Venous disease refers to problems that develop in the veins throughout your body. Your body’s network of veins returns oxygen-depleted blood to your heart. Superficial veins collect blood near the skin’s surface and funnel it to the deeper vessels. Then the deep veins in your legs, arms, and abdominal cavity are responsible for getting blood back to your heart.
All veins have one-way valves that keep blood flowing in the right direction. However, the veins in your legs face a bigger challenge than other veins because they carry blood up your legs against gravity.
In addition to the one-way valves, leg veins rely on the contraction of your calf muscles to force blood toward the heart. This is one of the reasons why prolonged sitting or loss of normal leg movement increases your risk of venous disease.
What are the most common venous diseases?
The team at NJ Vein Specialists frequently treats venous diseases such as:
Chronic venous insufficiency
Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the one-way valves don’t work properly, causing blood to flow backward and accumulate in the vein. This condition interferes with the blood flow to your heart and causes increased pressure in the vein.
Chronic venous insufficiency leads to problems such as:
Weak one-way valves and refluxed blood in the tiny veins near the surface of your skin cause spider veins.
Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis
Phlebitis refers to vein inflammation, which is often caused by an injury or reduced blood flow. When phlebitis causes a blood clot to form, the condition is called thrombophlebitis. Thrombophlebitis in a superficial vein rarely causes complications.
Deep vein thrombosis
When a blood clot develops in your deep leg veins, you have deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT may cause leg pain and swelling, or you may not have any symptoms. With or without symptoms, DVT is dangerous because the blood clot can break loose, travel through your bloodstream, and get stuck in your lungs. This condition, called pulmonary embolism, turns deadly when the clot blocks blood flow in your lungs.
How are venous conditions treated?
As experts in venous diseases, the physicians at NJ Vein Specialists customize each patient’s treatment, using options such as:
If you develop leg pain or swelling, call NJ Vein Specialists or book an appointment online.
