Are you fed up with putting up with varicose vein’s discomfort and appearance?

The good news is that you can relieve your concerns with practical treatments and improve your vascular health. Wondering what varicose veins are and the stages of varicose veins - the symptoms and progression?

Well, you’re in the right place. In this article, Mykare Health explores all the four stages of varicose veins and the most effective ways to treat them.

What Are Varicose Veins?

First thing first, let’s help you understand what varicose veins are. Varicose veins are twisted and swollen veins, typically found in the legs and are readily noticeable beneath the skin's surface.

They are caused by a disorder called venous insufficiency.

Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins' internal valves malfunction, allowing blood to pool and enlarging the veins. They can cause pain, discomfort, and agonizing sensations. They commonly appear as bulging, blue or dark purple cords.

Factors including age, pregnancy, genetics, and extended standing or sitting times can lead to its development.

Four Stages Of Varicose Veins

Symptoms of varicose veins may not be very noticeable at first. So you may ignore them. However, as soon as you become aware of the symptoms, you need to get medical attention.

Further health issues may arise if varicose veins are not treated or are treated later than necessary. With each stage, the symptoms of varicose veins become severe.

Stage 1 of Varicose Veins

In their early stage, veins may appear enlarged and darken in color. In certain circumstances, varicose veins might cause minor pain during this initial period. On the other hand, some people can feel intense pain during the initial phase itself.

Other symptoms:

• Itchiness and heaviness in the legs
• Burning sensation in the legs
• Veins turning to dark color
• Inflammation around varicose veins

If you ignore the first stage symptoms of varicose veins, the situation will eventually get worse. As a result, it leads to the second stage of varicose veins.

Stage 2 of Varicose Veins

Stage 2 is characterized by increased swelling and inflammation in the legs and ankles. The inflammation is caused by an obstruction of blood circulation in the veins. As a result, blood pools in the legs, causing the legs to feel heavy and painful.

Other symptoms of stage 2 :

• Itching in the legs
• Musculoskeletal issues
• Stiffness in the ankles
• Pain and discomfort when walking
• Numbness of the legs due to the presence of a varicose vein

Factors that can increase the swelling of the legs in the second stage include:

• Heart disorders that affect the blood circulation (such as coronary heart disease)
• Hypertension
• Inactivity
• Smoking
• Eating junk and processed foods

Stage 3 of Varicose Veins

In the third stage, skin around the veins starts to turn dark brown and become leather-like. This is because the fatty tissues underneath the skin become inflamed. Itchy and irritated skin is present, and intense itching can cause the skin to crack and bleed. This condition is called lipodermatosclerosis.

By this stage, the skin becomes quite severe and needs immediate medical attention.

Other symptoms

• Leather-like consistency of the skin
• Increased pain in the legs and ankles
• Thick and hard skin around varicose veins
• Ulcers in legs

These symptoms can only be cured by proper medical treatment. Compression stockings can be used to help relieve some of these symptoms.

The risk factors that can increase the severity of this stage are excess body weight, standing for long periods of time, sudden changes in hormonal levels, and a low-nutritional diet.

Stage 4 of Varicose Veins

This stage is marked by the appearance of ulcers or open sores. These ulcers are caused by the chronic lack of blood flow in the veins in the legs. The excess pressure caused by varicose veins also causes these ulcers to appear as open sores and do not heal.

This can lead to severe damage of the skin tissues. Therefore, it is important to not ignore the symptoms of this last stage, as it can be life threatening.

Other signs and symptoms of this stage include:

• Painful open sores on legs and ankles
• Discolored skin on the legs
• Extreme swelling and burning sensation
• Heavy and stiff legs
• Yellowish discharge from the open sores.

If you smoke or drink alcohol, it is best to quit so that the condition does not become life-threatening.

Are Varicose Veins Treatable? How?

Definitely, varicose veins are treatable. Even if there are different types of treatments available, laser treatment is the best solution for you. Laser treatment is the most advanced treatment for varicose veins.

Laser Treatment For Varicose Veins

• Varicose veins can be treated with laser treatment which takes only 30 minutes to complete.

• This advanced treatment is minimally invasive and requires no restrictions on the patient's lifestyle.

• Moreover, it allows the patient to return home the same day. The recovery process is quick and easy, with a recovery time of 3-5 days.

• Laser treatment is the best way to remove varicose veins permanently, with no risk of complications during the recovery process.

Are you struggling with varicose veins and worried about the expenses? Mykare Health has got you covered. We can help you to get treatment at the best affordable rates in the best hospital.

From the starting to end of the procedure, we will be there to help. Furthermore, there will be after care assistance too. Contact Mykare Health for getting a hassle-free experience in healthcare!

Conclusion

In this blog, we have gone through a journey of learning the stages of varicose veins. From the subtle signs to the more noticeable stages, we've uncovered the basics of this common vascular condition.

Understanding the symptoms and progression is the first step towards better vascular health. Whether you're considering prevention or seeking solutions, knowledge is your ally. Always consult a healthcare provider if you notice these symptoms on your legs.