Venous Disease
Venous disease is a group of medical conditions affecting veins. Prompt diagnosis and treatment by Reid Health specialists can help alleviate symptoms and prevent complications.
How disease affects the veins
The body’s system of veins is responsible for keeping oxygen-depleted blood flowing back to the heart. Venous disease occurs when a vein or veins are damaged or weakened in any way, disrupting that essential function.
These conditions often cause symptoms that are simply painful and disruptive, but in some cases, they can lead to life-threatening health issues, such as pulmonary embolism.
Why choose Reid Health
Venous disease care at Reid
If you’re experiencing symptoms of venous disease, you can find the advanced care you need from the Reid Health vascular specialists. We offer comprehensive services to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the veins, including emergency treatments when needed.
Symptoms of venous disease
Chronic venous diseases can linger for months and even years, causing uncomfortable symptoms that lower your quality of life.
Venous disease symptoms vary depending on the type you have and the affected veins. In general, though, symptoms include:
- Ankle or leg ulcers
- Bulging veins
- Legs that feel heavy
- Itching or burning
- Pain or swelling in the arms, legs, and ankles
- Pain that worsens when standing
- Redness or warmth around the affected vein
Types of venous disease
Your veins bring blood to your heart from other parts of your body. Venous disease is any medical condition that affects veins in the body. There are a few main types:
- Blood clots: Clots can form in veins throughout the body.
- Chronic venous insufficiency: Also called venous stasis, this occurs when veins deep in your body are damaged or weakened, limiting blood flow.
- Deep vein thrombosis: This blood clot forms in the deep veins of the body, often disrupting blood flow in your legs.
- Superficial thrombophlebitis: This type of blood clot develops in a vein close to the surface of the skin.
- Varicose Veins: These twisted veins are located just under the skin’s surface, often occurring in leg veins.
- Venous ulcers: These nonhealing wounds are caused by a damaged vein.
Although anyone can develop a venous disease, certain factors increase a person’s risk, including:
- Being female
- Body mass index (BMI) greater than 30
- Family history of venous or vascular disease
- Taking birth control or hormone replacement therapy
- Pregnancy
- Sitting or standing for long periods of time
- Smoking or using other forms of tobacco
Heart & Vascular Care
Vascular screenings
A vascular screening is a safe, painless, and noninvasive diagnostic tool designed to identify your risk for stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and peripheral artery disease. This three-part screening, which takes about 45 minutes, provides valuable insights into your vascular health, helping to detect potential issues before they become serious.
A vascular screening is recommended for those 50 and older who haven’t had a screening within the past five years.
Venous disease treatments available at Reid
If you’re experiencing vein-related symptoms, our vascular specialists can use many advanced imaging tools to find out what’s causing them.
Our imaging center offers a range of tests to diagnose venous disease:
- Ankle-brachial index tests: A non-invasive test used to compare the blood pressure in the ankle with the blood pressure in the arm to assess peripheral artery disease
- Blood tests: Laboratory tests that analyze blood samples to check for various health markers and conditions
- Imaging scans: CT, MRI, and duplex ultrasound scans create detailed pictures of the inside of the body to detect blockages or vascular issues.
Once your provider knows what type of venous disease you have, they’ll recommend a treatment plan based on your needs.
Treatment for venous disease might include:
- Compression stockings: Specialized hosiery designed to improve circulation and reduce swelling in the legs.
- Endovenous laser therapy: A minimally invasive procedure that closes off varicose veins using targeted laser energy
- Lifestyle changes: Adjustments in habits such as diet and exercise to enhance blood circulation and reduce vein issues
- Medications: Drugs like blood thinners or clot-busting injections that help manage and treat venous conditions
- Sclerotherapy: An injection treatment that aims to eliminate abnormal veins by causing them to collapse and fade
- Thrombectomy: A surgical procedure to remove a blood clot from a blood vessel
- Vena cava filter implantation: A device placed in the vena cava to prevent blood clots from reaching the lungs