
Varicose veins cause pain and swelling and an increased risk of developing blood clots in the leg. They can be prevented and treated with the proper care. You can prevent potentially dangerous blood clots by treating your vein disease as quickly as possible with Vin experts like the Chicago Chicago vein Institute.
Studies have shown that patients diagnosed with varicose veins are at an increased risk of developing blood clots, but because you have varicose veins does not mean you have blood clots automatically. You can lower your risks of blood clots by treating varicose veins with proper vein treatment to treat underlying vein disease.
How do blood clots form?
The blood clots. It is normal and necessary and helps the body stop excessive bleeding after something like an injury. Under ordinary circumstances, when a blood vessel breaks, Platonism protein substances in the blood bond to form a stable cloud that repairs the blood vessel over time. The clot then dissolves as the blood vessel heals and allows blood to flow normally through the vein.
In some cases, blood clots develop when there is no injury, as seen in varicose veins patients. Varicose veins signal chronic venous insufficiency, which is a breakdown in the proper circulation of the veins. When the tiny valves in the veins become unhealthy, they can allow blood to flow backward and eventually pool, causing the veins to swell and turn into varicose veins.
Stagnating blood after a breakdown in blood circulation can thicken the cells. These cells then clump together, increasing the chances of a blood clot developing.
A blood clot that the veins of the legs are known as deep vein thrombosis. When you have deep vein thrombosis, you can experience swelling, pain, and warm or red-colored skin. When you start to see symptoms like these developing, it requires immediate medical treatment to prevent the clot From traveling throughout the body, which can cause life-threatening issues. For example, when a blood clot travels to the lungs, it can block oxygen flow and cause life-threatening issues like pulmonary embolism. Signs of PE include shortness of breath, dizziness, rapid pulse, and coughing up blood. If you have these issues, you need to go to the emergency room immediately.
How can blood clots be prevented?
Being overweight and obese and advanced in age are two of the main risk factors for varicose veins. Being overweight puts excessive pressure on the veins, eventually weakening the vein valves and causing venous insufficiency. Vein valves also naturally lose their strength as we age, but issues are exacerbated by a sedentary lifestyle and lack of movement. If it is important to you to prevent varicose veins and other vein issues. It is essential, as well, to be focused on having a healthy lifestyle. Exercise regularly, at least once a day, as well as diet, are both essential aspects of an overall healthy person, veins included.
Varicose vans can be treated now with minimally invasive surgical treatments. In the meantime, before any type of surgical intervention, compression stockings are a great way to halt vein issues. You should consider using them if you need to stand or sit for long periods, such as at work. These highly elastic socks will gently squeeze the veins in your legs to encourage healthy blood flow, which is great in preventing blood clots from forming in these areas, which are the most dangerous areas and most common when looking at varicose vein development.
Risk factors for varicose veins
Varicose veins can be genetic or an inherited condition, and many other factors can increase the pressure in the veins causing contribution to the formation of varicose veins. Some of these include:
- Being overweight or obese
- Being older age
- Being female
- Living an active lifestyle
- Having an injury to the legs
- Being pregnant
- Being a smoker
- Taking contraceptive pills or hormone replacement therapy
Vein specialists in Chicago
Chicago vein Institute specializes in vascular disorders like varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis. If you feel that you’re at risk or currently have varicose veins, we can diagnose your condition quickly and set up a customized treatment plan for you that will remedy the situation in the quickest and most minimally invasive way possible. Having healthy veins is an essential part of your overall body health, so don’t ignore the signs of vein disease. You can schedule transportation with us online or at any of our clinics throughout the Chicago area. If you prefer, you can give us a call at (773) 231-9884 to schedule an appointment or ask questions. We are here for you to serve your vein health needs.
North Center
2333 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60618
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Portage, IN
6050 Sterling Creek Rd.
Portage, IN 46368
219.212.0188
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Chicago Vein Institute is a practice solely dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of vein diseases. The experts at CVI perform the latest and most effective treatments for painful varicose veins, spider veins, and other vein-related disorders. CVI offers minimally invasive treatment options, including Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA), Ambulatory Phlebectomy, Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy, Surface Sclerotherapy, Elastic Compression Stockings and wound care for venous ulcers, performing more than 11,000 vein-related procedures annually. Same-Day appointments and multi-lingual team members standing by to assist.