What is the most severe outcome of untreated varicose veins?

Blood Clots
Clots in deep veins can travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing potentially life-threatening issues like a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal. This is one of the most serious health risks associated with untreated varicose veins.

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What will happen if varicose veins is left untreated?

Varicose veins can cause ulcers (open sores), bleeding and skin discoloration if left untreated. Severe varicose veins may be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency. This condition affects your veins' ability to pump blood to your heart. People who have varicose veins may be more likely to develop blood clots.

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What are the dangers of ignoring varicose veins?

Untreated varicose veins can often result in an excess of blood leaking into the surrounding tissue. This can cause parts of the skin to become dark and discoloured. This is often seen around the ankle.

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What is the last stage of varicose veins?

Ulcers (Stage 4)

This is the final stage of varicose veins. Your leg will be swollen with discoloured skin and an ulcer may develop. If left untreated it can be extremely painful and the veins may burst. Treatment at this stage is pretty much limited to minimally invasive treatments like EVLT or Surgery.

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What are the 5 complications of varicose veins?

Varicose Vein Complications
  • Phlebitis. ...
  • Bleeding. ...
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) ...
  • Venous Insufficiency. ...
  • Dermatitis and Complications of the Skin. ...
  • Venous Ulcers. ...
  • References. ...
  • Further Reading.

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Risks and dangers of leaving Varicose Veins untreated

23 related questions found

What is the most serious complication associated with varicose veins?

Blood Clots

Clots in deep veins can travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing potentially life-threatening issues like a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal. This is one of the most serious health risks associated with untreated varicose veins.

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What organ does varicose veins affect?

Varicose veins happen in the veins near the surface of the skin (superficial). The blood moves towards the heart by one-way valves in the veins. When the valves become weakened or damaged, blood can collect in the veins. This causes the veins to become enlarged.

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What is Stage 5 varicose veins?

Stage five is the most advanced stage of vein disease and is most often referred to as the “leg ulcer” stage. At this stage, venous congestion prevents blood flow and nutrition to the skin, resulting in venous ulcers on the surface of the skin.

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How do you treat stage 4 varicose veins?

Surgeries or other procedures
  1. Sclerotherapy. A health care provider injects the varicose veins with a solution or foam that scars and closes those veins. ...
  2. Laser treatment. ...
  3. Catheter-based procedures using radiofrequency or laser energy. ...
  4. High ligation and vein stripping. ...
  5. Ambulatory phlebectomy (fluh-BEK-tuh-me).

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What is the mortality rate of varicose veins?

Conclusions: A total of 869,220 surgeries were performed to treat chronic venous disease over twelve years, with an overall rate of 4.52 procedures per 10,000 population per year. The mortality rate was very low, 0.0056%.

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Are varicose veins bad for your heart?

Does poor circulation in the legs indicate poor heart health? The short answer: No, it does not. Varicose veins are formed due to weakened vein valves, which has nothing to do with your current heart health. There is no link between varicose veins and heart disease or arterial disease, or being overweight.

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Is varicose vein surgery covered by Medicare Australia?

Many Australians suffer from varicose veins, which are especially common in women as they age. The good news is that many varicose vein treatments are eligible for a Medicare rebate, which typically covers around 75-85% of the varicose vein removal costs.

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Do varicose veins affect life expectancy?

There's some good news, though. "Varicose veins typically aren't life-threatening or limb-threatening, and they generally don't increase your chance of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or developing blood clots, which is what a lot of people worry about," says Dr. Lu.

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Can you lose a leg from varicose veins?

At worst, they can be indicative of a progressive disease process called chronic venous insufficiency, which causes poor wound healing, ulcers and, in severe cases, can lead to amputation.

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Can varicose veins cause stroke?

It is a serious condition that can cause severe pain, injury, and potentially fatal consequences. This can include pulmonary embolism, stroke, or heart attack. Those who are already experiencing varicose veins or venous insufficiency are more prone to onset of deep vein thrombosis.

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When should you worry about varicose veins?

What to Watch For. If you are experiencing pain or you notice swelling or discoloration of your lower legs, these can be signs of a more serious problem and you should consult a doctor. Other symptoms might include burning, cramping, itching or throbbing in the legs, and some might experience restless leg syndrome.

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What happens when varicose veins get worse?

Increased pain and swelling – When varicose veins go untreated, the veins continue to get more damaged, which ends up making the pain worse and the legs swollen. Prolonged symptoms. Just because a person with varicose veins is not experiencing any symptoms right now, it does not mean they will never experience them.

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What is the recovery time for varicose vein surgery?

You will need to take it easy at home for 3 to 7 days after the surgery. How long it takes for you to recover depends on how many veins were removed. After surgery, problems caused by the varicose veins may go away. Removing varicose veins usually doesn't cause circulation problems.

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Is Walking good for varicose veins?

While exercise won't cure varicose veins, it can help improve your symptoms and reduce your risk of developing more. Walking, biking and swimming are all great low-impact exercises that are easy on the joints and help circulation in varicose veins.

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What are the symptoms of severe varicose veins?

Symptoms of varicose veins
  • aching, heavy and uncomfortable legs.
  • swollen feet and ankles.
  • burning or throbbing in your legs.
  • muscle cramp in your legs, particularly at night.
  • dry, itchy and thin skin over the affected vein.

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What do severe varicose veins look like?

Signs of varicose veins include: Veins that are dark purple or blue. Veins that appear twisted and bulging, often appearing like cords on the legs.

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Do varicose veins get worse with age?

This is a chronic condition and it gets worse over time. The long term effects of gravity and age also play a role in varicose veins and spider veins. Gravity is constantly trying to pull blood back down the legs, putting stress on the valves. As we age, the valve tissue and vein wall tissue weaken.

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Is it worth getting varicose veins removed?

Having surgery or a procedure is a better choice if you care a lot about how your legs look. Home treatment won't change the look of varicose veins. Surgery and other procedures also can reduce pain and other symptoms. Surgery can leave tiny scars on your legs.

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How do I know if I have a blood clot in my varicose vein?

The most common symptoms that indicate you have a blood clot include: Being unable to move parts of your body due to pain, especially if other symptoms do not accompany this pain. An intense burning sensation over an area(s) of your body. Excessive sweating over one or more areas of your body.

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What vein is most commonly affected by the condition of varicose veins?

Varicose veins are most commonly found on the calves or on the inner leg. They develop when blood builds up in the superficial veins of the legs. These veins then typically become swollen, raised and appear purple or blue through the skin. A milder form of varicose veins is known as spider veins.

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