Consequences of Varicose Veins Which Everyone Should Know

Many people ignore varicose veins and think that it’s just a cosmetic problem. Some don’t even try to treat it until this condition becomes dangerous. But specialists warn that the consequences of varicose veins can be very dangerous to health.

Varicose veins are enlarged and twisted vessels. The danger of this disorder is that it won’t disappear without proper treatment. Varicose veins are a progressive disease and after a while, the spider veins will certainly turn into more noticeable swollen veins.

Complications of varicose veins

If you have varicose veins and ignore it, dilated and twisted veins will definitely appear. But this is not the only consequence of varicose veins.

Dermatitis and eczema are inflammatory skin diseases that occur on the leg skin as a result of the stagnation of venous blood in the legs. The main symptoms of eczema are the appearance of red spots on the skin with uneven edges, severe itching, small cracks, and blisters.

Trophic ulcers are a complication of varicose veins. These are long healing wounds that occur on the skin of the lower leg. Trophic ulcers are very painful and can lead to disruption of daily life and sleep. The feeling of heaviness in the legs increases due to which the sick person cannot stand for a long time. It’s impossible to cure trophic ulcers in a few days with tablets and ointments. A proper varicose vein treatment should include medications, compression therapy, and possible surgical intervention.

Acute thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of the wall of a varicose vein with the formation of a blood clot. The main symptoms of acute thrombophlebitis include severe pain when standing or walking, redness and tightening along the inflamed vein, and fever. A blood clot is able to plug a vein. In addition, a detached blood clot can enter the lungs through the circulatory system and lead to a pulmonary embolism. This is a serious condition that can lead to death.
There are several symptoms of thrombophlebitis:

• Poor appetite
• Weakness and fatigue
• Chills even at normal temperatures indoors or outdoors
• Increased body temperature

Blood clots in deep veins. If a person ignores phlebitis or thrombophlebitis, this condition will turn into a more serious disorder called thrombosis. Blood clots may not dissolve independently and detach. From the upper layers, a blood clot under pressure freely moves into the deep veins of a larger diameter and then move to a certain point:

• If the blood flow is directed down, the blood clot will move to the foot and partially block the vessel. This results in oxygen starvation of the foot cells, swelling, blue skin color, trophic ulcer or gangrene. Blood clotting is accompanied by sharp acute pain.
• When the blood flow is directed toward the abdominal organs, the blood clot can reach the heart or lung which may end with death. Pulmonary embolism is a problem that is caused by ignored varicose veins of the lower extremities.

Symptoms of varicose veins

It’s highly recommended not to ignore varicose veins and not to delay the treatment if you noticed signs of varicose veins. If you have certain symptoms, you need to visit a phlebologist as soon as possible. Be sure to make an appointment if in addition to the presence of typical symptoms of varicose veins you also:

• Have increased leg pain
• Cannot get on your feet and walk
• Notice that leg skin is hot and swollen
• Have shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air, and weakness which suddenly appeared
• Bleeding from the area of damaged leg skin

Leg Swelling with varicose veins

Regular leg swelling is caused by an excess of fluid due to poor kidney function or excessive salt intake which retains water in the body. Untreated varicose veins can also cause leg swelling but it’s different from regular edema. Excess plasma contributes to swelling in venous insufficiency which seeps through the thin walls of blood vessels into the intercellular space due to the increased blood volume in a particular area.