Swollen legs and ankles is a classic symptom of vein disease. When disease strikes, your veins struggle to pump blood and fluids out of your legs. The fluids pool in the affected veins, leaving your legs and ankles swollen and uncomfortable. Although you might be able to deal with swelling for a while, you won’t be able to manage for long. According to Dr. Andrew Rochman, our Long Island vascular doctor, vein problems can worsen without proper treatment.
The long-term impact of swollen legs & ankles
If your legs are swollen from overuse or injury, the problem should get better in a couple days. When vein disease is behind the swelling, however, it will only become worse over time. Besides the swelling, you might also feel achy, tired, and uncomfortable.
Without Long Island vein treatment to address the underlying disease, you could have an abundance of severe consequences along with the swelling after just 5 years. Vein disease causes poor circulation, which can affect your overall health, but particularly the health of the skin around the swollen area. Skin changes can include thickening, permanent discoloration, and poorly healing skin ulcers that can leave you at risk for infection.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is another concern of ignoring your swollen legs and ankles. DVT is a life-threatening condition in which a blood clots develops within the deep leg veins. If a blood clot becomes mobilized, it can lead to stroke, pulmonary embolism, and other devastating complications. DVT can be difficult to detect without the expertise of a varicose vein treatment specialist in Long Island.
And the effects don’t end with the physical. Living in discomfort can make you feel tired and depressed. It’s likely you’ll lose the drive to do activities with family and friends and may even impact your ability to work.
You can maintain your health and quality of life with easy options available at our center for treating your vein disease and alleviating your swelling and other symptoms. Call our vascular doctor at 516-821-0242 or go online to get started!