Your veins do something amazing. Everyday, they fight against gravity, pumping blood up to your heart. Given the forces working against their veins, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that many people develop some form of venous disease or another. Vein disease develops when your veins have difficulty pumping the blood back to the heart. The walls of the veins might be weak or the valves damaged. Get to know a few types of common vein problems.
Examples of Vein Disease
Varicose Veins or Spider Veins
When you think of vein problems, spider veins or varicose veins are probably what comes to mind first. That shouldn’t be much of a surprise, since about half of the population has or will have varicose or spider veins, according to the Office on Women’s Health. Varicose veins form when the valves in the veins don’t work as they should. Blood is allowed to flow backwards down the legs, causing the veins to bulge and twist.
Spider veins form when there is a backup of blood in the tiny vessels near the skin. Usually, spider veins are much smaller than varicose veins. They can also develop on the face and can form as a result of sun exposure.
Superficial Venous Reflux
Another common problem in the veins is superficial venous reflux. It’s also known as venous insufficiency. When a person has venous reflux, the blood doesn’t make its way up the legs to the heart. Instead, it pools in the veins, causing swelling, darkening of the skin and a feeling of pain or pressure in the legs. Venous insufficiency is often connected to varicose veins, but usually the symptoms it causes are much worse.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, develops when a blood clot forms deep in a person’s veins, usually in the legs. Several things can put a person at an increased risk for developing DVT, including an inherited blood clotting disorder, hormonal birth control and sitting still for long periods of time, such as on a flight.
Some people with DVT don’t have any symptoms. Others might have pain or swelling in the affected leg. The major concern with DVT is that the clot will come loose and travel to the lung, causing a pulmonary embolism, a potentially life threatening problem. For that reason, treating the clot early is usually the best course of action. A doctor might prescribe blood thinners or other medications to reduce the clot or compression stockings to help with swelling.
At Premier Heart and Vein Care, Dr. Ken Stevens offers patients with vein disease a variety of treatment options. To learn more about vein problems and the options for treatment, call 1-805-979-4777 to schedule a consultation today.
