Are Varicose Veins Dangerous? What Your Doctor Wants You to Know

Getting older means having to be more honest with yourself about your health & all of the changes your body is going through. While it might be a little presumptuous, you’ve probably asked yourself, “Are varicose veins dangerous?” On the surface, it may seem like a bit of a silly question, but when you really start thinking about, any issue that deals with your circulation merits your attention.

Varicose veins aren’t something anyone wants to think about or deal with, but it’s a part of getting older for many people. For most folks out there, they are a little embarrassing to show their legs either in shorts in swimsuits. Why someone would have this aversion is understandable, but many people are not fully aware that the presence of varicose veins may be a sign of something a bit more disconcerting than once believed.

Using the word ‘dangerous’ might feel a bit alarmist, but you should know that medical professionals do stress that simply looking the other way & ignoring them is something to avoid.

Here are a few things your doctor want you to know:

Acknowledge Their Presence – The human body is wonderful in that it reacts to things it does not agree with, and this physical disagreement is helpful in determining if something is very wrong. Varicose veins usually aren’t something to lose sleep over, but all patients aren’t the same.

Men Aren’t Immune – Yes, women tend to deal with them more often than men do, but men are certainly not off the hook. This somewhat antiquated idea of what ailments afflict the sexes has seen vast changes in recent years, which is good. The last thing you’d want to do is avoid addressing a potentially problematic issue with your health because you want to be a ‘tough guy’.

Equal Opportunity – We remember our older family members, specifically our moms, aunts, and grandmothers, dealing with this issue. You start attaching an arbitrary age to it all, but modern medical science has shown that the development of varicose veins are usually based on genetics.

Be Vigilant & Inspect – Sure, it feels a little odd, but take the time to look yourself over. If you see something that looks like varicose veins, make a note of it & bring it up to your doctor. Your vigilance may be crucial in addressing major issues such as blood clots that may form in your body. Also, be sure to note the presence of inflammation & leg ulcers.

What You Can’t See Can Hurt You – One wrench in the vigilance game is that varicose veins aren’t always visible. As such, you have to look out for symptoms such as heaviness in your legs, pain, heat, and certainly swelling.

Have you recently asked yourself, “Are varicose veins dangerous?” Good. It means that you’ve got the right mindset in paying attention to your body & what it might be telling you. Ask your doctor about your varicose veins and whether you should be concerned. Listen well, ask questions, and be an active partner in your overall health.