Are Varicose Veins Dangerous?

You know that your veins play a critical role in your body. But when you have bulging, visible, and sometimes even painful veins, you’ve probably wished you could just get rid of them. You might have even wondered if those veins could be dangerous for your overall health.

Don’t worry. Most varicose veins don’t present any serious health challenges, and you can get rid of them with the treatment options that our expert providers offer here at Vascular & Interventional Associates. We help people throughout northern Kentucky and in Cincinnati, Ohio, get healthier-looking legs and avoid potential complications.

Should you be worried about your varicose veins? Let’s find out. 

The potential complications of varicose veins

Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that develop when the one-way valves in the veins weaken or fail, causing blood to pool. They’re most common in your legs. 

Many people with varicose veins don’t experience any symptoms other than their visibility. But for some, these veins can cause a heavy, achy pain in your legs. They can also cause:

• Swelling
• Itching
• Leg fatigue
• Skin discoloration

You may also experience venous ulcers, usually around your ankles, and a condition called stasis dermatitis, which is a type of skin inflammation.

Having varicose veins can heighten your risk for complications, like deep vein thrombosis, which occurs when a blood clot forms in your vein. If the blood clot breaks free and travels to your lungs, it can cause a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. 

In general, however, having a varicose vein isn’t dangerous. Nevertheless, it’s well worth having a member of our team monitor it so we can recommend treatment if needed. 

Treating varicose veins

Whether your varicose vein needs treatment to prevent complications or you just don’t like the way it looks, our team at Vascular & Interventional Associates can get rid of it.

We offer a number of treatments to close off or remove the problematic vein. Your body then redirects blood flow to other, healthy veins and starts the process of absorbing the closed-off vein so it fades from view. 

The varicose vein treatments we offer include:

• Endovenous laser ablation
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy
• Microphlebectomy

Our vein specialists use a diagnostic tool called Doppler ultrasound venous reflux. This lets us see the blood traveling through your vein in real time so we can identify troublesome veins or potentially dangerous varicose veins and recommend the right treatment for you. 

To address a painful varicose vein or one that’s bothering you cosmetically, don’t hesitate to contact Vascular & Interventional Associates. Call our office in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, or request an appointment online today.