|
What are the Dangers of Varicose Veins? |
|
|
|
What are the Dangers of Varicose Veins? |
|
|
Many people are concerned with varicose veins and spider veins only in a cosmetic sense. For others, varicose veins are painful and sometimes lead to more serious conditions. The symptoms of venous disease tend to worsen as the varicosities increase. As they enlarge, venous insufficiency may increase and lead to other complications, the most common of which are blood clots (phlebitis), leg ulcers(breaks in the skin), bleeding, infection and stasis (skin) changes in the legs. Varicose veins also may signal a higher risk of other disorders of the circulatory system.
When blood in the varicose and spider veins stagnates, it causes a pooling in the legs, known as venous congestion that is more evident when the legs are below the level of the heart and less evident when they are elevated. The inability to adequately move the blood that is below the heart upward is known as venous insufficiency. Many of the symptoms of which patients complain are caused by stagnant venous blood. |
|
Phlebitis (blood clots) is an inflamed tender vein that is the result of stagnant blood that has clotted within a vein. Phlebitis generally occurs when the already slowed blood flow in the varicose veins becomes slower or the bodies clotting mechanisms are stimulated causing a thrombosis to form. A long ride in a plane or car, where your legs are not moving much is a common situation that starts phlebitis. A minor trauma to the legs may also turn on the bodies clotting mechanisms. In some cases phlebitis is extremely dangerous and in others it is very benign, depending on which veins are involved. The greatest danger with certain clots is that they may break free from the leg veins and travel to the lungs. These "emboli" then block the proper functioning of the heart and lungs and can result in death. Even those blood clots that don't leave the leg veins can cause pain and inflammation in the acute phase and additional problems in the future as well.
High pressure in the superficial veins may cause skin changes like eczema, pigmentation and superficial skin ulceration in the area above the ankle and can cause pain, tenderness throbbing and discomfort. With chronically high pressure on the veins, blood cells are thought to be forced out of the veins and capillaries and deposited into the surrounding tissue. The subsequent breakdown of these red blood cells causes a dark rusty look to the legs most often on the inner ankles that creates a barrier through which oxygen and nutrient transfer is reduced. This overlying skin is more prone to ulceration and infection from any minor injury such a bump, scratch or bug bite. In severe advanced cases, varicose veins can rupture on their own and form open sores.
Having varicose veins does not necessarily mean that there is anything wrong with your arteries or other parts of your circulatory system.
Page url: http://www.venousreturns.com?varicoseveindangers.htm
