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Vein Diseases
Treating Vein Diseases in Virginia
Veins nearer to the skin’s surface are known as superficial veins, while those in the muscles of the arms and legs are called deep veins.
Though vein disease is quite common, treatment is relatively easy and rarely life-threatening. Addressing your vein disease with our vein specialists can radically improve your physical functioning and quality of life. On the other hand, ignoring the issue can risk significant disability and even life-threatening complications, including pulmonary embolism.
At Virginia Vein Care, we are experts at treating chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that causes blood to pool or collect in the veins. This can lead to painful and unsightly issues such as varicose veins and spider veins.
Symptoms of venous insufficiency include:
- Appearance of new varicose veins
- Aching or tiredness in the legs
- Statis ulcers or venous stasis ulcers appear
- Skin on the legs having a leathery look to them
- Flaking or itching on the skin of the legs and feet
- Swelling of the lower legs and ankles, especially after long periods of standing
It is estimated that roughly 40% of Americans struggle with chronic venous insufficiency as a result of a vein disease. This condition, however, is more common in those over 50 years of age and is somewhat more prevalent in women than men. Especially at risk are those who sit or stand for prolonged periods of time.
Vein Diseases We Treat
Chronic venous insufficiency can lead to a number of vein conditions that we can treat at Virginia Vein Care.
Vein diseases we treat at Virginia Vein Care:
What are spider veins?
Telangiectasias, commonly known as spider veins, are groups of visible yet small blood vessels that grow near the surface of the skin. These veins are usually blue or red in color and can cause itching, tingling, or throbbing in the leg.
Spider veins are caused when the valves within the veins fail to work properly in carrying blood back to the heart.
Veins have flaps called valves that close when blood passes through. However, if this valve becomes weakened or damaged due to a venous disease, it becomes difficult to keep the blood flowing in the proper direction. This condition can result in the vein bulging and branching out, resulting in a spider vein or other condition.
When spider veins appear on the face, this is usually the result of small blood vessels that burst, sometimes due to sun damage or increased pressure to the area.
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is sometimes known as Peripheral vascular disease and is referred to off-hand as simply “poor circulation.” PAD involves the narrowing of leg arteries which results in less blood flowing to the muscles, but PAD can also cause similar issues in the arms, stomach, and neck.
Peripheral arterial disease is a vein disease caused by atherosclerosis—the harmful buildup of plaques in the arteries which harden over time and narrow the artery. This is usually the result of diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, inactivity, or obesity. PAD will cause discomfort while walking and sometimes a cramping or tired feeling in the legs or hips when walking.
Blood Clots
Several conditions can cause blood clots to form, including long periods of bed rest, pregnancy, or damage to veins. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a venous disease which causes a blood clot to form in a deep vein. DVT can result in blood to pool over time, resulting in chronic venous insufficiency.
What causes venous diseases?
Various conditions can result in vein diseases, but one or more of the following are usually involved.
- Cancer (in the case of deep vein thrombosis)
- Pregnancy
- Injury to blood vessels due to trauma, intravenous catheters or needles, chemotherapeutic agents, or infections organisms
- Conditions such as familial deficiency in anti -clotting factors or disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus which increase the tendency for blood to coagulate
- Stagnation to the flow of blood caused by immobility, common among bedridden patients and even healthy individuals who sit or lie still for extended period of time
How is chronic venous insufficiency treated?
It used to be that individuals suffering from venous insufficiency were encouraged to undergo some form of surgery. This procedure was often referred to as vein ligation and stripping.
Vein ligation involves a surgeon cutting and tying off the affected vein. Vein stripping is an even more invasive procedure where the larger veins are surgically removed through a pair of incisions. Recover can take as long as 10 days, and bruising can last for weeks.
Virginia Vein Care is on the forefront of advanced nonsurgical vascular procedures designed to effectively treat vein conditions while reducing your discomfort and recovery time. Treatments such as Radiofrequency Ablation use a very small catheter to close problem veins with heat, rather than excising them from the body. Recovery time is all but eliminated with such techniques.
Find Venous Insufficiency Treatment Near You
Those living in northern Virginia have access to the advanced nonsurgical vascular procedures offered by Virginia Vein Care, led by Dr. Lawrence J. Markovitz, who has nearly 30 years of clinical experience.
We have three vein clinic locations in Virginia so call 703-506-8346 today to find the treatment center nearest you.