Understanding Your Vein Health
Venous disease is a very common health problem, with varicose veins effecting more than 25 million adults in the United States and more than 6 million with more advanced venous disease.
Veins in your body play an important part in circulation, carrying blood from various parts of the body back to heart. Hamza Rana, MD, a vein specialist with Adventist HealthCare Cardiac Associates, explains venous disease and how you can take steps to lower your risk.
What is Venous Disease?
Dr. Rana: Healthy leg veins contain tiny one-way valves that open and close to assist the return of blood from the extremities toward the heart. The actual cause of varicose veins is usually inefficient, faulty vein valves. Varicose veins develop when the faulty valves in leg veins do not close properly, allowing blood to leak back with gravity and to pool in the leg veins. As this occurs, pressure builds up in the veins and this pressure causes various vein pathologies including varicose veins, increased swelling and poor blood flow. Overtime, this can lead to more serious venous disease called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Varicose veins are typically one of the first stages of CVI.
What are Symptoms of Venous Disease?
Dr. Rana: While the initial symptoms you may experience are not severe, over time, these symptoms may intensify and turn into a more serious disease called chronic venous insufficiency. They can become more serious, and even life-threatening, if they are not treated. Which is why it is important to be aware of symptoms and seek medical attention at the earliest sign of a problem.
A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) refers to a blood clot in the leg that does not travel to other parts of the body. Most DVTs occur in the veins of your calf, but they can also occur in the thigh and hip area.
Frequent symptoms of venous disease include:
- Tiredness in the legs
- Aching
- Heaviness in the legs
- Swollen legs or ankles
- Restless legs
- Cramping
- Throbbing
- Tenderness
- Itching
- Inflammation
- Skin changes-Discoloration
- Ulceration
- Vein rupture and bleeding
Symptoms are often made worse by prolonged standing, sitting, or lying down. The severity of your symptoms will vary based on the severity of the condition.
Who is at Risk?
Dr. Rana: Both men and women are at risk for venous disease, but women are three times more likely to develop this disease. Other risk factors include:
- Family history – if your parents have varicose veins, you have a higher risk of developing them as you get older.
- Pregnancy – pregnant women have an increased risk due to hormonal changes that occur.
- Age – As you get older, your chance for developing venous disease increases.
- History of blood clots – blood clots can cause damage to veins and their valves.
- Sitting or standing for extended periods – a lack of walking decreases the amount of blood movement throughout your legs which can cause blood to pool in one area and increase your blood pressure.
- Obesity – additional weight can cause an increased amount of pressure on veins.
How Can I Lower my Risk?
Dr. Rana: The best preventive measures for venous disease are to live a healthy lifestyle. Reduce your risk by:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Exercising regularly
- Avoiding sitting or standing for long periods of time
What Types of Treatments are Available?
Dr. Rana: There are various treatments available, and most are non-surgical that can be completed in an office setting under local anesthesia. Your physician will discuss with you the best course of action, but could include:
- Lifestyle changes like wearing compression stockings, exercise, leg elevation and maintaining a healthy weight.
- Endovenous radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive alternative to vein stripping, which involves a thin tube called a catheter to close the effected vein and reroute the blood to healthy veins.
- Endovenous laser treatment uses an ultrasound machine to guide a small laser fiber to seal a vein closed and reroute blood flow to other healthy veins.
- Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy closes off diseased veins through an injection of a chemical solution.
- Micro-phlebectomy uses tiny punctures in the skin to remove portions of the diseased vein.
- VenaSeal™ closure system utilizes medical grade glue to close the vein.
- Microfoam chemical ablation helps close veins by injecting the foam and causing the affected vein to collapse improving symptoms and the vein appearance.
- Doppler venous ultrasound helps to evaluate the extent of the diseased vein and help to determine the appropriate treatment.
Most insurance plans cover treatment for veinous disease. Cosmetic treatment for varicose veins is not usually covered. Taking with your doctor will help determine what is the best treatment for you.
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