What Are The Symptoms And Complications Of Varicose Veins?

17 يوليو What Are The Symptoms And Complications Of Varicose Veins?

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What Are The Symptoms And Complications Of Varicose Veins?

To learn additional information about varicose veins and the topics discussed with Dr. Ameer Malkawi, a consultant in vascular surgery and varicose veins, please continue reading.

Early Symptoms Of Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are a very common condition that can be found among people, they can appear as dark blue or purple, or red enlarged, swollen, or twisted veins under the skin, and this is considered the first sign of varicose veins.

Usually, people don’t feel any symptoms other than swollen veins, but other people can notice symptoms like:

A feeling of heavy or tired or sludgy legs, especially after physical activity.
Muscle cramps.
Itchy feeling around the varicose veins.
Painful, achy or sore legs that may be noticed around the knees.
Swollen feets and ankles.
Burning or throbbing sensation in legs.
Changing in skin color around the varicose veins, and if left untreated the color will change to brown.
Dry and thin skin around the varicose veins.

All these symptoms can worsen after long periods of standing or during the warm weather, and they may get better when you walk around or lift your legs comfortably using a pillow.

Severe Symptoms Of Varicose Veins

Severe symptoms of varicose veins usually appear if the condition is not treated properly, and they may eventually make long-term mild swelling, and this can lead to more serious problems such as:

skin and tissue problems like ulcers and non-healing sores.
Pain in the legs or calf that worsen after standing or sitting for a long period.
Skin that appears irritated and scaly, can be cracked easily.
Hardened or thickened skin in legs and ankles.

Where Do Varicose Veins Appear?

Varicose veins happen mostly on the lower parts of the body such as in the legs, ankles, calves, and feet, but they can occur in other places of the body, for example, Hemorrhoids are a type of varicose vein that happens in the rectum, but they can also appear in other areas such as:

Pelvic area, especially after childbirth.
Varicose veins in the testicles (varicocele).
Esophagus.
Uterus.
Vagina.

When Should You See Your Doctor?

Varicose veins are not a dangerous condition, and you don’t have to see a doctor if you are not feeling any pain, but you should see your doctor if:

You are not comfortable with how your veins are appearing.
If you are feeling uncomfortable and symptoms are bothering you.
The skin over your veins is sore and irritated.
The pain in your legs is causing irritation and difficulty in sleeping.
If the skin or veins are bleeding, discolored, painful, red or warm to the touch, or swollen.
If you develop complications such as ulcers or thrombophlebitis.

Complications Of Varicose Veins

In some cases, varicose veins can cause complications because they stop your blood from flowing properly, and it usually happens after several years if left untreated, these complications are:

Bleeding

Veins that are near the skin can bleed if you injure or cut or bump your legs, although it’s minor bleeding it needs medical attention.

Blood Clots

People with varicose veins can develop blood clots easily, and if it is formed under your skin it can lead to:

Superficial thrombophlebitis: it’s a painful inflammation of the veins of the legs.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): a condition that can cause pain and swelling in the leg, and it can lead to pulmonary embolism.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

When the blood in your veins doesn’t flow properly, this can interfere with the exchanges of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products with your blood, which lead to chronic venous insufficiency that can cause problems like:

Varicose eczema; is a condition that causes red, scaly, and flaky skin, blisters, and crusting may occur.
Lipodermatosclerosis; causes red or brown hardened and tight skin around the calf area.
Venous ulcers.

Varicose veins may be entirely symptom-free and cause no health problems.

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