10 Oct 2024
Varicose veins are engorged and swollen blood vessels that appear just beneath the surface of our skin. These blue or purple veins on legs mostly appear in your feet, legs, and ankles. They can be itchy and painful. They might get surrounded by spider veins, which are tiny purple or red lines that show under the skin’s surface.
Despite their unsightly appearance, such veins are not dangerous for most people. In some situations, serious varicose veins can result in severe health issues, including blood clots. You can get rid of most vein symptoms at home. However, if you are facing a serious case, then you might need advanced treatment with laser therapy, injections, or even surgery. Let us look into some nitty-gritty of purple veins.
Purple veins occur when the veins’ walls start to weaken. As the blood pressure in these veins increases, the weakened walls permit your veins to bulge. And, as these veins grow in size, the valves that keep the blood flowing in one direction in your veins stop working as they should. This blood starts accumulating in your veins, resulting in your veins twisting, swelling, and even bulging. In many conditions, vein valves might become weak due to:
The heavily recognizable sign of purple veins is a blue or purple, gnarled vein appearing just under the surface of your skin. The symptoms of such veins include:
Swollen, twisted, rope-like veins that are mostly purple or blue. They appear right under the surface of the skin on your feet, ankles, and legs. They develop in clusters and are surrounded by smaller spider veins (blue or red lines).
Your leg muscles might start feeling heavy, tired, or sluggish, particularly after physical exertion.
Without treatment, such veins result in discolorations on your skin. Serious varicose veins might cause sores (venous ulcers). This is why you might spot purple on legs.
The surrounding area near a varicose vein might itch.
Legs with such venous issues might be sore, painful, and achy, particularly behind the knees. People also report to have muscle cramps.
Your legs, feet, and ankles can throb and swell as well.
Any individual can develop purple veins on their legs. Some factors elevate the chances of developing such veins. These factors include:
Due to the aging process, vein velves as well as the walls do not work as they should. With time, veins lose thier elasticity and become stiff.
Female hormones permit the walls of the veins to stretch. Women who are taking birth control pills, or are pregnant, or even going through menopause have a greater risk of having their legs purple because of changes in their hormone levels.
People can even inherit such venous conditions if it runs in their family.
Sitting or standing for longer periods of time results in decreased circulation. This might be one of the major risk factors for purple veins.
Particular health issues can elevate the pressure in the veins, which might cause them to bulge and appear purple or blue.
People who regularly use tobacco products are most likely to develop such venous conditions.
Extra weight also exerts pressure on these blood vessels, leading them to work abnormally.
A lot of people do not have any complications arising from their purple veins. However, some individuals might have to experience ulcers (open sores), skin discoloration, bleeding, and even swollen purple legs due to such conditions. Serious varicose veins might also indicate Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). In this condition, the ability of veins to pump blood back to the heart is affected. If you are dealing with such venous issues, you are more likely to get blood clots. It is important to consult your healthcare provider for such issues. Experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen evaluate and monitor their patients for clotting disorders, as well as other symptoms, including:
Blood clots can develop inside varicose veins, leading to superficial thrombophlebitis or superficial venous thrombosis. This condition is painful, but it is not life-threatening in most cases. It is treatable.
If you are experiencing varicose veins, then you might have a greater risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In this condition, the individuals develop a blood clot in their veins deep inside their bodies.
A blood clot within the body (mostly from DVT) can get inside the lungs. Pulmonary embolism is a dangerous condition that requires immediate treatment.
There are certain treatments that can help you look after your purple veins and feel better. You are most likely to go home on the same day you get these treatments. Some of the common treatments include:
Elevating your legs above your waist multiple times a day helps in increasing the blood flow and decrease pressure in your veins.
Socks or supportive stockings compress your veins and reduce discomfort. This compression helps your blood flow and halts your veins from stretching.
During sclerotherapy, a healthcare expert injects a solution in your vein. This solution results in the vein walls sticking together. Eventually, your vein turns into a scar tissue and fades away.
Healthcare professionals, i.e., experts from Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen, use a catheter (A thin and long tube) along with a laser to close off the damaged vein. It is a minimally invasive procedure that is also known as endovenous thermal ablation.
A medical expert makes several punctures or cuts in your skin next to the varicose vein. Then, they tie off and remove a section of vein at a time.
During such procedures, also known as ligation and stripping, the surgeon ties off your damaged vein (ligation) to stop blood from accumulating. They might also strip (remove) the vein to prevent any chances of your varicose veins reappearing.
You might not be able to prevent varicose veins. However, you can cut down the chances of developing them by living a healthy and active lifestyle. Medical experts recommend a number of measures to treat and prevent such veins. Let us look at some of them, shall we?
To motivate blood flow, take regular breaks to walk around and stretch. This also helps if you have a job that requires you to be on your feet.
Elevating your feet above your waist helps blood flow to your heart.
Reducing weight and getting rid of excess pounds can also help you decrease the pressure on your blood vessels. Thus, you can avoid getting purple legs.
Smoking damages blood vessels, lowers blood flow, and results in a huge range of health concerns.
To improve circulation, avoid sitting still for long hours and move frequently.
Support socks and compression stockings compress your veins and help your blood circulate. This can prevent purple veins from getting worse.
Purple veins might keep you from wearing shorts and even result in discomfort. The great news is that a lot of people do not have any complications from such a condition. If these veins bother you, you can give home treatments a chance; they might help. You can also ask your healthcare provider about various available treatments. Experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regencan help you treat your vein issues. Just bear in mind that such veins can appear again. So, it is best for you to consult your healthcare provider regarding the best treatment available to you.