Although it’s not as widely discussed as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, or cancer, the occurrence of spider veins is still one of the most common health problems in the world today, especially in women.
In fact, more than 40% of women suffer from it with an increasing prevalence through aging, so that by the age of 80, more than 80% of women already have some form of varicose veins including spider veins.
But more than the ugly appearance and some pain, some healthcare experts are now warning people against the more serious consequence behind spider vein.
Studies have revealed that the occurrence of spider veins can be a warning sign for a potentially deadly blood clot.
The Study
A recent study published in the JAMA journal revealed a fact that should be a cause of concern for women with spider veins, especially those who are not undergoing any spider vein treatment.
Taiwanese researchers conducted the study on 425,000 subjects using data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance program where they discovered that varicose veins could be a sign of a developing blood clot in the body.
The proponents revealed that people with varicose veins are five times more likely to develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is the blood that forms in the deep vein of the leg. They are also twice at risk for developing a peripheral arterial disease.
The study also emphasized that the more patients with varicose veins experience inflammation, the more they are likely to experience blood clotting.
The Experts
This study has also been supported by several medical experts including Dr. Gregory Piazza, a cardiovascular medicine specialist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital who said that inflammation is now a widely recognized factor in the development of various vascular diseases like pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, and heart attack.
He also pointed out that several studies over the last few years have revealed the same results linking varicose veins and the occurrence of blood clots.
Dr. Andrei L. Kindzelski is also another leading professional in this field who said that varicose veins have always been included in the key assessment tools for obstructed blood vessels.
As the program director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Translational Blood Science and Resources Branch, he said that they are using these assessment tools to help determine if varicose veins are a causative factor for blood clots in patients.
The Future
More studies are still being conducted to further prove that varicose veins are really a potential cause for deadly blood clots. This is why the need for proper spider vein treatment has never been more important to help patients deal with the ugly looking veins in their legs but also protect them from more potentially lethal complications in the long run.
So if you’re experiencing any symptoms of spider veins and other varicose veins, make sure to seek consultation from a healthcare provider right away.
