You have seen the splotchy spider veins and bluish varicose veins on your legs when you look in the mirror, but you probably don’t think much about them. Sure, they’re ugly, but there’s no need to concern yourself with some little cosmetic problem, right? Although problem veins are certainly unsightly, they can impact your life far beyond just being embarrassing. Read on to learn 5 things a Chicago vein specialist knows about abnormal veins that will help you decide whether or not to seek out vein treatment.

5 facts from a Chicago vein specialist that will keep you up at night

Fact 1: Your unsightly leg veins might be a warning sign of underlying venous disease. Even though varicose and spider veins are annoying enough in appearance, they are often caused by a condition called venous insufficiency. In this condition, the vein is not able to transport blood out of your legs. Instead of traveling back up to the heart, the blood pools inside the vein, causing varicosities and other health issues.

Fact 2: Varicose veins might be painful to look at, but they can also become physically painful. As vein disease goes untreated, the condition can progress. Advanced varicose veins can cause swollen legs and ankles, leg pain, and other uncomfortable symptoms. In this way, varicose veins might—quite literally—keep you up at night.

Fact 3: Varicose veins (and the underlying vein disease) can put you at a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Blood flow in diseased veins is slowed down. When your blood flow is sluggish, you’re at risk of developing blood clots in your deep leg veins. If this happens, the clot has the potential to break away from the vein wall and cut off the blood supply to your lungs, a deadly condition known as pulmonary embolism.

Fact 4: Another consequence of neglecting varicose veins is the development of skin ulcers on your lower legs and feet. Over time, inadequate blood flow can deprive your legs and feet from oxygen and nutrients. This “starves” the surrounding skin, causing it to break down. The resulting ulcers can be painful, difficult to heal, and can leave you at risk for infection and scarring.

Fact 5: You may find that worrying about how to get better can keep you up at night too. The good news is that you have plenty of treatment options at our Chicago vein specialist at his Chicago Vein Care Center. When you reach out to an experienced spider vein doctor in Chicago such as our own Dr. Ramon Castro, you can decide on the best vein care plan that will work for you and your lifestyle. With our expertise and advanced methods of vein treatment, you can sleep better at night knowing that you will be healthier and look better fast.

We know that living with vein disease should be the least of your worries, which is why we hope you will make an appointment with our Chicago vein specialist Dr. Castro. Put an end to your varicose veins and sleepless nights by calling our office at 773-283-7887 or going online to request your appointment. You’ll be glad you did!