Spider veins are often not a serious medical condition and some even treat them as purely cosmetic problems. But despite that being the case, spider veins can still be an indication of a much bigger problem.
Though there is no definitive stepwise progression to spider veins, it is worth noting that people who suffer from them oftentimes have varicose veins as well. And there are cases wherein spider veins appear and surround varicose veins. In the United State alone, approximately 24% of adults have visible varicose veins. And by contrast to spider veins, vein disease such as varicose veins can worsen and progress into something even more serious.
With that, we got inspired by the objective of a vein clinic and other small clinics that are starting to open up in the United States, and have listed some of the symptoms that you should not ignore if you suffer from both spider veins and varicose veins.
Hyperpigmentation
As blood pools around your legs and varicose veins start to develop, you might also notice symptoms of skin discoloration or hyperpigmentation. Though it is worth noting that some patients are fine even with varicose veins and hyperpigmentation, there is still a possibility that having both of these can be an underlying cause of a much more serious disease.
For instance, skin discoloration around the area of varicose veins may be an early warning sign of inflammation. This might mean complete blockage of blood flow in the damaged vein. Though symptoms of diseases such as deep vein thrombosis can be vague, it still would not hurt to have them checked by your doctor. This way, you can be at ease and if there are any complications, then you can simply have them treated right away.
Keep in mind that diseases such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can be serious and sometimes even deadly. DVT can also lead to pulmonary embolism or stroke. So it is highly recommended that you treat them at the onset before it gets worse.
Pain
Varicose veins are often not a serious condition and their symptoms can sometimes be easily remedied and treated at home.
However, while it is completely normal to have them, it can still be alarming if symptoms such as pain and cramp become more often.
If that is the case, then you should immediately see your vein specialist to have them checked. Remember that even though varicose veins are known to cause cramps and leg pain, it should not be as frequent and the pain should at least be manageable. Otherwise, your varicose veins might be an indication of an underlying problem or disease.
Edema
If you suffer from spider veins and varicose veins, then you should always be on the lookout for edema on your foot, leg, and ankles. Edema simply means swelling and buildup of extra fluid underneath your skin.
Persistent edema for people with varicose veins is often not normal. Unless you are pregnant, then quick relief and home remedies might not be helpful in the long run. With that, it is best to see a vein doctor to have them checked immediately.
On top of that, you already tick two of the descriptive classification of Clinical, Etiology, Anatomic, Pathophysiology (CEAP), so it is highly advisable to have both of your varicose veins and edema treated so that you can find out if you have any other underlying disease or not.
Because, at the end of the day, detecting and treating the disease from early on is always the best way to avoid further complications.
Why You Should Not Ignore It
According to UK’s National Health Service website, people with varicose veins have a higher risk of developing venous ulcers. Other than that, there are several vein diseases that are often associated with varicose veins and spider veins as well.
That is why several vein clinics across the United States are starting to open up. Many people are now starting to realize the importance of vein care for our overall health.
So rather than wait for these vein diseases to happen, you should instead be always on the lookout for these symptoms. This way, you can treat them early and you would not have to suffer the consequences of these diseases in the end.