People sometimes consider varicose veins a normal occurrence, especially pregnant women who cite weight increase as the possible cause of the condition. A study published in the journal JAMA, however, provides a reason to be worried about varicose veins.

1. Study Says
Varicose Veins May Signal
Potentially Deadly
Blood Clots
Veniti

2. People sometimes consider varicose veins a normal occurrence, especially pregnant women who cite
weight increase as the possible cause of the condition. A study published in the journal JAMA, however,
provides a reason to be worried about varicose veins.
The study, conducted by Taiwanese researchers on 425,000 people using data from Taiwan's National
Health Insurance program, found that varicose veins signal the development of potentially fatal blood
clots. The study proponents learned that individuals with varicose veins are five times more likely to
develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT),a blood clot that forms within a deep vein and usually in the leg.
Patients with varicose veins also double their risk ofpulmonary embolism, a deadly clot that travels into
the lungs. Moreover, they are twice as likely to develop a peripheral arterial disease, which impairs the
blood flow to the legs and arms.
Inflammation, the Possible Culprit
The researchers hypothesized that the more patients with varicose veins experience inflammation, the
likelier it can cause abnormal bloodclotting. In the JAMA journal, they noted that patients with varicose
veins have higher levels of pro-thrombotic and inflammatory markers.

3. Brigham and Women's Hospital cardiovascular medicine specialist Dr. Gregory Piazza concurs, saying
inflammation has become recognized as a major player in the development of various vascular diseases.
These include deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and even heart attack and stroke.
The Link between Blood Clots and Varicose Veins
Dr. Piazza says that the results of the research are not entirely new. In fact, several studies have
previously demonstrated the link between varicose veins and blood clots.
Another medical professional, Dr. Andrei L. Kindzelski, says varicose veins have always been present in
all key assessment tools for obstructed blood vessels, reinforcing the association between the two
conditions. Dr. Kindzelski is the Program Director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s
Translational Blood Science and Resources Branch. The new study, nevertheless, succeeded in
establishing an association between a peripheral arterial disease and varicose veins.

4. Whether varicose veins are the cause of potentially deadly blood clots, or a result of the same conditions
that lead to blood clotting,remain the focus of ongoing research.
Sources:
http://veniti.com/intl/
http://strokeconnection.strokeassociation.org/Fall-2016/Venous-Thromboembolism-VTE-Risk-in-the-
Veins/
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/27/health/varicose-veins-blood-clots-study/index.html