Are you suffering from varicose veins? Have you noticed some blue and purple enlarged veins on your legs? Maybe you’ve tried to conceal them from others because they look unpleasant. While varicose veins can be a cosmetic issue, they can pose a health risk if left untreated. Are you looking for vein specialists around you? United Vein & Vascular Centers are IAC accredited facilities in Tampa, with a lot of facilities across the USA specializing in varicose veins treatment and other venous procedures.

Guess you have questions about these swollen veins. You’re probably thinking, “Are varicose veins dangerous?” Read on to know more about varicose veins.

Are Varicose Veins Dangerous To Your Health?

If varicose veins are ignored and untreated, they can result in serious health problems like blood clots, skin infections, or ulcers. A painful varicose could indicate a severe health risk. What are the hidden dangers of untreated varicose veins? Let’s look at some of them:

• Leg swelling: When pressure builds up in the veins, the legs swell, causing fluid from the blood to leak into the surrounding tissues. This swelling can result in you having a tight feeling in your skin. In serious cases, your legs become too swollen and can’t fit in your shoes. A clear, yellowish fluid may seep out from your legs as well. Leg elevations and the use of compression stockings may reduce the swelling. If this isn’t attended to, it can lead to skin changes.

• Skin ulcers: As stated earlier, if swelling continues without treatment, it can result in skin changes. Over time, your skin heals slowly, even from minor injuries. The slow healing process is due to an inadequate supply of nutrients and oxygen to the swollen tissue. A significant way to treat these ulcers is by lessening swelling.
• Skin infection: Swollen tissues can alter the body’s natural defense against infection. Bacteria can gain entry into the body, leading to a skin infection called cellulitis. Swelling may persist, causing skin inflammation. Use medication for skin infections. Another effective means is reducing the swelling.

When Varicose Veins Are More Serious

Painful varicose veins can lead to greater health issues such as bleeding, thrombophlebitis, and deep vein thrombosis. Let’s explore each of them.

• Bleeding: Varicose veins contain a larger amount of blood than normal veins. If these veins get cut, it can result in a significant loss of blood. Bruising may occur due to damaged veins. You can bleed for a long time if the injury sustained is considerable.
• Thrombophlebitis: This is an inflammatory condition that causes blood to clot in varicose veins. Thrombophlebitis usually occurs beneath the skin surface with reduced blood flow and broken veins. The affected area may become swollen, painful, and inflamed.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis: Deep vein thrombosis is a severe health condition requiring prompt minimally invasive varicose veins treatment. Symptoms associated with this condition include swollen legs and redness of the affected part. In more severe cases, the lungs can become clotted with blood, resulting in a critical condition, pulmonary embolism.

Who Is At Risk For Developing Varicose Veins?

People over 40 have a high risk of having varicose veins. Women especially are more likely to develop varicose veins. Individuals who stand for too long, are overweight, or have a family history have a high probability of getting varicose veins.

Contact Us

Why are varicose veins dangerous to your health? Find out more from United Vein & Vascular Centers . Though we specialize in treating venous conditions, we also educate our patients on the various conditions before proceeding with varicose veins treatment. Are you scared of the medical procedures? Don’t be! We have experienced doctors who perform an in-office procedure with little or no downtime. Call our clinic today in Tampa to enjoy our cutting-edge technology.