Varicose veins appear swollen, bulging, and twisted, raised up from the skin, and dark red or purple in color. They are considered unsightly, but they are often more than just a cosmetic issue. If varicose veins are left untreated, they can get worse and even become bursting varicose veins.
Read on to learn the best ways to prevent varicose veins from bursting. Varicose veins are caused by increased blood pressure in the veins. Common discomforts related to varicose veins include burning, itching, heaviness, and aching. They can cause sleep disturbances because the sensations tend to be more intense at night. They can also cause itchy rashes and ulcers. When blood moves towards the heart, it is pushed by one-way valves in the veins.
Those valves can become weakened over time with age. They can also become damaged due to obesity, inactivity, poor diet, or genetics. Women are at greater risk for varicose veins. Pregnancy also puts people at greater risk because the body creates larger volumes of blood to support the fetus. This build-up of blood can cause the veins to rupture. Untreated varicose veins can lead to more serious problems.
When the build-up of pressure causes the walls of the vein to stretch, it weakens the vein, leaving it vulnerable to rupture. This can happen suddenly and without provocation or irritation. When a varicose vein bursts, it can bleed into the surrounding tissue. There are two primary symptoms of vein rupture: internal and external. Internal symptoms of a rupture visibly manifest as bruises on the skin at the site of the affected varicose vein.
Patients with internal symptoms of a rupture report feeling dizziness. External symptoms present as broken skin at the site of the vein rupture, accompanied by profuse and steady bleeding. As soon as you can, talk to your doctor. Medical treatment of ruptured varicose veins will typically be via ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy.
