What is Venous Disease?
What Is Venous Disease?
Venous, or vein, disease is very common. At least 80 million Americans struggle with some form of venous disease, according to the American Vein & Lymphatic Society (AVLS).
Sometimes venous disease is very obvious – bulging, twisty veins or purple spidery veins that wrap around the leg – but there are other, subtle clues that veins may not be working as well as they should.
Whatever signs of vein disease you may observe, it's best not to ignore them. Waiting for the issues to go away on their own may actually make them worse as time goes on.
Symptoms of Venous Disease
Spider Veins
"Spider vein" is the common term for blue or purple-colored veins that occur under the skin but are close enough to be seen on the surface. Spider veins rarely cause physical discomfort, but because of their appearance, they can be a source of embarrassment or self-consciousness. Spider veins are an indication of early-stage venous disease, and treating them not only improves appearance but also helps stop the progression of venous disease.
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In the past, treatment of spider veins has often been considered cosmetic. Today, we know that leaving venous issues untreated can eventually lead to larger health problems.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are visible veins in the leg that bulge, often protruding through the skin. They are the result of venous insufficiency: blood that pools in the vein because of a faulty valve and causes the protrusion. Varicose veins are a symptom of early-stage venous disease. Untreated, they can lead to increased symptoms and worsening appearance.
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Often, those who have varicose veins are concerned that the vein will bleed. If you experience a bleeding vein, elevate your leg and hold continuous pressure on the vein for at least 10 minutes. If the bleeding does not stop, seek medical help immediately.
Swelling
While symptoms of early-stage venous disease are not always painful, it is common to experience discomfort as the disease progresses. This can manifest through fatigue or general discomfort that gets worse over the course of a day or after standing for long periods. Swelling may occur around the leg, ankles, or around the knees.
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Chronic swelling puts people at risk for cellulitis, a potentially serious bacterial skin infection. Those with venous symptoms can also be at increased risk for phlebitis, the inflammation of a superficial vein caused by a small clot.
Skin Changes
Skin changes can occur during many stages of venous disease. Brown discoloration that appears as a stain on the skin is a sign of an advanced stage of venous disease. This occurs because of blood leaking from the blood vessels and into the skin tissue. This staining can lead to white spots and are a precursor to an ulcer.
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Other skin changes include lipodermosclerosis, a disease that causes the skin to thicken, and eczema, which causes the skin to become red or scaly.
Leg Ulcers
Venous stasis ulcers in the leg are often an indication that venous disease has reached an advanced stage. Because venous disease is progressive, venous reflux can often lead to additional valve failure. As a result, the pooling of blood can affect a larger area. When blood pools in the lower leg over a long period of time, the condition is referred to as venous stasis.
When blood leaks into the tissue of the skin, it can cause swelling and damage to the tissue. Tissue damage can result in wounds, or ulcers, that are chronic and do not heal if the condition is left untreated. Ulcers may be painful or itchy and often require constant care and dressing. Because ulcers typically do not heal on their own, they can have a significant impact on quality of life. Those legs are classified as C5 when there is a healed ulcer or C6 if there is an open ulcer.
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People can be plagued with ulcers for years because of a poor understanding of options for treatment. While treating the source of venous disorders early can prevent ulcers, those who are already experiencing this late-stage symptom can have excellent success with venous treatment. In many cases, people with ulcers can enjoy complete healing and recovery.
Other Complications of the Venous System
Superficial Thrombophlebitis
Superficial Venous Thrombophlebitis (SVT) is the term used for blood that becomes turbulent and pools, resulting in a clot in a superficial vein. Superficial refers to the group of veins just below the skin's surface, on top of the muscular layer. Superficial clots will often reoccur if the underlying venous insufficiency isn't treated.
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Superficial veins often develop dysfunction at junctions with deep veins. When this happens, it is crucial to treat the problem at the source. A thorough "vein-valve mapping" with ultrasound is a critical part of evaluation and treatment of SVT.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in the deep vein system. In most cases, the affected area— usually in the leg— will be painful, swollen or tender, with a redness or discoloration of the skin. DVT is a medical emergency, so any symptoms should be regarded as a DVT until proven otherwise, especially if you're in a risk category. About half of the time, DVT has no symptoms at all.
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The danger with DVT is that the clot could break free from the vein wall and enter the blood stream. The clot could then travel to the lungs and become a pulmonary embolism (PE), or to the brain and result in a stroke. DVT-related PE is the leading cause of preventable death in U.S. hospitals.
Learn About Your Options
At the Vein Healthcare Center, we use a comprehensive approach to vein health. By evaluating your entire venous system, we can treat venous disorders at their source. If you are having any of the above symptoms, seeing a professional vein specialist for a thorough evaluation will help you determine the severity of your issue and explore options for treatment.
Explore our Treatment Options, or visit our Frequently Asked Questions for answers to common concerns. Contact the Vein Healthcare Center to schedule your evaluation.