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Kent Johnson MD, with over 25 years of experience in the practice of Medicine, gives a low down on the symptoms of varicose veins. He is a leading vein doctor working at the Texas branch of the Metro Vein Centers, whose primary goal is to help alleviate the pain of varicose veins. These are unsightly bulges due to weakened valves that cause blood to pool in an area. These can occur in any part of the body, but they are most commonly seen in your legs.
Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic problem, but it is a pressing issue that has the potential to affect people’s quality of lives. Thus, it is imperative that you consult a doctor in a vein center to get the right imaging diagnostic tests to assess the severity problem and to receive the proper treatment to prevent the re-canalization of these veins. It is important to seek someone you trust, like the specialists at the Metro Vein Centers located in Michigan, Texas, New Jersey, and New York, so you can be assured that the proper procedure is chosen for your case because varicose veins come with different levels of severity. Here are the symptoms of varicose veins that you should keep an eye on:
Bulging Veins
There are bulging veins on your legs that are often twisted and look like cords. At times, they can also look like discolored spider webs coming in the hues of blue and purple. There are some minor cases when they just look ugly, but do not cause any pain nor discomfort. But don’t wait before these veins get any bigger to consult your doctor. The bigger it gets, the harder it becomes to treat and eliminate.
Swelling
Watch out for edema or swelling in your ankles and feet. Sometimes, prolonged sitting and standing makes your feet area super painful, making your shoes feel extra tight. Keep an eye out for this discomfort because it means circulation down there is no longer good because of the weakened veins.
Leg Heaviness
Similar to swelling, you can feel that your legs are extra heavy after too much standing or walking. This can also occur when you’ve been stuck in the same sitting position for awhile because it impedes the blood flow. Often you’ll feel like your legs are throbbing and constantly cramping. When the occurrence of this impedes your daily life, seek professional help because you may need a minor surgical intervention to relieve your pain.
Discolored Skin
Often, there is a discoloration of the skin around the area of the varicose veins. This is due to telangiectasias, which in layman’s term refers to the clusters of red veins that are visible beneath the surface of the skin. At times, this appears in the upper body, even the face, along with the legs.
Dermatitis
Varicose veins can cause severe dermatitis, also known as itchiness of the skin. Sometimes, they can even look like eczema, with dry, scaly patches. If you can’t resists scratching, they can become irritated and leave unsightly abrasions. Worse case scenario is these veins will bleed and/or leave skin ulcers (sores), which can become easily infected.
It is important be aware of these symptoms. Disregarding them can have detrimental consequences. An example is superficial thrombophlebitis or a blood clot in the vein near the surface of the skin, which causes severe pain. The worst possible complication of severe varicose veins is deep vein thrombosis or DVT. This can lead to a blood clot in the lungs or a pulmonary embolism that can be fatal.
Dr. Kent Johnson emphasized that you have to go to a vein doctor to get the proper treatment at the first sign of trouble. It is not vanity to take care of these ghastly varicose veins, but a matter of necessity because they are painful and can lead to complications. Prevention will always be better than cure, so it is best to nip these varicose veins in the bud while they are still just in the beginning stages.
This is all good information about Varicose Veins. I have them and it is difficult. Dr. Kent Johnson does sound like a very good doctor to see if you live in that area.