Frequently Asked Questions
Vein disorders, or venous insufficiency, are medical conditions in which a person’s veins are unable to properly transport blood from the legs back to the heart. There are several diseases that fall under these types of disorders:
Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)
- DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a large vein. These clots
usually develop in the lower leg, thigh or pelvis
Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
- PE occurs when part or all of a blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs
Chronic Venous Disease (CVD)
- CVD refers to other chronic conditions related to or caused by veins that become diseased or abnormal, which are easily noticed by cosmetic symptoms
Lymphedema
- Lymphedema is a lymphatic obstruction, a blockage of the lymph vessels that drain fluid from tissues throughout the body and allow immune cells to travel where they are needed
Compression Therapy
- Compression therapy means wearing socks or stockings designed to support your veins and increase circulation in your legs
Vein disease is incredibly common — and manageable. But if left untreated, what starts as a small issue can lead to potentially dangerous complications.
Venous insufficiency is more common in women than in men. It’s also more likely to occur in adults over the age of 50.
There are other risk factors that include:
- Blood clots
- Varicose veins
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
- Cancer
- Muscle weakness, leg injury, or trauma
- Swelling of a superficial vein (phlebitis)
- Family history of venous insufficiency
- Sitting or standing for long periods of time without moving
Varicose veins diminish your athletic performance.
Physical activities that require your legs to support heavier weight over prolonged periods of time such as weightlifting, skiing, backpacking and repetitive motion sports such as running, cycling and tennis put a lot of stress on your leg veins. These activities can damage the delicate valves of your vein circulation and aggravate your vein condition.
Consult with your doctor for more information.
Symptoms of Venous Insufficiency range from being cosmetic to the potentially life-threatening, so it’s important to have a vein screening completed to prevent issues in the future!
- Swelling (or Edema) of the legs or ankles
- Pain that gets worse when you stand and gets better when you raise your legs
- Leg cramps
- Aching, throbbing, or a feeling of heaviness in your legs
- Numbness in your legs
- Restless legs
- Itchy or burning legs
- Weak, tiredness or fatigue in your legs
- Thickening of the skin on your legs or ankles
- Skin that is changing color, especially around the ankles
- Non-healing wounds or ulcers
- Spider Veins
- Bulging varicose veins
- A feeling of tightness in your calves
If yes, you may have Venous Insufficiency!
Without treatment, a minor problem with your veins can get much worse. So it’s important to see a doctor.
Schedule an appointment with our vein team to get an expert opinion.
We pride ourselves on offering state-of- the-art, comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for patients.
Meet our Vein Team!
