Varicose veins dangerous?

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Ngo Dac Thanh Huy - Cardiologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

Varicose veins make the legs ugly, making the patient lose confidence when wearing short clothes. However, the problem of varicose veins not only lies in aesthetics but also has many potential health risks. Therefore, detecting and proactively treating varicose veins at an early stage can limit the progression of the disease as well as its sequelae.

Varicose veins are observed as zigzag and possibly twisted lines appearing along the legs, dark blue or dark purple. Usually, they arise on the legs or feet, more severe can spread to the thighs and raised bumps on the skin. This is the result of standing, walking, or placing excessive pressure on the veins in the lower extremities continuously for long periods of time. In most cases, varicose veins of the lower extremities do not cause any symptoms at first. However, as the disease progresses, the patient will experience many related problems as follows:
Muscle cramps Bruising and bleeding under the skin Itching or a feeling of heaviness in the legs Pain that gets worse when standing or Sitting for a long time Burning sensation Swelling in the lower legs Redness of the skin

Not all cases of varicose veins are dangerous. Some patients have a purely cosmetic problem, so aggressive treatment at this time may not be necessary. Instead, the application of mainly lifestyle changes to reduce the weight on the legs, wearing pressure socks can help the elasticity of the vessel walls to recover somewhat.
As the disease progresses, varicose veins may begin to cause pain or discomfort that may become tolerable. However, in rare cases, varicose veins require treatment, as these can cause potentially serious cardiovascular problems such as the following:
2.1. Varicose veins Varicose veins in the blood vessels near the surface of the skin are very fragile, causing spontaneous bleeding or as a result of trauma to the legs. If a vein ruptures near a joint such as near the ankle, the knee joint may bleed spontaneously into the joint socket without early recognition, causing premature degeneration and loss of joint function.
Thus, in addition to the unsightly bruises on the skin, the patient can also lose a significant amount of blood, causing chronic anemia. Meanwhile, this cause of anemia is also quite dangerous because it is easy to miss, especially in the elderly and obese.
If varicose veins rupture occurs in deep veins and large size, it will be extremely difficult to stop bleeding. The amount of extravasation blood gradually increases leading to compartment syndrome, causing compression of blood vessels supplying the extremities and limb necrosis. At this time, the patient needs first aid to stop bleeding on the spot and quickly surgical intervention because it can be life-threatening in some cases if delayed.

2.2. Varicose veins and supraventricular tachycardia Supraventricular tachycardia is a term that categorizes various tachyarrhythmias that begin in the upper heart rate in which the heart rate accelerates abnormally, as a result of electrical impulses. instability or from pacing drives, spontaneous conduction loops. This condition has an effect on blood flow in the body's circulatory system because the left ventricular chambers don't have enough time to fill up before contracting. The most common symptoms that a person may experience with supraventricular tachycardia are:
Heart pounding Palpitations Dizziness Dizziness Fainting or near fainting Fatigue or lack of energy Loss of breath Sweating Unfortunately, in people with dangerously large varicose veins, there is a link between varicose veins and supraventricular tachycardia. This condition requires physical exertion on the cardiovascular system, including the veins and arteries, as they have to work harder to compensate for the lack of blood volume caused by pooling in the large varicose veins. . Thus, treatment of varicose veins alone is not sufficient to prevent serious local complications but also effectively control episodes of supraventricular tachycardia.
2.3. Varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis Varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis are closely related. The mechanism by which this occurs is the accumulation of blood in the large varicose veins, which facilitates the formation of blood clots in the deep veins. If a blood clot causes a deep vein blockage, the return of blood to the heart is delayed, and the leg will swell. Since then, the blood supply system coming from the arteries is also blocked, causing a lack of local blood supply; Severe levels can cause limb necrosis.
Besides, the thrombus in the venous system can also break, move from its original position, follow the reflux back to the heart and cause a pulmonary embolism, which is a pulmonary embolism. If the infarcted lung parenchyma is large, the patient can be in critical condition due to obstructive shock, severe hypoxemia and sometimes death.

2.4. Varicose veins and leg ulcers A leg ulcer is described as a loss of continuity in the skin of the leg. When the skin is broken, the environment and bacteria from the outside penetrate into the tissue organization, causing infection, necrosis and leading to sores and sores. In most acute cases, ulcers can begin to heal within a week or two of intensive care treatment. However, sores that will persist for longer or get worse may indicate a serious underlying problem. One of these problems is existing varicose veins.
The mechanism in varicose veins is to cause blood to stagnate, poor return to the heart as well as prevent nutrient-rich blood from the arteries to come. Since then, the sores in the legs are both more deprived of blood supply, and continuously edematous, so they are more susceptible to severe infections and more widespread necrosis.
2.5. Lipodermatosclerosis is also a consequence of blood stagnation caused by varicose veins and atherosclerotic deposits. In particular, the area of ​​soft tissue with subcutaneous fat in the lower part of one leg or both legs will be swollen, inflamed and edematous. Initially, the patient may notice swelling above the ankle area. Thereafter, the skin manifestations will progress to progressively worse, resembling cellulitis.
This complication of varicose veins can easily be confused with a bacterial infection because it resembles a skin and connective tissue disease. However, in subjects with pre-existing varicose veins, the acutely inflamed tissue becomes chronic and causes the skin to harden or thicken; You may also notice redness or increased pigmentation in the surrounding area. In rare cases, long-lasting skin ulcers have been reported.

Varicose veins usually affect women more than men, with the first suspected manifestation being a feeling of heaviness in the legs after a long day of work. If this is indeed the diagnosis, there is no way to completely stop its progression over time.
However, people can start as early as possible things that can improve blood flow and venous wall tone which will mean slow progression of the disease. These measures are quite simple and can be done at home, even in daily activities, not only help improve the elasticity of the blood vessels but also prevent varicose veins even when they have not happened. These include:
Monitor your weight and actively lose weight Follow a high-fiber, low-salt diet Avoid high heels or shoes that are too tight Elevate your legs while sleeping Change position when sitting or standing often If symptoms Varicose veins become more severe, in addition to the above non-pharmacological measures, patients need to visit a cardiologist early in order to be prescribed specialized treatment measures as well as intervention. varicose veins injection or varicose vein surgery when indicated for early prevention, avoiding dangerous complications.
In short, varicose veins are considered a chronic disease quite common in today's "industrial" life. Although the disease progresses slowly and early signs can be missed, when it gets severe enough, varicose veins can cause dangerous complications for the patient. Understanding and knowing the above information will help patients promptly adjust and proactively protect the health of their own feet.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has a package of lower extremity varicose veins examination to help customers who suspect the disease or have symptoms of varicose veins to receive an in-depth examination to determine the disease's condition. In addition, Vinmec Da Nang has trained human resources to deploy the technique of percutaneous vein intervention with laser.
Varicose veins disease progresses slowly in the early stages, it is difficult to recognize symptoms, so patients with risk factors such as multiple pregnancies, work or have to sit for a long time, stand for a long time or have any other health problems. Any symptoms of the disease should be diagnosed early and treated effectively to avoid complications of the disease.

Reference sources: veinclinics.com, usaveinclinics.com