Varicose veins are a sign of unhealthy circulation that can affect your legs. These visible veins may result in swelling, itchiness and constant pain. Varicose veins can also cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT), as well as other serious skin changes and health problems. When you have varicose veins, it’s critical to understand their impacts so that you can address them as quickly as possible to prevent the problems from becoming severe.

Learn about the risks of varicose veins and how various treatments can help alleviate pain.

Risks of Varicose Veins

If you have varicose veins, it’s vital to understand the risks they pose if their condition worsens and goes untreated for long periods. While complications are typically rare, some common risks you could experience include:

• Blood clots (thrombophlebitis): Varicose veins in legs can enlarge, causing the blood to pool. Occasionally, the blood clots and causes the legs to swell and become painful. It’s vital to receive medical attention as soon as possible if you have blood clots because they obstruct your blood flow and could cause other issues.
• Skin changes: Varicose veins can cause your skin to become thinner, more fragile, and susceptible to ulcers and infections.
• Deep vein thrombosis: In some severe varicose vein cases, DVT can occur. DVT is when blood clots develop in your deep veins, which is dangerous and requires immediate medical attention.
• Pain and cramps: Having enlarged veins can cause you to feel pain and have leg cramps. While not all varicose veins cause discomfort, when you do experience it, the symptoms can worsen throughout the day and interfere with your everyday activities.

Additional Varicose Vein Symptoms

While the above are some rare risks you run by not getting your varicose veins treated, there are other symptoms you could run into as well. Some additional potential varicose vein symptoms are:

• Heavy & Achy Legs
• Trouble Sleeping
• Itchy Legs
• Cellulitis
• Heart Disease
• Tight Feeling Skin
• Venous Eczema
• And More

Varicose Vein Treatments

Fortunately, some treatments can help varicose veins and their symptoms go away, allowing you to live a pain-free life. Several minimally invasive procedures that can help you remove varicose veins include:

• Endovenous laser treatment: Specialists use special tools to apply heat to the affected varicose veins with endovenous laser treatment. The heat closes the veins, causing them to collapse and stop pooling blood. Closing the veins also helps prevent varicose veins from developing into worse issues.
• Microphlebectomy: When you have a microphlebectomy procedure, a specialist makes a small incision to remove the affected vein, ensuring no more bulging occurs.
• Sclerotherapy: To collapse the affected vein, specialists inject a special solution during sclerotherapy. The solution causes the vein to scar and reroutes blood to healthier veins. Over time, the tissues surrounding the scarred vein absorb it so it fades away.
• Venaseal therapy: During venaseal treatment, a specialist uses medical glue to seal varicose veins shut, helping blood reroute to other healthy veins for proper blood flow. When a medical adhesive seals varicose veins, they harden and, over time, the body absorbs them, effectively removing the veins.

Learn More With Central Florida Vein & Vascular Center

Though it’s rare, varicose veins can pose severe issues. Knowing the risks of this condition and how you can treat it helps prevent your varicose veins from worsening. To learn more or ask questions, feel free to contact Central Florida Vein & Vascular Center. We look forward to hearing from you.