Are My Varicose Veins a Health Concern?

Varicose veins are frustrating and embarrassing — but are those gnarly, twisted, bulging veins more than a cosmetic issue?

Fortunately, most people don’t have to worry about complications from varicose veins. However, some experience symptoms and varicose veins can warn of an underlying issue. 

Here, Drs. John Yoo and Benjamin Wilson, at Vascular & Interventional Specialists in Fort Worth, Texas, offer expert insight into varicose veins and their implications for your overall health. 

How did I get varicose veins?

To understand how you got varicose veins, you should start with the basics of your cardiovascular system. 

Veins are the blood vessels that carry blood from your extremities to your heart. Because your veins often have to work against the force of gravity, they come equipped with valves that open and close with each heartbeat to keep blood moving in the right direction. 

Over time, without properly functioning valves and certain lifestyle factors, your blood pools in your veins, causing the veins to bulge and become visible. 

You’re most at risk for varicose veins if you’re older, obese, pregnant, living a sedentary lifestyle, a smoker, or sitting or standing for long periods. There may even be a genetic component to varicose veins. 

Now that you know how you got them, it’s time to discuss what to do about varicose veins and whether they threaten your health. 

Are my varicose veins a health concern?

We’re happy to report that your varicose veins aren’t likely a health concern, especially if they’re small and asymptomatic. If you have large or many varicose veins, you might experience the following:

• Leg swelling
• Itching
• Cramping, burning, or stinging sensations
• Night spasms
• Feeling of fatigue or heaviness in the legs or feet
• Skin changes, including skin damage that can lead to ulcers
• Skin infection (cellulitis)
• Bleeding

Whether your varicose veins are simply a cosmetic concern or triggering frustrating symptoms, there's hope in treatment. Depending on your needs, we can recommend lifestyle modifications, compression garments, venous ablation, and/or minimally invasive surgery to remove damaged veins. 

When varicose veins go bad

In some cases, varicose veins cause other problems or are a warning sign of underlying health issues. 

For instance, varicose veins can lead to ulcers, bleeding, inflammation, or skin discoloration. They can also increase the risk of blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or even pulmonary embolism. 

Severe varicose veins can also indicate problems such as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which affects how the veins carry blood to the heart. 

That’s why you shouldn’t ignore even small varicose veins. A physical exam with one of our specialists and imaging tests can rule out those health threats or help us proactively avoid them. 

Don’t leave your health status a question mark.  Call our friendly staff at 817-321-0951 or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation with one of our experts and get more answers to your varicose veins questions.