Can Varicose Veins Cause Hypertension?

Can Varicose Veins Cause Hypertension?

Sep 19, 2019 | General Health, Spider Veins, Varicose Veins

For some of us, it seems that the mere thought of varicose veins is enough to cause high blood pressure. But can varicose veins cause hypertension? 

 

High Blood Pressure and Varicose Veins

While there is clear evidence that hypertension can lead to the development of varicose veins, the jury is still out if the reverse is true. The medical community is currently working hard to research the links between high blood pressure and varicose veins.

Right now, there is one thing that they do know for sure. That is, varicose veins can lead to a condition known as venous hypertension. 

Venous Hypertension

Venous hypertension results when the valves in the veins of the legs are damaged. Damage allows a backflow of blood that begins to pool in the lower legs. As pooling continues, additional strain is put on the heart because greater pressure is needed to transport the pooled blood back to the heart. 

Varicose Veins and Your Health

This is a two-way street. Varicose veins may cause venous hypertension and venous hypertension can cause varicose veins. Varicose veins can also lead to a slew of other problems. Ankle flare, edema (swelling), varicose eczema, lipodermatosclerosis, and haemosiderin stainings are all possible issues. 

This can be particularly dangerous if you already have any other heart condition. More than one issue can build off each other and develop into heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots. That’s just one reason why varicose veins aren’t just a cosmetic issue, but an actual medical condition. 

Varicose veins can also contribute to orthostatic hypotension. This is a marked drop in blood pressure that occurs when going from lying down to standing up.

If you’re sick of the heaviness, the aching, and swelling, seek treatment. When you’re done with the pain, itching, burning, and cramps, you can say goodbye to the suffering. There are several treatment options available that will not only improve your venous health, but simultaneously improve the appearance of your legs. 

Contact our office to schedule a free consultation. Our staff will listen to your needs. We want to help you find a solution to your painful or unsightly venous conditions.

What You Need to Know About Venous Ulcers

What You Need to Know About Venous Ulcers

Aug 19, 2019 | Venous Insufficiency, Venous Ulcers

A product of venous insufficiency, venous ulcers are a painful and stressful health issue. Managing this condition means making lifestyle changes. But, how do you know if you have a venous ulcer to begin with? And, are there ways to prevent them?  

Here we discuss everything you need to know about venous ulcers: what they are, the risks associated with them, and how to prevent and treat them.

What is a Venous Ulcer?

Venous ulcers or leg ulcers are open sores on your legs caused by poor blood circulation in the veins of the leg. They heal very slowly and can lead to further complications if not adequately treated.  

What Causes Venous Ulcers? 

Venous ulcers occur as a result of your leg veins not being able to keep blood flowing back to the heart. This leads to blood pooling in the lower legs, especially the bony areas, usually the ankles. Since blood is not flowing properly, the legs swell, exacting pressure on the skin. This results in an open sore otherwise known as an ulcer. 

What does a leg ulcer look like?

Leg ulcers begin to form when blood pooling in the lower legs goes untreated. The very next sign is stasis dermatitis. Stasis dermatitis is itchy, thin and hardened skin that may have undergone a color change to red, blue, or purple.

You will also notice heaviness, pain, or cramping in your legs. Signs that this condition has advanced into a leg ulcer are:

  • A sore with a red base. It may usually be covered by yellow tissue
  • Uneven sore borders
  • Shiny, tight, warm, and discolored skin surrounding the sore
  • Leg pain

For people who think they’re at risk for venous ulcers, you should develop a prevention plan. Ulcers are a very stubborn condition to treat once fully formed. Typically, it takes 3-4 months for your legs to fully heal from a venous ulcer.

Venous Ulcer Prevention 

To prevent venous ulcers, you will need to embrace lifestyle changes that promote a healthy flow of blood for the veins in your legs. Preventative methods include:

  • Avoiding smoking
  • Getting regular exercise
  • Staying at a healthy weight – if you are overweight you may want to develop an exercise program 
  • Not staying in the same position for hours – take breaks to move around
  • Moderate your salt intake
  • If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, keep it in check
  • Wear compression stockings, which can help increase pressure in your leg veins, keep swelling at a minimum, and prevent venous ulcers

Risks Associated with Ulcers

If not properly treated, venous ulcers can lead to severe complications such as:

Skin Infections

The sore may become infected if treatment is ignored. The symptoms of infection include odor, pus, serious pain, and fever. 

Bone Infections

When a wound is open too long, bone infections may occur from invading bacteria. Signs of bone infection include fever, muscle spasms, and deep pain in your legs. 

Skin Cancer

If your ulcer becomes infected and you continue to ignore it, a malignant tumor may form. Sometimes even with treatment, this may still occur. It is always important to seek medical attention at the first signs of an ulcer.

Management/Treatment

Venous ulcers are not a condition that will go away over time. Without help from a professional, they can escalate to severely painful or even life-threatening conditions.

That’s why this specific type of ulcer requires a lot of care from the patient and treatment from a professional. Treatment of venous ulcers includes:

  • Compression stockings, to increase blood circulation in your veins, improving your body’s capacity to heal the ulcer.
  • Elevating your legs for 30 minutes 3 to 4 times a day to improve circulation
  • Antibiotics to clear the infection
  • Surgery to improve circulation. This will help the sore to heal and prevent future blood pooling, as well as the development of future ulcers.

Are you experiencing pain in your legs? Have you noticed any symptoms of venous ulcers? The New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center offers top of the line, personalized vein diagnosis and treatment. We will do our best in expediting your length of treatment to limit your pain and downtime. Contact us today for the highest standard of care. 

Diabetes and Veins: How Your Veins are Affected by Diabetes

Diabetes and Veins: How Your Veins are Affected by Diabetes

Jul 19, 2019 | Diabetes and Veins, Vein Conditions

Diabetes affects over 30 million Americans, according to the most recent data provided by the CDC. People most often attribute diabetes to blood-glucose levels, insulin, and even diabetic shock. But diabetes negatively affects the body in other ways. One area that often gets overlooked is the venous system and how your veins are affected by diabetes.

How does diabetes affect vein health? 

Over time, high blood glucose levels can weaken or damage blood vessels. These weakened blood vessels make your veins more susceptible to infection.

A diabetic’s veins and blood vessels are prone to inflammation and weakness. Often, this creates the possibility of circulatory issues in addition to infection.

Vascular disease is also a possibility for diabetics if there is too much glucose in the blood. 

Advanced diabetes may even result in nerve and tissue damage. This primarily happens in the legs where varicose veins are more common. Varicose veins are unsightly and cause pain, weakness, and overall discomfort. Weight gain as a result of diabetes can encourage varicose vein growth.

Often a sign of inflammation, varicose veins can also put extra pressure on the body’s immune and circulatory systems. 

How is diabetes linked to vascular disease?

It is imperative that you maintain a healthy lifestyle when living with diabetes. Managing your dietary intake and exercising on a regular basis is important.

Without an emphasis on health, vascular diseases are bound to occur. Even when a diabetic keeps their glucose levels under control, they are still at risk for vascular diseases.

This is because diabetes affects:

  • Blood pressure
  • Cholesterol
  • Weight
  • Mobility

These effects can lead to vascular diseases such as:

Retinopathy – abnormal growth of blood vessels in your retina

Nephropathy – a disease that damages the tiny filtering units of the kidney

Neuropathy – a condition causing a loss of sensation in the feet and toes

Atherosclerosis – caused by high blood pressure, this is when plaque builds up on the walls of arteries 

Stroke – a blockage in arteries that causes and a loss of blood to the brain

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) – the narrowing of arteries

Importance of diabetic care and being proactive.

Diabetes is unlike any other disease. It can be very overwhelming and time-consuming when considering treatment and care. Taking medication is not enough.

A diabetic needs to fully change their lifestyle in order to keep the disease at a minimum. It’s easy for diabetes to get out of control if certain conditions are not properly met. 

Always take your medication on time, as prescribed.

Always take your medication on time, as prescribed.

Follow proper nutrition as directed by your health-care provider.

Check your blood glucose (sugar) levels regularly.

Get adequate amounts of exercise and physical activity (as recommended by your provider)

Find ways to eliminate stress

Finding the right vein and vascular specialist 

When deciding on a specialist, it is imperative that you go with a provider who has knowledge and experience in a dedicated field. Your veins and vascular system  play a vital role in your body. Thus, it is important they are handled appropriately.

The New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center is New Jersey’s leading vein center with the highest standard for patient care. Contact Us today to see how you can benefit from our services.  

The Venous Ultrasound: How It Works

The Venous Ultrasound: How It Works

Apr 19, 2019 | Vein Conditions, Vein Treatments

Medical technology has revolutionized the world of healthcare. Every day, new discoveries and practices are being implemented that result in better diagnoses, treatments, and overall patient experience. The use of ultrasound is a very common and risk-free tool that is often used throughout the stages of venous diagnoses and treatment.

What Is a Venous Ultrasound?

An ultrasound is nothing more than sound vibrations that are used to create a visual image. One of the most common uses for ultrasound is during pregnancy examinations, although it can also be used to look at a vast array of structures within the body.

During a venous ultrasound, a probe is placed externally on the skin and emits sound waves. When the sound waves encounter objects, they send a signal back to the probe, which is connected to a computer. The computer then composes an image which can provide substantial information about function, structure, and movement of soft tissues and organs.

Some ultrasound scans are brief and only last 10-15 minutes, while others can be about 30-45 minutes long, depending on the nature of the exam.

Ultrasound is completely non-invasive and provides real-time imagery and information. In addition, there is no radiation exposure, unlike x-rays or CT scans. They are widely accessible at many clinics and offices and are often lower-cost than other diagnostics.  They’re usually covered by most insurance plans.

How Is Ultrasound Used to Treat Vein Conditions?

Because most vein conditions involve insufficient blood flow, ultrasound is used first to determine which veins are compromised and if there are any identifiable blood clots. Once your doctor has identified the damaged valves and route of the abnormal circulation, there are several procedures that can be used to improve the appearance and relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of afflicted veins.

All the treatments provided at the New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center involve ultrasound guidance. This means that while conducting laser therapy or placing catheters, your doctor will always have a clear visual representation of your venous structures. And highly invasive surgery is unnecessary.

The aid of an ultrasound ensures that your procedure requires minimal recovery time and can be performed quickly and safely. There are no known harmful side effects or complications that occur from utilizing an ultrasound. It is one of the safest medical practices used at medical facilities around the world.

Contact Us

At The New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center, we are proud to offer the most advanced and safest procedures and diagnostics for all our patients. Our high standard of patient care, industry expertise, and cutting-edge treatments ensure that you have the best chance for positive and lasting results. If you have any questions or would like more information on the services we provide, please contact us.

Everything You Need to Know About DVTs: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Everything You Need to Know About DVTs: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Oct 18, 2018 | Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Vein Conditions

DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) is a serious condition that can be life threatening. It’s important to be aware of the signs, symptoms, and treatment to detect it quickly and seek help. Here is everything you need to know about DVTs:

What is a DVT?

Though you may not have heard of a DVT, you’ve very likely heard of a blood clot and the dangers associated with blockages in your veins or arteries. Blood clots are classified, in part, based on their locations.

A DVT, short for Deep Vein Thrombosis, is what happens when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins in your body—most commonly, in your legs. DVTs can be both painful and dangerous.

The most dangerous complication that can arise from a DVT is a pulmonary embolism. This occurs if the blood clot dislodges itself from your deep vein and moves to block your lungs.

A shifted clot could also cause a heart attack or stroke. Because of these serious potential complications, it’s important to seek care immediately if you suspect you or a loved one may have a DVT.

Who is at Risk for a DVT?

Although anyone can get a DVT, certain people are more at risk for a DVT than others. Those most at risk for a DVT include:

  • Adults over the age of 50
  • Anyone recovering from a recent surgery
  • Pregnant women and those taking hormonal birth controls
  • Anyone with blood clotting disorders such as Factor V Deficiency
  • People leading a sedentary lifestyle
  • Individuals with a family history of a DVT
  • Heavy smokers

How Do You Prevent a DVT?

Staying active is the best way to prevent a DVT. Be sure to get up and move around regularly and avoid sitting for several hours at a time.

Losing weight, giving up smoking, and watching your blood pressure are all great additional ways to lower your odds of having a DVT in your lifetime.

If you are at high risk for a DVT based on previous personal or family history, blood clotting disorders, or surgery, your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner to help prevent a DVT. Taking this medication as prescribed is an important step to avoiding the complication of a DVT.

What Are the Symptoms of a DVT?

Sharp, debilitating pain in the leg, ankle, or foot is usually the first and most pronounced symptom of a DVT. This pain may be accompanied by swelling or cramping.

Sometimes, people ignore the signs of a DVT until the clot moves and they experience signs of pulmonary embolism. These include dizziness, faintness, sweating, and heart palpitations.

How is a DVT Diagnosed?

To diagnose a DVT, your doctor will first take a medical history and assess your pain levels. Once that has been done, they will have to image your leg to locate the DVT. Often, this is done using either an MRI or an ultrasound.

How Do You Treat a DVT?

Depending on the location and severity of the clot, your doctor may choose one or several treatment options. Compression socks may be used to increase circulation in your legs, while blood thinners may be prescribed to break up the clot. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the clot.

Be proactive about DVT complications and schedule and appointment with your Vein Care Specialist to learn about the health of your veins. Knowing more about possible blockages or clogs could end up saving your life.

For more information about DVTs or vein care contact us our staff at NJVVC.
Call Now
Contact Us