Are Varicose Veins Dangerous to an Individual’s Health?

Are Varicose Veins Dangerous to an Individual’s Health?
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What are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins is a term used to describe a condition found in the leg veins. It is the outward appearance of a problem that lies under the skin’s surface.

The veins are the blood vessels that carry blood back from the body’s peripheries. Normal venous pressure is lower than arterial pressure and as a result the veins may develop a condition where the blood flows backwards. The result is a congestion of blood. This causes the veins to be visible to the outside. They appear bulging and may show up as blue. A mild form of varicose veins is uncomfortable and may appear unsightly. As the condition worsens, the veins may ache and cause great discomfort. Varicose veins are a sign of a circulatory problem.

Symptoms

Varicose veins can be found on the legs from as high up as the groin and down to the ankle. For the most part they are painless. They appear blue or a dark shade of purple. The veins bulging and may appear twisted and snarled. In this case the problem may only be cosmetic. As symptoms worsen they may be sore and painful. There is sometimes itching, numbness, burning, throbbing and muscle cramping and weakness associated with the condition. Complications can develop in some rare cases. In these cases the surrounding tissue is affected developing ulcers. The skin can become discolored, and inflamed. Blood clots can also develop.

Causes

Veins carry blood from the body back to the heart. In the legs the blood flow is against gravity. Normal blood flow in the veins is aided by muscle contractions, and the elastic vein walls which help to move the blood. In normal healthy veins this blood flow is also kept flowing in one direction by the presence of tiny valves. Varicose veins develop when any of these normal functions fail.

Age: Vessels lose their elasticity with age. This lack of elasticity causes the blood to flow backwards and pool.

Pregnancy: Pregnant women have an increased blood volume. Most of the blood volume is centered on the uterus which inadvertently decreases blood flow to the legs. This leads to varicose veins.

Tumors: Tumors developing in the legs can lead to varicose development.

There are also some risk factors that can increase the risk of developing the condition.

These include age, sex (women have a higher risk of developing the condition), genetics, obesity and standing for a long period.

How Dangerous are Varicose Veins?

The question, are varicose veins dangerous, cannot be answered simply. Varicose veins in themselves are not dangerous, but the complications they cause are. Varicose veins can enlarge and worsen overtime.

The pooling blood can lead to the development of blood clots. Blood clots are dangerous if they travel to the heart and lungs.

Treatment

As soon as varicose veins are visible start self-care. This includes exercise to keep the blood flowing. Keep legs elevated and wear compression stockings. If self-care doesn’t improve the veins, it is important to see a physician.

The doctor may recommend one of the following treatments.

Chemical Sclerotherapy: the physician injects the veins with a solution that will cause the veins to close. This procedure can be done during an office visit.

Transcutaneous pulsed dye laser and intense-pulsed-light (IPL) therapy: strong bursts of light are sent into the vein making the vein to fade and eventually disappear.

Endoscopic Vein Surgery: in more advanced cases where the veins have developed ulcers. This outpatient is done by inserting a camera to visualize and close the vein.

Catheter Assisted Procedure: the doctor inserts a catheter into the vein and heats it, which causes the vein to collapse.

Vein Stripping: the veins are removed through small incisions.

References

Varicoses Veins: Mayo Clinic

Wesley Lew, Varicose Veins: eMedicine Vascular Surgery

Image of Varicose Veins courtesy of US Government