Varicose Veins and Deep Vein Thrombosis
Posted: Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Vein treatment for varicose veins is not always for patient comfort or cosmetic reasons – severe varicose veins may be associated with deep vein thrombosis, a life-threatening venous disease. Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Left untreated, DVT may result in disability or death.
Deep vein thrombosis usually affects the veins of the lower leg and thigh. Symptoms of DVT include sudden, severe leg swelling, and pain. The area may be red and warm to the touch.
DVT can cause blood clots that could travel to the brain or heart. Large clots can cause serious medical problems, such as pulmonary embolism when a clot enters a lungs or a stroke when it lodges in the brain. These conditions can cause serious disability or even be fatal.
What is the risk for DVT?
DVT is most common in people over the age of 60 but can occur at any age. Other risk factors include bed rest, the insertion of a pacemaker or other surgery, family history of blood clots, fractures, obesity, and childbirth within the previous 6 months. Cigarette smokers, cancer patients, estrogen use, and other medical conditions increase this risk, especially when associated with severe varicose veins.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, estimates 300,000 to 600,000 people in the United States suffer from DVT, although the exact number is not known. The CDC also says 60,000 to 100,000 Americans die each year as the result of pulmonary embolism and other DVT-related illnesses. Physicians at Michigan Vein Treatment investigate each patient’s risk for deep vein thrombosis, especially in patients with severe varicose veins.
Varicose veins usually occur in superficial veins lying close to the surface of the skin so there is only a small risk for DVT. However, severe varicose veins do increase this risk.
Health researchers have been debating the association between varicose veins and DVT for years but there is new evidence supporting the relationship between the two venous conditions. A 2012 German study looked at Heidelberg Hospital records gathered between 2008 and 2011. Of the 2,357 patients with varicose veins, 5.6 percent experienced a DVT episode. In comparison, DVT occurred in only 0.9 percent of patients who did not have varicose veins.
Michigan Vein Doctors Diagnose and Provide Vein Treatment for Varicose Veins and DVT
The vascular surgeons at Michigan Vein Treatment use Doppler ultrasound and other state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to detect and treat varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis. Some patients require blood thinners to dissolve blood clots before they can travel. Others need compression stockings to keep clots in place.
Contact Michigan Vein Treatment to learn if your varicose veins are a sign of a deeper, more serious problem. The professional Michigan vein doctors and medical staff at this vein clinic are always happy to serve you.