Vein disease is quite common in the United States. Your veins carry blood from various parts of the body back to your heart. The early symptoms of vein disease may appear to be minor at first, but with time, certain conditions can become more serious or even life threatening.
Types of Vein Disease
Deep Vein Thrombosis: When your muscles are not contracting properly to circulate blood to the heart, the blood stops moving and a clot or thrombus can form in a deep vein. This type of clot usually forms in the lower leg or thigh. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) can lead to a serious issue in the lung, namely a pulmonary embolism, which is a blocked lung artery that can permanently damage the lung, lower blood oxygen levels, or damage other bodily organs due to low oxygen. If the escaped clot is large enough or if there are many of them, death can occur.
Causes and Symptoms of DVT: Sitting still for long periods of time can add to your risk for DVT. If you work for long hours sitting at a desk, get up and move around every 30 minutes or so. There are also some medications and illnesses that can put you at greater risk for developing DVT. Some of the symptoms you may notice include:
- Your vein feels warm and tender to the touch
- An area of your leg is painful and swollen
- Your skin is reddened
- Slight fever
Amish Tilara, M.D. at the Atlanta Vascular and Vein Center can run the appropriate tests to determine if you have a form of DVT. The treatment provided may include an anticoagulant medication, compression stockings, or the insertion of an inferior vena cava filter to stop clots from traveling to the lungs.
Venous Insufficiency
When blood is pooling within the legs because your veins cannot return blood to the heart efficiently, this is known as venous insufficiency. The result of this malfunction in blood flow can cause varicose veins or spider veins.
Varicose veins are dilated veins that become thickened and twisted, and are visible beneath the skin. Some symptoms of varicose veins are:
- Pain
- Legs that tire easily
- Swelling
- Numbness
- A heavy feeling in the legs
- Leg irritation or rash
Many women suffer from varicose veins while pregnant. People who stand for long periods of time also may develop this vein disease. The treatments for varicose veins range from laser treatments to endovenous vein surgery and other options.
Spider veins are small groups of web-like veins close to the skin’s surface, usually on the legs. They are not normally a serious health concern, but they are unattractive and can cause some discomfort. Over time, spider veins can transform into rashes, ulcers, and soft tissue infections. They can also be a sign of other vein disease issues that need attention. The treatment of spider veins depends upon their severity, and options include sclerotherapy and microsclerotherapy.
If you think you have DVT or venous insufficiency and are wrestling with leg cramps, swollen ankles, skin discolorations, and visibly twisted veins or clusters of veins, contact Dr. Amish Tilara, M.D. for a consultation.
Dr. Tilara is located at The Atlanta Vascular and Vein Center in Lawrenceville, Georgia. His practice also serves the surrounding communities of Duluth, Dacula, Buford, Grayson, Lilburn, Norcross, Snellville, and Suwanee.
This article is not meant to take the place of professional medical advice. If you have concerns, please call Dr. Amish Tilara, M.D. or a physician in your area.
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