Whenever we think of Blood Clots, we only think of something serious, that is life threatening. Most commonly, we refer to Deep Vein Thrombosis, which can be life threatening.
So, Can you get a blood clot from Varicose Veins? The answer is quite simple, Yes. However, most of the clots associated with Varicose Veins are Superficial Vein Clots, or so called Superficial Thrombophlebitis.
However, there are studies that also show Varicose veins are an early warning sign of potentially deadly blood clots. A study conducted in Taiwan found that enlarged and gnarled varices are strongly associated with deep venous thrombosis--a type of clot that forms within your body's largest circulation system (the thigh).
They also discovered this relationship may be one where both conditions have similar origins or if it’s actually triggered by something separate but related like heavy activity. More research needs to happen before we can answer these questions definitively though.
There may be an increased risk for blood clots if you have varicose veins. The walls no longer provide support, which can in turn cause dangerous situations like slow circulation or stasis. Blood clots in varicose veins can stick around for a while. This is because without the movement of blood to push them out, they will become hard and painful like any other clot that has been dislodged from its vessel by our pumps (the muscles). When this happens you'll know soon enough--usually within days or weeks at most.
Sometimes, we feel something is wrong with us and it's hard to pinpoint what the problem may be. A lot of people think they have a blood clot but actually don't know because there are some common signs that can point towards this diagnosis: leg pain or discomfort which could feel like pulled muscles; tightness in the legs, cramps-like sensations in arms/legs along with swelling near affected area etc., although not all these will always indicate you're having problems.
You are welcome to call us at 516-606-7811, or make an appointment with our Board Certified Vein & Vascular Specialist, if you have any concerns as above.
