When to See a Specialist: Red Flags Your Varicose Veins Need Medical Attention

Are you questioning whether a newly discovered varicose vein needs attention, even though it hasn't caused you any noticeable discomfort or pain? 

These veins develop in at least a quarter of adults in the United States, and the good news is that many of them are more of an aesthetic concern than anything else, but not all of them. For some, varicose veins may eventually cause physical pain and indicate broader cardiovascular concerns. 

Vascular specialist Dr. Satjit Bhusri, alongside the clinical specialists at The Upper East Side Vein Institute, brings extensive expertise to evaluating and treating varicose and spider veins. 

Here, we explain some potential red flags that your varicose vein(s) might need a higher standard of care.

The driving forces behind varicose veins

Even though multiple variables can trigger vascular problems, certain contributing factors cannot be prevented.  Female biology plays a major role, as women experience varicose veins significantly more often than men due to hormonal fluctuations and pregnancy. 

A frequent underlying driver is chronic venous insufficiency, commonly referred to as CVI.  Affecting between 10% and 35% of US adults, CVI occurs when one-way valves in the veins in your legs weaken and fail to close properly. 

As a result, blood that was supposed to be pushed upward toward your heart stalls in the veins in your legs. This localized buildup elevates internal pressure within the vessel, forcing it to expand and bulge beneath the skin.  

Because bulging veins often stem directly from CVI, their presence should act as an essential wake-up call that your circulatory system isn't functioning optimally. Catching this early matters because CVI tends to progress over time, meaning that mild surface changes often mark only the beginning of a developing condition. 

So, for CVI alone, we recommend that you come in for a vein evaluation.

When varicose veins become symptomatic

Other red flags (often related to what we just discussed above) occur when varicose veins become symptomatic. Some people with varicose veins experience complications, including:

• Pain, burning, and/or itching around the vein
• Discoloration in the skin around the vein
• Cramping in your legs
• Restless legs at night
• Venous ulcers

In some cases, these troubling sensations are triggered by a superficial blood clot forming within an enlarged vein. Because CVI is an advancing condition, as previously mentioned, the symptoms will not resolve or improve on their own. 

For people who go on to develop a venous ulcer, this condition is not only highly uncomfortable, but often challenging to heal, which opens the door to infection.

The bottom line is that any time you experience symptoms near your varicose vein, we want you to see us so that we can evaluate the diseased vein and your vascular health. If more varicose veins develop, schedule an appointment with our team, as this could indicate advancing CVI.

To get the ball rolling on some answers for your varicose veins, we invite you to call our New York City office on the Upper East Side of Manhattan at 212-752-3464. You can also make your appointment online by clicking here.