Are varicose veins dangerous?

Written by: Professor Stephen Black
Published: | Updated: 08/01/2024
Edited by: Laura Burgess

The commonest reason for developing varicose veins is inherited valve defect, which is genetic. This means that there is not much that you could do to prevent it; it is likely that one of your parents had varicose veins and this has been passed on to you.

 

Less common risks for developing varicose veins are pregnancy, trauma, thrombosis, or weak calf muscles.

 

Here, Professor Stephen Black, renowned consultant vascular surgeon, explains whether varicose veins are dangerous or not, and what it means if they are painful. 

 

 

Should you be concerned at all about varicose veins?

 

Varicose veins appear as blue, purple, bulging veins that swell through the skin.

 

They may cause symptoms such as:

  • swelling 
  • itching 
  • throbbing 
  • restlessness
  • aching 
  • burning
  • cramping
  • tiredness
  • skin discolouration
  • hair loss
  • ulcer

 

The development of ulcers is the worst-case scenario as the skin breaks down and healing is very difficult.

 

If you have no symptoms and there is no cosmetic concern, you don’t have to have treatment, but please be aware that when varicose veins develop they tend to get worse with time.

 

If you have no symptoms from your varicose veins and they don’t deteriorate rapidly, then there is no rush to seek treatment.
 

How do varicose veins develop?

 

The veins normally send the blood from the feet to the heart. To do so, they need to have a strong wall and valves that help push the blood upwards against gravity.

 

If the valves fail, or the vein wall is very weak, blood goes towards the feet, increasing the venous pressure inside the leg veins. As a result of this high pressure, veins swell and bulge, developing varicose veins.
 

Read more: how to get rid of varicose veins

 

What does it mean if your varicose veins are painful?

 

Usually, the pain is not because of the presence of varicose veins, but rather due to the high venous pressure in the legs. The venous congestion/high pressure down the legs stretches the wall of the veins, and this can be very uncomfortable - especially when standing for long.

 

 

Professor Stephen Black is a highly skilled consultant vascular surgeon with over 25 years' experience. 

 

If you need to have your varicose veins checked, do not hesitate to book an appointment with Professor Black via his Top Doctors profile today to receive expert treatment and assessment.

By Professor Stephen Black
Vascular surgery

Professor Stephen Black is one of the leading consultant vascular surgeons in London, Manchester, Ashtead and Thames Valley, specialising in varicose veins, varicose veins surgery, non-surgical treatment of varicose veins, endovascular surgery, endovenous laser ablation (EVLA). Additionally he is expert in complex venous conditions such as pelvic congestion syndrome, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and May-Thurner syndrome. He is presently practising at the UK Vein Clinic

Professor Black is currently surgical lead at St Thomas' Hospital, one of the largest centres of expertise in vascular medicine across the world. As professor of venous surgery, he has developed an international reputation for his expertise in complex venous medicine and contributes to the European guidelines and standards for venous surgery.

Professor Black has recently co-founded the UK Vein Clinic, exclusively dedicated to the treatment of varicose veins using modern, minimally invasive treatment methods that produce world class outcomes for patients suffering from this condition. The UK Vein Clinic provides treatment with Professor Black and his team from locations based in London's Harley Street, Maidenhead in Berkshire and central Manchester.

Professor Black is also a key surgeon at various clinics in the London area (including Harley Street Clinic, London and Ashtead Hospital, Surrey), and is the surgical lead at St Thomas' Hospital. He holds several prominent positions in various vascular surgery organizations, including being on the committee for the European Venous Forum Hands On Workshop (EVF HOW) and is a programme director for the annual Charing Cross Vascular Symposium - one of the largest meetings of its type in the world. He was awarded the fellowship of the European Board of Vascular Surgery in 2011.

Throughout his stellar career in vascular surgery, Professor Black has always been at the cutting edge of his field. After graduating from the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School in 1998, and working in South Africa for two years, Professor Black moved to the UK, where he completed a doctorate (MD) at St Mary's Hospital and Imperial College, London in 2006. His thesis was on the virtual reality-based training of surgeons to perform carotid surgery - research focused on improving the safety and efficiency of surgical training, and supervised by Mr John Wolfe and Lord Ara Darzi.

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