Most people believe varicose veins to just be a cosmetic issue, but in reality, they are a serious medical complication and pose a severe threat to your life! Not only do they make your legs look ugly but also negatively affect your body’s blood circulation, thus being the sole reason for many venous disorders and other health concerns.
Today, as many as 30% of the people suffer from these bulging and swollen veins that can be felt and seen right under the surface of the skin in the lower region of the legs. Caused when certain leg veins with a faulty valve become incapable of sending the deoxygenated blood back to the heart, these appear as bluish-purple veins and result in pooling of blood.
Varicose veins are a clear sign of some serious underlying health issues that must be addressed in a timely manner. Painful varicose veins must be immediately reported to your doctor as any delay in diagnosis and treatment can result in irreversible health conditions.
Below are the top 6 medical conditions that may crop up due to the lack of treatment of varicose veins:
- Leg Swelling – As the pressure builds up in the faulty veins, the blood fluid leaks into the surrounding tissues and causes swelling. Swelling can be felt like a tight sensation in your legs, the socks may begin to leave an impression on your legs, and in severe cases, the swelling can be to an extent that your shoes may not fit your feet anymore. Most times, elevating your legs with the help of a pillow will help reduce the swelling temporarily.
- Skin Ulcers – Open sores or wounds that are difficult to heal are called skin ulcers. Swelling in the legs for an extended duration of time can lead to skin colour changes in the affected area. The skin may also turn hard as the swollen tissues hamper the blood flow and restrict the nutrients and oxygen from reaching the involved tissues. Reducing the leg swelling is vital to healing these open sores.
- Skin Infection – As the tissues get stretched due to the swelling, the body loses its natural defense mechanism to fight against infections. The bacteria on the skin surface may get into the body and cause a bacterial infection referred to as cellulitis. The infected area becomes red and feels warm. This generally requires antibiotics for treatment. Reducing the swelling is also likely to help in the recovery process.
- Bleeding – Right below the surface of the skin, a large amount of blood remains pooled in the varicose veins and the surrounding tissues. If by any chance you get injured and hurt, cut or damage your veins, there is bound to be significantly more bleeding than usual. If the injury is very large, it will probably take you longer than normal to stop the bleeding.
- Thrombophlebitis – This refers to an inflammatory process where a blood clot is formed that blocks one or more of your veins, most commonly in the legs. It is highly probable for untreated varicose veins to cause blood clotting. The damaged area becomes very painful, it is warm to touch, and the veins also becomes quite hard.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) – In about 25% cases where people have developed blood clots in their veins, the blood clots are formed in the deeper veins and this condition is referred to as DVT. The biggest risk in DVT is that of the blood clot breaking off and travelling to the lungs as that can result in the life-threatening disease called pulmonary embolism. DVT is a medical emergency and must be treated in a priority.
Varicose veins, whether painful or not, must be treated by a vascular expert to prevent further damage and unforeseen vein health complications. For the treatment of varicose veins, you need not undergo surgery as today, there are available minimally-invasive procedures that are painless and have zero downtime.
Avis Hospitals’ team of vascular specialists and interventional radiologists have expertise in treating the varicose veins with the latest endovenous laser ablation process that is a no-cut, no-scar, and no-stitch procedure. The process requires only local anaesthesia and the patient can go back home the same day to resume work and everyday activities from the next day itself!
If you are eager to know more about the endovenous laser treatment process, get your medical check-up done from experienced doctors, learn about the treatment expenses, and ask your queries regarding the available medical insurance assistance, feel free to schedule an appointment at https://avisvascularcentre.com/
