Why Do Varicose Vein Complaints Increase in Winter? Prevention Tips

As the weather cools down in winter, our restricted movement and the high temperatures we seek for warmth negatively affect the veins in our legs, increasing varicose vein complaints. Sitting close to a stove or radiator, or taking a scalding hot bath, causes blood vessels to dilate, paving the way for blood pooling. During this time, you might experience symptoms like pain, swelling, and a feeling of heaviness in the legs more frequently.

• Varicose veins occur when the veins in the legs dilate, lose their function, and struggle to carry blood back to the heart.
• Sitting close to heaters and taking hot baths in winter dilate the veins, triggering complaints.
• Inactivity and thick, tight clothing slow down blood circulation.
• Modern, non-surgical methods such as laser, radiofrequency, and foam (sclerotherapy) are used in treatment.
• In case of sudden swelling, redness, and severe pain in the legs, emergency medical support must be sought.

Why Do Varicose Vein Complaints Increase in Winter?

Varicose veins are blue or purple, dilated, and twisted veins under the skin. Normally, the veins carrying deoxygenated blood from our legs back to the heart contain tiny valves that prevent blood from flowing backwards. When these valves are damaged, blood pools in the legs, intravenous pressure increases, and the veins lose their structure and dilate.

The main reason varicose vein complaints increase in winter is not the cold weather itself, as commonly thought, but our indoor heating habits. Medically known as vasodilation (widening of blood vessels), this condition is triggered by exposure to high heat. Sitting too close to stoves or radiators in winter, taking long baths with boiling hot water, and visiting thermal hot springs cause the veins on the skin's surface to dilate suddenly. Blood flow slows down in these dilated veins, increasing pooling.

This physiological mechanism makes varicose vein pain and the feeling of heaviness in the legs much more pronounced in winter. Furthermore, reduced physical activity in cold weather and spending more time indoors weaken the calf muscles' ability to pump blood upwards, accelerating the process. Decreased water consumption during winter months also negatively affects blood fluidity, contributing to increased intravenous pressure.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

Both genetic predisposition and various environmental factors play a role in the development of varicose veins. People with a family history of varicose veins have a much higher chance of experiencing this issue. In addition, the loss of elasticity in the vein walls and the weakening of the valves as we age are significant causes. As we get older, the veins' resistance to blood pressure drops.

The incidence of varicose veins is higher in women than in men. Especially during pregnancy, increased blood volume and the pressure exerted by the growing uterus on pelvic veins strain the leg veins. Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapies can also affect vein structure and increase the risk. These hormonal changes lead to the relaxation of vein walls.

Daily lifestyle habits also directly affect the process. Professions requiring long periods of standing, such as teaching, hairdressing, surgery, or retail, as well as working constantly inactive at a desk, slow down blood circulation. Obesity and excess weight increase the burden on the legs, while chronic constipation raises intra-abdominal pressure, making blood flow in the veins more difficult. Tight clothing and high heels also restrict the natural pumping action of the calf muscles.

What Are the Symptoms of Varicose Veins?

Although varicose veins are initially often perceived merely as an aesthetic issue, they eventually turn into physical complaints that lower your quality of life. Patients usually start the day comfortably, but symptoms worsen as the hours pass. The most common symptoms include visibly dilated blue and purple veins on the legs.

Especially after standing or sitting for long periods, a throbbing pain and a feeling of fatigue in the legs become prominent. Swelling (edema) around the ankles and lower legs that increases towards the evening, tingling, night cramps, and itchy skin are common occurrences. As the disease progresses, skin dryness, colour changes, and hardening may also be seen.

Types of Varicose Veins by Stage

Varicose veins are divided into three main groups based on their diameter and location. Capillary varicose veins (spider veins or telangiectasia) are fine, red or purple lines resembling a spider web, located very close to the skin's surface. They usually do not cause pain but create aesthetic concerns. They most frequently appear in young women and during pregnancy.

Reticular varicose veins are slightly raised from the skin, blue in colour, and two to three millimetres in diameter. They are mostly seen behind the knee and around the ankle. Sometimes, they can cause mild aching and itching.

Large varicose veins occur as a result of the insufficiency of the main superficial veins called the saphenous veins. They appear as thick, greenish, twisted bulges protruding significantly from the skin. The most severe pain, swelling, and risk of medical complications occur in this group.

How Are Varicose Veins Diagnosed at the Hospital?

When you visit the hospital due to enlarged veins or pain in your legs, the diagnostic process begins with a detailed physical examination by the physician. Your doctor will examine your legs while you are standing to evaluate the structure of the veins, swelling, and colour changes on the skin. Standing allows gravity to make the varicose veins more visible.

The gold standard method for a definitive diagnosis and understanding the extent of the problem inside the vein is Colour Doppler Ultrasonography (USG). Thanks to this painless and radiation-free imaging method, the direction and speed of blood flow in the veins, as well as how damaged the valves are, can be clearly determined. The procedure is usually performed while the patient is standing and takes about twenty minutes.

During the ultrasound, the presence of any clots inside the vein, the condition of the deep venous system (main veins), and the degree of insufficiency in the superficial veins are mapped out. Based on this mapping, your doctor pinpoints the exact source of the problem and creates the most appropriate, personalised treatment plan for you.

How Are Varicose Veins Treated?

With the advancement of modern medicine, varicose vein treatment has become much more comfortable and faster compared to previous years. The traditional surgical method of completely removing the problematic vein is now only preferred in very advanced cases that are not suitable for non-surgical methods. The recovery period for the surgical method is relatively longer.

Among non-surgical varicose vein treatment options, vein sclerotherapy (foam treatment) is frequently applied. In this method, a special medication is injected into the vein using very fine needles, causing the vein to shrink and close. Over time, the body absorbs and eliminates this closed vein. It yields highly successful results in capillary and reticular varicose veins.

Laser and radiofrequency ablation methods are highly effective for large varicose veins. Under local anaesthesia, a thin catheter is inserted into the vein under ultrasound guidance. Using the heat energy generated by the laser beam or radio waves, the diseased vein is burned from the inside and sealed shut. These procedures usually take less than an hour, require no stitches, and patients can be discharged on foot the very same day as an outpatient treatment.

Special Tips for Preventing Varicose Veins in Winter

Staying indoors and trying to keep warm during cold weather can put your vascular health at risk. To protect yourself from varicose veins in winter, you need to make some simple yet effective adjustments to your daily habits. Minimising the dilating effect of heat on your veins is the first step.

• Avoid sitting too close to stoves, electric heaters, or radiators at home.
• When taking a bath, make sure the water is not boiling hot; prefer taking a shower with lukewarm water.
• Visiting hot spring thermal baths during winter holidays is risky as it can pave the way for sudden dilation of varicose veins.
• If you cannot go outside in cold weather, do exercises like walking or swimming indoors or at a gym.
• Do not neglect drinking at least two litres of water a day to maintain blood fluidity during winter.
• Instead of tight boots, tight trousers, and thick corsets, opt for comfortable clothing that does not restrict blood flow.

Resting in the evenings with your legs slightly elevated above heart level using a pillow will facilitate the return of blood that has pooled throughout the day. Winter months are also ideal for medical procedures due to the ease of the recovery process as well as protecting vascular health. If you are curious about the advantages of this period, you can also review our article Summer Preparation Starts in Winter: 5 Important Advantages of Having Aesthetic Surgery in Winter.

Complications Varicose Veins Can Cause

Untreated and neglected varicose veins do not just cause pain over time; they can also lead to serious medical complications. The subcutaneous tissue in the legs, constantly exposed to high pressure, eventually hardens, dries out, and takes on a brown colour. This condition paves the way for the formation of varicose ulcers (open wounds) that are very difficult to heal, especially around the ankles.

Dilated veins that are very close to the skin's surface can easily tear as a result of a minor bump or trauma, causing serious bleeding. One of the most dangerous complications is thrombophlebitis, which is the formation of a clot and inflammation within a superficial vein. This condition manifests itself with sudden redness, swelling, and severe pain in the leg.

These clots forming in superficial veins can sometimes progress to the deep veins, creating a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) scenario. If this clot in the deep veins breaks loose and reaches the lungs through the bloodstream, a very serious, life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism occurs.

When Should You See a Doctor?

Even if the vein prominence in your legs is mild, it is beneficial to see a cardiovascular surgeon to stop its progression and take the right precautions. However, certain symptoms clearly indicate that the situation is urgent and you need to seek medical help without delay.

• If you feel a sudden, severe, and throbbing pain in your legs,
• If you notice significant swelling, increased warmth, and redness in just one leg,
• If uncontrollable bleeding starts from a varicose vein as a result of a minor blow,
• If there is thickening of the skin, colour changes, or open wounds around your ankles, you must definitely consult a physician.

Symptoms such as chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, palpitations, and coughing up blood could be harbingers of a clot that has broken off from the legs and reached the lung (pulmonary embolism). In such a case, you should call 112 emergency services (or your local emergency number) without losing any time, or go to the nearest hospital's emergency department.

The Process at BHT CLINIC

For pain, swelling, or enlarged veins in your legs, you can apply to the Cardiovascular Surgery department at BHT CLINIC İstanbul Tema Hastanesi. Our expert medical staff determines the degree of your varicose veins with great precision using detailed physical examinations and advanced colour Doppler ultrasonography devices. We offer our patients comfortable, stitch-free, and non-surgical treatment options using state-of-the-art laser, radiofrequency, and foam (sclerotherapy) methods.

Our hospital has a 24/7 uninterrupted emergency department and fully equipped intensive care units for situations requiring urgent intervention, such as vascular occlusions, embolisms, or varicose vein bleeding. Bringing your previous ultrasound reports and a list of the medications you are currently using when you come to the hospital will speed up the diagnostic process. To regain healthy steps, you can plan your treatment immediately by booking an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it easier to wear compression stockings in winter?

Yes, since compression stockings have a thick and tight structure, they can cause sweating and be difficult to use in hot summer weather. In winter, thanks to the cool weather, wearing compression stockings is much more comfortable and provides an extra advantage by keeping the legs warm.

Does cold weather constrict blood vessels?

Cold weather physiologically causes blood vessels to constrict (vasoconstriction), which can slightly reduce the dilation in varicose veins. However, the real danger in winter is not the cold weather outside, but the excessively hot indoor environments and the vasodilation caused by stoves and radiators.

Which is the best season for varicose vein treatment?

While varicose vein treatments can be safely performed in any season, winter and autumn are more comfortable for patients because compression stockings need to be worn for a while after laser or foam treatments. Additionally, slight bruising that may occur on the skin after the procedure can be easily hidden with winter clothing.

Is a hot water bottle good for leg pain?

Using a hot water bottle for leg pain caused by varicose veins is strictly not recommended. Heat application causes the already dilated and structurally impaired veins to dilate even further, leading to blood pooling and worsening the pain and swelling.

Do varicose vein creams completely eliminate the veins?

Commercially available varicose vein creams or gels can only temporarily relieve pain and fatigue by creating a cooling sensation on the skin's surface thanks to their ingredients. However, these products do not have a medical effect such as narrowing dilated veins, repairing damaged valves, or completely curing varicose veins.

This article is for informational purposes only; please be sure to consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment.