Those pesky purple spider veins and bulging varicose veins on your legs aren’t pretty, but they also aren’t really a medical concern on their own. It’s the side effects of varicose veins that really should concern you and your physician. Fortunately, the consequences of varicose veins can be corrected or avoided with proper and prompt treatment from a Chicago vascular doctor.
What do residents of Chicago, IL need to know about varicose veins?
Healthy veins push blood upward into the heart and lungs with the help of pressure building valves that open and shut in the veins. When these valves become weakened or damaged from aging or injury, they allow blood to leak and become trapped. The trapped blood stretches out and irritates the vein walls, resulting in varicose veins that show up anywhere on your body, but especially on your legs and ankles.
While this sounds troublesome and looks just as bad, it is rarely cause for concern. The main problem arises when varicose veins are caused by vein disease that hasn’t yet made itself known. Still, varicose veins have been known to produce some side effects that will have you running to the doctor.
What are some of the side effects of varicose veins that Chicago patients may not think about?
Though infrequent, varicose veins may still cause some symptoms, especially over time without treatment. The symptoms can include:
- Inflammation
- Pain, throbbing or aching
- Tired, heavy sensations in the legs and feet
- Blood clots
- Ulcers and other skin changes
- Lowered quality of life
Swelling can occur from trapped fluids both inside the varicose veins and in the soft tissue that surrounds the veins. Along with swelling or on its own, pain is another common side effect of varicose veins. Some people with complications from varicose veins complain of a heavy sensation in the legs or their legs feeling tired.
Blood clots can form in the veins at any time, but the pooled blood in varicose veins is already at a prime condition to dry up and clump up into a clot. Blood clots that form in the superficial veins near the surface of your skin can be painful. When blood clots form inside the deeper leg veins, there is bigger cause for concern. If these clots can break away and travel to your heart or lungs, they can become fatal.
There are several skin conditions associated with varicose veins, such as dermatitis, redness, dryness, bleeding and ulcers. Swollen skin can dry out and create an itchy rash and red skin. Painful ulcers or skin sores may develop on skin around swollen veins, increasing the risk for bleeding. If the skin becomes damaged or broken, bacteria can creep in and cause infection.
Because varicose veins are unattractive and thought by many to be associated with aging, many people are self-conscious about their vein problems. Lowered self-esteem, missing out on doing things you like to do, wearing the clothes you want to wear are just a few of the lifestyle effects of having varicose veins.
The side effects of varicose veins can be corrected by vein treatment, and they can even be avoided if you get treatment early on before symptoms arise. Although many people avoid seeking therapy because they imagine a painful surgery with a lengthy recovery, that usually isn’t the case. Most of the treatments available today are just as effective as traditional surgery, but are much faster, virtually painless and have little to no recovery time.
If you or someone you know is suffering from varicose veins in Chicago or you’re just not happy with the appearance of their veins, give us a call at 773-283-7887 to schedule a vein screening and to discuss a vein care plan that works for you. Dr. Ramon Castro and his team of vein experts at our Chicago center are waiting to hear from you.