Varicose veins, for many people, often come without symptoms. They just look unattractive or unappealing. However, for others, varicose veins can cause a whole roster of symptoms and, if not treated properly, can lead to troublesome complications.
Complications of varicose veins are generally rare, but when they occur, they can point to a larger problem of the circulatory system.
Bleeding from varicose veins can happen when veins that are close to the skin’s surface are accidentally cut or bumped. Since the vein itself is involved, this type of bleeding can be hard to stop.
If blood clots form in the affected vein(s), it can result in conditions called thrombophlebitis or deep vein thrombosis.
Thrombophlebitis occurs when blood clots cause the affected vein to swell. Veins may look red, swollen, and be painful as a result.
Deep vein thrombosis, on the other hand, occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep leg vein, which may be one of the larger veins running through the thigh and calf. This condition is accompanied by symptoms like swelling in the leg, pain and tenderness, warm skin at the site of the clot, red skin, and a deep ache in the area of the clot.
Deep vein thrombosis is a serious condition, as it can lead to pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism occurs when a piece of the blood clot breaks away, travels through the bloodstream, and blocks blood vessels in the lungs, called the pulmonary arteries. If any of these are blocked, the blockage can prevent blood from getting to the lungs, which can prevent oxygen from getting to cells, which can be life-threatening.
Varicose veins can be just one of the signs that a person’s blood flow in the veins is chronically poor. When blood flow is continually compromised over a long period of time, skin conditions can occur. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the skin, and without the proper flow, the skin might lose out on valuable nutrients.
The most common skin condition related to this is probably venous ulcers. These occur when the increased pressure in the veins of the lower leg (due to blood backflow) causes seepage of fluid from the vein into the surrounding tissues. The fluid negatively affects the skin, causing it to break down and, eventually, form an ulcer.
Other skin conditions that can form from improper blood flow include lipodermatosclerosis, where the skin tightens and hardens, and may turn reddish or brownish in color, or varicose eczema, where the skin turns flaky, scaly, and red.
As evidenced, varicose veins in Hialeah can cause all kinds of problems for an unfortunate few. Without treatment, Any of these can develop and negatively affect the health and well-being of a varicose vein sufferer.
