What If Varicose Veins Left Untreated? Part 1

Varicose vein is a very common vascular disease, which is caused by vein valves damage. It may be easily overlooked as leg pain or leg discomfort, because not all varicose veins will appear or bulge on the skin surface; some are invisible and located deeper under the skin in the leg.

 

The commonest sign and symptom of varicose veins is 𝐥𝐞𝐠 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠, due to pressure and toxins build-up in the leg. The condition will usually get worse throughout the day, especially towards the evening, after standing or walking for a long period of time.

 

As the day progresses, the next symptoms to show up is 𝐥𝐞𝐠 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. It can vary from just a touch of swelling at the ankles to full-blown oedema, which can make it difficult to put on shoes.

 

When this gets progressively worse, one may observe 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧. Oedema and skin changes are both present. The skin becomes dry and itchy, and patients tend to scratch a lot. Brown discoloration appears as a stain on the skin (leg). This occurs because of blood leaking from the blood vessels into the skin tissue.

 

Varicose veins do not mean only bulging of the veins. It will lead to more severe conditions such as leg swelling and skin colour changes if left untreated.