As we get older, we get more and more susceptible to some things which may not necessarily be life-threatening but are unappealing for your appearance. One of those things has to do with your veins. Varicose veins are unattractive but obvious signs of ageing, stress, and other factors. Unfortunately, though, varicose veins are incredibly common in the population, and sometimes aren’t as easy to get rid of.
What are varicose veins?
Many people know that varicose veins can be unwanted additions to your appearance but do you know what exactly they are? Varicose veins are pretty easy to spot. They are veins that bulge out from the skin and give your skin a spiderweb-like appearance and can be greenish, bluish, or purplish in colour.
There’s a good reason why these veins look so swollen. Varicose veins are the end result when the smaller veins in your body have weak vein walls or valves. When this happens, these veins may be unable to prevent blood from pooling in the veins, resulting in twisted or swollen veins. In short, varicose veins are caused by increased blood pressure in the veins.
Varicose veins don’t just result in enlarged veins. There are other symptoms that you need to watch out for. If you’re experiencing this, you should try contacting a vein doctor in Singapore:
- Pain in your limbs and around your veins when you sit or stand for a long time.
- Irritated or swollen skin around the affected area.
- Itching around your veins.
- Cramps, tingling, or numbness in your limbs.
- Aches or throbs around your veins.
Can I develop some serious conditions with varicose veins?
With varicose veins, most people don’t develop serious conditions. After all, it’s a very normal sign of ageing and a significant percentage of adults have this. But it is possible to develop complications that might pose a health risk for you. Here are some that you might want to ask a specialist from a vein clinic in Singapore about if you’re concerned about complications.
Blood clotting (also known as thrombophlebitis): Blood clots usually happen around the legs but can also be very common around the neck and arm area. Blood clots can harden and darken your veins and also give you pain in the affected area.
Deep vein thrombosis: A serious condition where blood clots appear in deep veins. This can be life-threatening.
Bleeding close to the skin: Blood clots can cause veins to break easily, causing discoloured skin. Contact a doctor if you think your skin tends to bleed easily.
Do you think you may have deep vein thrombosis in Singapore or other endovascular conditions that might need some immediate care and attention? Contact Cheng SC Vein & Endovascular clinic and talk to a medical professional now.
