Welcome to our Vein Education and Frequently Asked Questions page. Here you can find information about venous disease, varicose veins, the procedures we offer, and any other questions you may have. If you have a question that you don’t see on here, kindly ask your question in the contact form found on the lower left. A vein expert from our centers will review the question and anonymously post both the question and answer here on our site so that everyone can benefit.
What are veins and how do they function?
Veins are a part of the body’s circulatory system. Carrying blood to the heart, veins performs a critical function in the body. While arteries pump oxygen rich blood to the whole of your body, most veins act to return de-oxygenated blood from your body’s tissues back to your heart. The very structure of healthy veins allows them to effectively carry blood in a one way path from your extremities and body back to your heart. Healthy veins have functioning one way flaps called venous valves which act to prevent back-flow of de-oxygenated blood into the lower extremities under the force of gravity.
Veins are sometimes called “capacitance vessels”. This name is given because the majority of blood volume in the body resides within the venous system. Approximately 60% of the body’s blood is within veins at any given time.
Veins are aided in their blood return function by two factors. The skeletal muscle pump works through body movements to compress veins; thereby pushing blood through the one way valves towards the heart. The other assistance is offered through the thoracic pump action of breathing that occurs with respiration.
Are there different types of veins?
Veins are classified in numerous ways, especially in the medical community. However, a few types of veins are:
- Systemic Veins: These veins drain body tissues and return the de-oxygenated blood to the heart.
- Pulmonary Veins: These veins function to deliver oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
- Superficial Veins: These veins occur close to the surface of the skin in the body. Furthermore, these veins have no corresponding arteries.
- Deep Veins: These veins are deeper in the body with corresponding arteries.
What happens when veins stop functioning properly?
The most common disorder of the venous system is called “venous insufficiency”. This is caused by problems in the leg’s deeper leg veins. The aforementioned one way valves in the veins stop functioning properly and allow de-oxygenated blood to pool under the effects of gravity. Essentially the one way valves are stacked vertically in the leg’s vein. When one valve becomes incompetent, it puts increased pressure on the valves below it; thereby leading to those valves becoming incompetent. A vicious cycle ensues, in which the afflicted person’s veins begin to have more and more valves turn incompetent. As this happens the veins grow in diameter and size to accommodate the additional pooling blood and this puts undue stress on the venous system, the heart, and the extremities they are contained in.
What is Venous Insufficiency?
This disorder is the most common within the venous system. This condition occurs when veins have problems, delays, and/or difficulties in sending blood from the legs back to the heart. This can occur when there is a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) or varicose veins. Manifestations of venous insufficiency are generally displayed through varicose veins and spider veins. Furthermore, venous insufficiency occurs when there is backward flow of blood through damaged valves. In many of our patients’ cases, they display both an obstruction of forward flow as well as backward leakage of de-oxygenated blood.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are enlarged veins that occur as a result of venous insufficiency. These veins are usually located in the lower extremities near the surface of the skin; however they can manifest in other parts of the body as well. Essentially, because of the one way valves failures, excess blood pools in the lower extremities. As a result the veins increase in diameter to accommodate the additional blood.. These enlarged veins will often change in shape from straight and tubular to tortuous, indirect, meandering, thick, and occasionally clustered.
What are spider veins?
Spider veins are like varicose veins, except they are generally smaller and closer to the surface of the skin. These smaller diseased veins are typically blue, red, or purplish in hue. They can be small lines on the extremity; however they are often clustered in formations similar to tree branches or spider webs. Spider veins are also found on other parts of the body, including the face. Spider veins are caused by a backup of blood; thereby providing additional storage for blood that results from vascular insufficiency.
What are the symptoms of varicose veins?
Patients report many symptoms to us; however here is a list of the most common:
- Pain
- Burning
- Itchiness
- Swelling
- Tingling
- Heaviness
- Fatigue
- Cramping/Aching
- Edema
- Restlessness
- Discoloration of the skin
- Thickening and hardening of the skin on the legs and ankles
- Ulcers on the lower extremities
What risk factors contribute to venous insufficiency/varicose veins?
Some risk factors are listed below:
- Genetic factors
- Age (as one gets older, the likelihood of venous insufficiency increases)
- Varicose Veins
- Being female (stems from levels of the hormone progesterone)
- Obesity
- Being tall
- History of deep vein thrombosis within the legs
- Prolonged sitting
- Prolonged standing
- Inactivity
- Weakness of muscles
- Cancer
- Injury
- Intense weight training and exercise
Do men get varicose veins?
Absolutely yes. However, statistically women display 7-10 times the occurrence of venous insufficiency and varicose veins than men.
Why are varicose veins, vascular insufficiency, and spider veins detrimental to my health?
While spider veins in and of themselves are rarely dangerous to your health, they often signify a deeper lying issue of vascular insufficiency. Aside from the fact that vascular insufficiency and the resulting varicose veins and spider veins can cause discomfort, burning, swelling, and numerous other symptoms; there are significant dangers and health risks associated with these conditions. One of the most serious consequences of these conditions is the occurrence of a “Deep Vein Thrombosis”. A “Deep Vein Thrombosis”, or “DVT” as it is commonly called, can pose significant and grave risks to a person’s health and well-being. A DVT is a clot in a deeper vein. This clot can travel to the lungs and cause a sometimes fatal pulmonary embolus, which is a blockage of an artery in the lungs. This condition is extremely dangerous and the presence of varicosities and vascular insufficiency increase the likelihood of such a condition.
Because additional de-oxygenated blood pools in the lower extremities in cases of vascular insufficiency, the incidence of clots is significantly increased; thereby possibly leading to a DVT and a possible resulting pulmonary embolus.
Furthermore, these conditions can cause other significant risks. Sores and ulcers on the lower extremities due to the backup of blood are extremely uncomfortable and pose risks of infection as well as being difficult to heal unless the vascular insufficiency is addressed. Because these veins can be so close to the skin, a minor injury can also pierce the vein which can lead to significant loss of blood. Another complication of vascular insufficiency is superficial thrombophlebitis which is a clot that forms just under the skin. This complication is extremely painful and results in skin tenderness, redness, swelling, and overall warmth of the extremity.
What is a venous ulcer or an ulcer on the leg?
Venous ulcers are wounds that occur as a result of improper functioning of venous valves. Venous ulcers can be extremely painful and are slow, if at all, healing. Venous ulcers are a major cause of chronic wounds.
What is a hemorrhoid?
The term hemorrhoids refers to a condition in which the veins around the anus or lower rectum are swollen and inflamed. Hemorrhoids may result from straining to move stool. Other contributing factors include pregnancy, aging, chronic constipation or diarrhea, and other possible factors.
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