Vein disease is quite prevalent in the US with nearly 1 out of every 4 Americans affected. The disease is more common in females and is most often seen with an inheritance pattern. The most visible symptoms of vein disease are spider and varicose veins, however most suffering from vein disease are unaware of the other potential symptoms and signs related to venous insufficiency. Having awareness of typical signs and symptoms of vein disease is important to avoid progression of vein disease and seeking early diagnosis at a reputable vein clinic. What Should Tip You Off to Vein Disease? If you have vein disease it is common to experience some of these symptoms
CEAP Class 1: Spider Veins The presence of Spider or Reticular veins are typically the first signs of venous disease. What Do Spider Veins Look Like? Telangectasias (or spider veins) are tiny capillaries right on the surface of the skin. They usually form distinct networks or “webs” and can be either bluish/purple or red in color. What Do Reticular Veins Look Like?Reticular veins appear as green or blue linear veins on the surface of the skin. They are smaller than varicose veins and do not bulge from the skin. Many times, reticular veins will be noted to underlie a bed of spider veins and as such are referred to as feeder veins. Getting rid of such spider veins will also depend on treating these feeder (or reticular veins). What Causes Spider and Reticular Veins? Venous insufficiency and genetics are the most common culprits. Venous insufficiency refers to dilated and incompetent veins underneath the surface of the skin related to either truncal veins or perforator veins. Venous insufficiency is what is responsible for the symptoms of vein disease. The most common reasons for venous insufficiency are:
CEAP Class 2: Varicose VeinsVaricose veins are larger and more dilated veins that appear underneath the surface of the skin as twisted, enlarged veins. It is during Stage Two when individuals become bothered by the appearance and symptoms of vein disease.
Stage Two: Varicose Veins Varicose veins are larger and more dilated veins (> 3mm) that appear on and above the surface of the skin as twisted, dilated veins. This tends to be the most bothersome sign of vein disease because of the disturbing appearance. Varicose veins don’t always cause pain or obvious symptoms, but educated patients will realize some of the symptoms may have been considered something else. Proper attention requires a level of understanding that leads to early diagnosis and treatment of venous insufficiency. Symptoms of Varicose Veins
The problem involves veins in the lower extremities that suffer from high pressure from within. Naturally, blood pools in these veins due to gravity, resulting in high pressure within the veins. Over time, these vein walls can become damaged from the constant pressure and suffer from venous insufficiency. This is when symptoms such as leg cramps, heaviness, and swelling should no longer be ignored. Risk Factors The risk factors for spider veins and varicose veins are the same. Again, the most important determinant is likely to be a family history of vein disease. CEAP Class 3: SwellingStage three marks more advanced vein disease and is a strong reason to seek an evaluation. Leg Swelling may be present without obvious signs of spider or varicose veins. The cause of swelling is due to venous insufficiency and indicates increased venous pressures. However, swelling is also a sign of other serious conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, renal or liver disease, malnutrition, lymphatic disease and blood clots. These conditions should be properly considered along with venous insufficiency. Symptoms Accompanying Leg Swelling/Inflammation:
CEAP Class 4: Skin Discoloration/Pigmentation At this stage of vein disease, the appearance of your skin as skin becomes thinner and even some discoloration becomes visible. This is due to the chronic venous hypertension and pooling of blood in the lower extremities that leads to inflammatory changes on the skin. Symptoms of Skin Discoloration
For advanced stages of vein disease (CEAP class 4-6), it’s very important to receive attention from a qualified vein specialist and sometimes even a wound clinic to help manage the disease. Treatment for venous insufficiency becomes paramount if detected by ultrasound. CEAP Class 5 and 6: Healed and Active UlcersLeg ulcerations result from the chronic, untreated inflammatory condition that results from advanced venous insufficiency. This stage requires coordinated care from a vein specialist and wound clinic, especially with active ulcerations. Most recently, a randomized study reported in the NEJM demonstrated the superiority of early endovenous ablation treatment for the healing of active ulcers in comparison to conservative treatment. This has encouraged the early identification of superficial venous reflux disease in the treatment of leg ulcers. Putting It All Together: Spider veins and Varicose Veins represent a continuum of vein disease that culminates in more serious medical concerns with advanced, untreated venous insufficiency. Awareness of all types of symptoms related to vein disease, especially in the presence of spider or varicose veins should prompt early attention by a reputable vein institute of nj. The importance of identifying vein disease was strongly supported by recent randomized data demonstrating more rapid healing of leg ulcers with modern vein treatments in comparison to compression stockings and delayed ablation. Modern vein treatments seek to cure underlying venous reflux using catheter based techniques that are minimally-invasive and improved efficacy. Early treatment for symptomatic vein disease at CEAP class 2 or greater is appropriate when conservative therapies have not alleviated symptoms. Article Source: https://njveindoc.blogspot.com/2020/03/six-stages-of-varicose-vein-disease.html
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As you may know, leg veins contain one-way valves that allow blood to defy gravity and travel up to the heart from our lower extremities. If these valves leak or become damaged, blood can pool in the legs, which can cause veins to become enlarged or varicose. People with varicose veins often suffer from the following symptoms and seek out varicose vein specialist near me:
In the past, the best treatment for varicose veins involved an invasive surgical procedure called vein stripping. Fortunately, technological advancements have allowed us to replace vein stripping with minimally invasive, relatively painless procedures. There are two primary methods for modern varicose vein treatment, both of which are outpatient procedures that do not require general anesthesia. The first option is Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), which uses high-frequency radio waves to heat the targeted vein. The radiofrequency energy is transmitted using a specialized catheter that’s inserted into the vein. The second is Endovenous Laser Ablation (ELA). This approach is quite similar to RFA, but instead of using radio waves to heat varicose veins, ELA uses laser energy to initiate scarring. This is different than laser treatment for spider veins. While both RFA and ELA are very safe procedures, it’s always important to discuss the risks with your doctor. Here are some of the risks you should be aware of before undergoing a vein ablation procedure:
Following the ablation procedure, it’s recommended that the patient wear a gradient compression stocking to help reduce tenderness, bruising, and minimize the possibility of blood clots forming. Because the procedures are minimally invasive, the recovery period is relatively short. Still, only the best vein doctors should be considered. If you’re considering varicose vein treatment, one should consider an exhaustive research before choosing the best vein doctor Paramus NJ. Article Source: https://njveinwellness.bcz.com/2020/02/26/what-are-my-options-when-compression-stockings-dont-help/ |
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