Have you ever noticed enlarged veins on your legs? These might be varicose veins, which happen when the valves in your veins don’t work properly, allowing blood to pool and the veins to become enlarged. Sometimes, this can even be visible on the surface of your skin. But did you know that varicose veins may be linked to a less common but more serious condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
DVT is when a blood clot forms in the deeper veins of your body, often in the lower legs. Unlike varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis can be dangerous because if a blood clot travels to your lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism.
While it’s not completely clear if varicose veins directly cause DVT, some studies have shown that people with varicose veins may have a higher risk of developing DVT. This suggests that there might be some shared risk factors between the two conditions. Understanding this connection can help us take preventive measures to keep our veins healthy and reduce the risk of these conditions in the long run.
Varicose Veins and DVT: Incidence and Shared Risk Factors
Varicose veins affect approximately 23% of adults in the US and are more common in patients older than 45 years of age. DVT affects far fewer individuals at an estimated 2% to 5% annually, or approximately 200,000 patients. Shared risk factors provide insight into the relationship between varicose veins and DVT. For varicose veins, for example, your job may increase your risk if you have to sit for a long time and don’t stand or change positions. The same is true of DVT — prolonged immobility makes a blood clot more likely to form.
Varicose veins and DVT have more risk factors in common, including pregnancy, getting older and having a high body weight.
Additional DVT risk factors include:
- Certain medical conditions, including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure and kidney disease
- Certain types of medications, including hormonal therapies like Tamoxifen for breast cancer or birth control pills
- Family history of blood-clotting problems
- Recent surgery or bed rest
Read More: Choosing the Right Vein Specialist: Your Partner in Vascular Health
Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Varicose Veins
DVT is a blood clot in a vein that usually affects the deep veins in the legs. Symptoms include pain, swelling in the affected area, and red and warm skin.
Varicose veins cause dark, bulging or twisted veins visible just below the surface of your skin. You may also have aching or cramping in your legs, or they may feel heavy when you walk. The skin around the varicose veins may itch or become discolored.
DVT’s Most Serious Complication
Having DVT increases your risk of developing a pulmonary embolism (PE). This dangerous condition occurs when a blood clot breaks free from a DVT, travels through the blood vessels to the lungs and lodges in an artery. That prevents oxygen-carrying blood from reaching the lungs, which can be life-threatening. Venous thromboembolisms — blood clots that start in a vein, including DVT and PE — may affect as many as 900,000 people in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Treatment of DVT Compared to Varicose Veins
The most common treatment for deep vein thrombosis is anticoagulant medication, or blood thinners. Medication to treat DVT may be necessary for months, years or the rest of your life to reduce the risk of blood clots forming. Medication is typically taken in the form of a pill in the morning and evening as prescribed. Patients on blood thinners need to follow instructions carefully and minimize the risk of getting hurt or falling, as patients are at higher risk of significant bleeding.
Patients with a more significant amount of DVT extending into their pelvic veins may need to have a catheter-based procedure in a hospital to remove the blood clot, as blood thinners alone can have trouble dissolving this large clot burden. For patients who cannot tolerate blood thinners, usually due to elevated bleeding risk from recent surgery, GI or intracranial bleeding, another option is to place an inferior vena cava filter — a device that catches blood clots — into the lower part of the vena cava, your body’s most prominent vein. The filter prevents breakaway clots from reaching the lungs and is placed by interventional radiologists in the hospital.
On the other hand, treatment for varicose veins is comparatively less complicated and risky. Typically, a treatment plan starts with wearing compression stockings, elevating your legs, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight.
EVLT: A Minimally Invasive Solution for Varicose Veins
Varicose vein patients can also elect to have minimally invasive vein procedures, such as endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) and sclerotherapy, to treat varicose veins, reduce or eliminate symptoms and improve the cosmetic appearance of their legs. These treatments can help patients more quickly resume day-to-day activities. Treating varicose veins early can also help prevent the progression of vein disease and related complications over time, which can be difficult to treat in the more severe stages of the disease.
To perform endovenous laser therapy for varicose veins — an outpatient, nonsurgical procedure in which you remain awake, with just an area of your leg numbed — a subspecialized radiologist places a laser through a catheter to the largest damaged, refluxing veins. Guided by ultrasound, the radiologist uses the laser to close the vein. Blood flow reroutes to nearby healthy veins. Later, you may need sclerotherapy, an injection to close veins, to address remaining varicose veins.
Read More: Millennial Vein Health: You Aren’t Too Young to Care About Your Veins
Preventing Vein Disease and More Serious Complications
There are preventive health measures you can employ to help minimize your risk of developing vein disease and potential complications:
- Elevate your legs above the level of your heart to aid circulation and protect against swelling.
- Get up and move around or change your sitting position often during road trips, flights and while working at your desk.
- Maintain a healthy body weight to help blood move through your veins more smoothly.
- Make healthy changes to your lifestyle, such as exercising regularly and quitting smoking.
- Take blood thinners exactly as instructed if your physician prescribes them.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing and compression stockings when sitting for a long time.
Finally, work with your primary care provider or specialist to help monitor and manage symptoms of vein disease. You can also add a vein health specialist to your care team to support you on your vein health journey and provide expert intervention and alternative treatments if needed.
