
- Wear loose clothes and avoid high heels: Tight wearing can disturb your blood flow and cause blood pooling.
- Raise your leg towards your head: Doing this several times a day can help you reduce fluid retention and blood pooling.
- Take a small break from long hours sitting or standing and do some physical activity and return to your seat. Wearing compression stocking also helps here.
- Avoid smoking: Nicotine may tighten the blood vessels and restricts blood flow. Smoking also causes other problems like weakening blood vessel walls and raising blood pressure.
Conclusion
When to worry about varicose veins? Varicose veins are not harmful diseases to be concerned about. It may cause severe complications in rare cases; it can treat with treatments like catheter-assisted radiofrequency, high ligation and vein stripping, ambulatory phlebectomy, and endoscopic vein surgery. Sclerotherapy and laser treatment are applicable for mild cases. For common varicose veins, you can increase your physical activity like raising your legs towards the head. You can try some home remedies which might help you reduce the occurrence of varicose veins. In severe cases, visit your doctor for appropriate treatments.
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