Your Varicose Veins May Be More Than Just a Cosmetic Concern

If you struggle with impossible-to-ignore varicose veins, you’re not alone — 1 in every 3 adults develops them. Most varicose veins are nothing to worry about, but if they become painful or create open wounds, they could indicate an underlying medical problem.

At Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group, Dr. Jon-Cecil Walkes, our board-certified thoracic surgeon, evaluates visible or aching veins to determine whether they’re more than a cosmetic concern.

Varicose veins 101

Varicose veins are swollen, visible, and sometimes itchy or painful veins that generally appear in the legs. They develop when damaged, stretched, or weak valves cause blood to flow backward and pool in the affected veins. 

You’re more likely to develop varicose veins if you have a family history of them, have spider veins (smaller versions of varicose veins), or carry excess body weight. Other risk factors include aging, being female, pregnancy, and standing or sitting for long periods. 

Although varicose veins can make you self-conscious about wearing shorts, there’s more to them than vanity. Blue or purple cord-like veins sometimes indicate the presence of a severe, even life-threatening, medical problem. Don’t write off visible veins as simply an aesthetic concern. 

Dr. Walkes can assess your varicose veins and determine whether an underlying problem requires treatment. 

Health concerns linked to varicose veins

Examples of potentially problematic conditions linked to varicose veins include:

Pain

Varicose veins are more than a cosmetic concern when they’re painful. You might experience aching, swelling, a heavy feeling in your legs, itching, soreness, or generalized discomfort — usually in the lower extremities. You could develop throbbing, burning, numbness, or cramping. Varicose vein pain often worsens when standing or sitting for long periods. 

Venous ulcers

Some people with varicose veins develop open sores (ulcers), which commonly appear near the ankles. These sores are often painful and can become infected.

Blood clots

Blood clots are dangerous and sometimes life-threatening. Severe varicose veins might increase the risk of superficial blood clots or clots in your deep veins (deep vein thrombosis, also called DVT). 

Blood clots can break apart and travel to your lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. If you experience swelling, pain, or redness in your leg or signs of a pulmonary embolism (difficulty breathing, chest pain, sweating, fainting, a fast heartbeat, or coughing up blood), call 911 — it’s a medical emergency.

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)

Varicose veins may also be a sign of CVI, which affects veins’ ability to pump blood to your heart. Untreated CVI can cause tiny blood vessels to burst, skin discoloration, tissue damage, inflammation, ulcers, and dangerous infections. About 1 in 50 adults with varicose veins eventually develop CVI. 

When to seek treatment for varicose veins

Regardless of whether you're embarrassed by varicose veins, it’s vital to see our vein specialists for an evaluation to detect or rule out potentially serious underlying medical concerns. After a thorough assessment and diagnostic testing, Dr. Walkes may suggest one or more of the following treatments for varicose veins or their underlying causes:

• Regular exercise, a nutritious diet, no smoking, and other healthy lifestyle habits
• Healthy weight management
• Compression stockings
• Elevation
• Medications 
• Sclerotherapy (injection)
• Laser treatments
• Radiofrequency ablation
• VenaSeal™ (medical adhesive)
• Varithena (microfoam treatment)
• Vein surgery 

Varicose veins don’t always disappear on their own. If they bother you for aesthetic reasons or become painful, trust our experienced Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group experts for superior services that eliminate unsightly veins, pain, and the risk of complications. 

Book a varicose vein evaluation with Dr. Walkes or our nurse practitioner at Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group by calling our office or requesting an appointment online today.