Guide to Vein Conditions and Vein Health

Guide to Vein Conditions and Vein Health

Good vein health can’t be achieved overnight. It takes eating the right foods, exercise, and putting aside some bad habits. An estimated 40 million Americans are affected by varicose veins, which is just one type of vein complication. About half of those individuals have a history of varicose veins in their family. Women are the most likely to develop the disease. We have created this guide to vein conditions that could be affecting you.

Common Vein Conditions

While varicose veins are one of the most well-known vein complications, there is a range of other diseases that can affect your vascular system.

Raynaud’s Phenomenon

This condition is presented as white or bluish skin in the fingers and toes due to spasms in the small arteries.

Buerger’s Disease

With this malady, you’ll notice a pain in the feet and legs as well as hands and arms. This is brought on by blocked blood vessels.

Peripheral Venous Disease

This disorder initially shows as bulging in the veins under the skin, leading to a feeling of heaviness and pain in the legs.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

An ailment that causes poor circulation brought on by hardening or narrowing of the artery from smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are one of the most common vein issues. You’ll notice it by the bulging or purplish veins in the legs due to damaged valves.

Pregnancy Veins

We find that this issue is usually caused by pregnancy, bed rest, or damage to the veins. Pregnancy veins occur due to the increased size of the uterus during pregnancy. The uterus causes pressure on the large vein on the right side of the body, called the vena cava.

Reticular Veins

Usually painless, this condition affects almost 80% of adults due to hormone imbalances, weak veins, and genetic factors.

Blood Clotting Disorders

Whether inherited or acquired, these disorders make it so that blood does not clot normally. When this happens blood can often be found in urine or stool. It may also cause nosebleeds or excessive bleeding during childbirth.

Telangiectasia (Also Known as Spider Veins)

Spider veins are caused by the pressure of body weight, gravity and the tough job of carrying blood back to the heart. You may notice them on the face, breasts, and feet. Almost 60% of adults may have spider veins.

Lymphedema

With this condition, fluid from the lymphatic system builds up and causes swollen arms and legs. Most often this is caused by damaged or missing lymph nodes or vessels.

Foods for Maintaining Good Vein Health

Support good vein health this year by integrating foods that increase and promote blood flow. You can accomplish this by looking for foods that are high in Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Foods like citrus, broccoli, bell peppers, mangos, fish, etc.

It’s also important to include foods like brown rice, leafy greens, chia, and lentils that are high in fiber. Drinking enough water is also important for optimal vein health.

Precautions to Avoid Vascular Conditions

By integrating healthy lifestyle considerations into your day-to-day, such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and quitting smoking, you can avoid future vascular problems.

If medications are needed to lower cholesterol and regulate your blood pressure, it’s important to take the meds as prescribed to mitigate the occurrence of vascular issues.

Cosmetic Varicose Veins Treatment and Spider Vein Treatment

Varicose and spider veins are treatable. Sclerotherapy is often the best method of treatment. This in-office procedure is an easy and painless way to resolve this cosmetic issue.

Other procedures can include stripping, ambulatory phlebectomy, endoscopic vein surgery, and endothermal ablation. Laser surgeries can also help to make the veins fade and disappear under intense light bursts.

Natural Therapies to Cure Vein Conditions

While cosmetic vein treatment is effective, regular exercise, dietary changes, compression stockings, and herbal remedies can guide to improve the symptoms and side effects of some vein conditions.

Doing regular yoga with positions where the lower legs are elevated above the heart helps in relieving symptoms of varicose veins.

Sound sleep also affects your vein health. Just one week of fewer hours of sleep can affect your vein condition.

Guide To Preventing Vein Conditions

The same remedies that help to reduce and eliminate the severity of vein conditions are also the treatments that you should continue even after a vein condition has improved.

Keep moving, eat right, and stop smoking. You may also consider wearing looser clothing and not standing or sitting for long periods of time.

For more information about caring for your veins or how to prevent vascular issues, please contact our office.

9 Hidden Health Risks of Untreated Varicose Veins

9 Hidden Health Risks of Untreated Varicose Veins

When one thinks of vein treatment, often what immediately comes to mind is the aesthetic aspect. But there are hidden health risks of untreated varicose veins. Varicose, spider, reticular, and pregnancy veins are all considered unsightly. While many may not care to invest in treating vein conditions and are willing to accept the look of their blue, red or purplish veins, this certainly isn’t the only reason to consider having vein treatments. The truth is, some vein conditions carry their share of risks as well as discomfort, and if left untreated can lead to larger issues.
Varicose veins are a common symptom of age (especially in women), a sedentary lifestyle, and excess body weight, among other genetic factors. Most people consider them more of an unsightly cosmetic inconvenience, rather than an actual health risk.

Learn the Health Risks of Untreated Varicose Veins:

If left untreated for a prolonged period, varicose veins pose some potential major health risks that could leave you hospitalized and in pain.

1. Changes in Skin

The skin near an untreated varicose vein will turn “shiny”, feel waxy and thin, and take on a darker, almost bruised pigmentation. This will  deepen over time without treatment. The skin around a varicose vein is easily disturbed and delicate enough to be damaged by a slight bump. Heavy bruising is not uncommon.

While not a serious health risk, this symptom causes many to feel self-conscious about their skin. Dermatitis from the varicose vein could lead to infection if not treated properly.

2. Itching

One of the most common symptoms of untreated varicose veins is an “itching” sensation. It is often treated as dry skin if varicose veins are not obvious. This symptom is one of the mildest on this list and can often be treated with over-the-counter skin salves and ointments. Seeking the opinion of a specialist is important to make sure that there aren’t serious issues happening beneath the skin.

3. Swelling

Varicose veins can cause far more problems than meets the eye. Don’t think that they are simply visible little veins. They are visible for a reason. When blood isn’t pumping out of the legs properly due to damaged valves within the vein walls, blood begins to collect. This enlarges parts of the veins where blood is stagnant.

While some people may never feel any discomfort due to appearance of varicose veins, there are many who experience leg swelling, cramps, restlessness, and even burning sensations.

4. Pain and Cramping

Because varicose veins affect the flow of blood through the veins, oxygen that is carried through the blood does not reach the proper areas, leading to muscle cramps near the site of the vein. These cramps are painful, sometimes debilitating, and can severely affect mobility.

5. Bleeding

Some experience bleeding when veins close to the skin burst. While this isn’t usually a very serious health risk it’s important to have veins checked and treated so it does not continue to occur. Bleeding can sometimes prove heavy. In cases of bleeding, it is important to seek medical assistance. 

6. Ulcers Due to Untreated Varicose Veins

Venous diseases can also cause leg ulcers. An ulcer is a break in the skin, which is dangerous due to exposure to bacteria and infection. According to Mayo Clinic, these ulcers are caused by long-term fluid buildup in the tissues surrounding the varicose veins due to “increased pressure of the blood within the affected veins”. These ulcers are slow-healing, painful, and can even be caused simply by scratching the skin over a varicose vein.

Leg ulcers can easily get infected and lead to further health complications. Treating a varicose vein is paramount to treating an ulcer, as the ulcer is not likely to heal while the vein is still affected. Healing leg ulcers can take a very long time and often require a wound care specialist. This can be avoided with proper vein treatment before the ulcers take hold.

7. Superficial Thrombophlebitis

This condition occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein that is close to the skin, causing it to swell and push against the dermis (layer of skin under the epidermis), making it visible. This symptom causes discomfort and can lead to more complications, since the vein is more vulnerable to damage or irritation. 

8. Deep Vein Thrombosis (Blood Clots)

When varicose veins are present, the blood in the veins is unable to cycle back through and pools in the body. This creates what is called “stagnant blood flow”. A blood clot located in deep veins is known as deep vein thrombosis. While superficial veins are not at risk for deep vein thrombosis, often those who experience discomfort from varicose veins may not realize that perhaps their discomfort is from deep veins.

Blood clots for superficial veins are often not much of a health problem; however, according to WebMD clots found in deep veins have the potential to travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing potentially life-threatening issues. This is one of the most serious health risks associated with untreated varicose veins.

9. Lipodermatosclerosis

The appearance of veins may indeed be a warning of a bigger issue, which is why it’s important to have them checked by a doctor. For example, varicose veins are a key symptom in an illness called Lipodermatosclerosis. The National Institute of Health says those suffering from this disease suffer “pain, hardening of skin, change in skin color, swelling, and tapering of legs above the ankles.” It’s important to start recommended treatment to control symptoms, as in more severe cases surgery may be necessary.

Don’t Ignore Unsightly Veins

While many unsightly veins prove simply superficial, there are potential risks to ignoring them. It is important to have visible veins checked, and if necessary, treatment by a medical professional to avoid future issues that may cause discomfort, stress, and serious health problems.

Call today to schedule an appointment at The New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center, a leading center for treatment of varicose vein disease and venous insufficiency, or visit our website for more information.

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