VENOUS
DISEASE
A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF VENOUS DISEASE AND ITS SYMPTOMS
Leg Symptoms
Discomfort/Aching/Pain, especially after a day up on your feet or sitting in a chair.
Swelling, usually worsens as the day goes on.
Leg Cramps, or muscle spasms
Restless Legs, especially at night. Can frequently wake you up from sleep.
Heaviness/Fatigue, it may feel as if there are weights on your legs or you give out on activity that wouldn’t normally give you a problem.
What is Venous Disease?
Venous disease is a very common condition that affects over 80 million Americans. This disease process is becoming increasingly prevalent due to the fact that the majority of cases are genetic! Venous insufficiency or venous reflux disease affects the veins which are the blood vessels that carry blood away from the body back to the heart. These veins have no “heart” pumping the blood
back up, so they depend on one-way valves throughout that helps keep the blood going back up against gravity. After time, these vein walls begin to spread apart, not allowing the one-way doors to close. Blood then begins to reflux, or go down the leg in opposite direction. This pooling of blood in the lower legs then leads to many of the symptoms of pain, swelling, cramping, restless legs, discoloration, varicose; spider veins and even ulcers. There are many different vein pathways back to the heart, including the deep (main system) and the superficial (accessory system). Most problems occur from the superficial system, which is like the access roads to the interstate. They serve a purpose, however, if they are malfunctioning & causing symptoms, they can be shut down. The blood then reroutes to the healthy larger veins to allow sufficient blood return.
CLASSIFICATION OF CVD
Genetics and Family History have a role to play in one of the common causes. It is true that the weakness in these one-way valves can actually be inherited. Your genetics, or what you've inherited, is just one aspect of your risk for getting varicose veins.
Varicose veins during pregnancy are also hereditary to some extent, so if your mother developed varicose veins while carrying you, chances are greater you will develop the veins as well. Women carrying multiple babies may find the varicose vein problem to be even more pronounced.
Excess body fat is also a leading factor in developing varicose veins. Obesity puts extra pressure on the leg veins and their valves. This makes it harder to pump blood against gravity back to the heart
Varicose veins are gnarled, bluish veins near the surface of the skin, usually on the legs and feet. Most people think of them as mainly a cosmetic problem, although varicose veins can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms, from a heavy, achy feeling in the legs to burning, throbbing, or itching sensations. Now, new research suggests that people with varicose veins may also have a higher risk of developing a clot in the deeper veins of the legs, known as deep-vein thrombosis or DVT.
Putting increased demand on your muscles and veins by lifting heavy objects can stress the venous system and weaken the valves that keep the blood flowing properly. It's important to consult one of our vein specialists if you're at risk of developing vein disease
The likelihood of varicosity also increases as veins weaken with age. A previous leg injury may damage the valves in a vein which can result in a varicosity. Trauma to the soft tissues of the legs also may release compounds within the tissues which cause blood to clot
Many patients are still being told that varicose veins and venuos disease only solved by compression stockings. This is no longer true. It’s not just cosmetic anymore! There is no need to accept your condition, contact us today to schedule a free screening and start your road to freedom!