Venous disease or vein disorders refer to any condition that affects veins – flexible hollow tubes that move blood through your body. Usually, the veins have one-way valves that open to allow blood flow and close to prevent blood from leaking backward. However, with Tamarac vein disorders, the damaged valves in veins don’t close completely, causing blood to flow in both directions. There are different types of vein disorders or venous diseases; some of the more common disorders include:
Chronic venous insufficiency
Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the valves in your leg veins are damaged, making it harder for the veins to return blood to your heart. As such, blood pools in your leg veins, and the pressure in those veins build up. Chronic venous insufficiency can result from damage in any leg veins, including deep, superficial, and perforating veins. At first, the symptoms may be mild, but if left untreated, chronic venous insufficiency can cause serious complications like venous stasis ulcers.
Sometimes all you need to treat chronic venous insufficiency are lifestyle changes like weight management, exercise, and leg elevation. If these measures do not alleviate your symptoms, your healthcare provider may recommend a minimally invasive procedure or surgery. The appropriate treatment depends on the severity of your condition and overall health.
Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a thrombus or blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, limiting or blocking blood flow completely. A blood clot can form in your leg if you stay in one position for too long, like when traveling a long distance or on bed rest due to an illness or surgery. Sometimes this condition can occur without noticeable symptoms, but other times may cause leg pain and swelling. Although deep vein thrombosis does not always cause symptoms, it can quickly become life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to see your doctor immediately if you have DVT signs and symptoms, including leg pain, skin discoloration, leg ulcer, and a feeling of warmth in the affected leg.
Thrombophlebitis
Thrombophlebitis or phlebitis is the inflammation of veins near your skin due to blood clots, typically in your legs and arms. The difference between thrombophlebitis and deep vein thrombosis is in the location of the blood clot. Superficial phlebitis involves veins close to your skin’s surface, while deep vein thrombosis affects deeper veins in your body.
Superficial phlebitis usually subsides quickly and is not a threat to your health. It can develop after mild trauma to your veins, live having an intravenous (IV) line. On the other hand, deep vein thrombosis can quickly become life-threatening when the blood clot breaks loose and travels to your lungs. The clot can cause a blockage that prevents blood from reaching your lungs (pulmonary embolism).
Varicose and spider veins
Varicose veins are dilated blood vessels beneath your skin’s surface, causing an unsightly appearance. They are often not a health concern; many seek treatment for aesthetic reasons. Spider veins are smaller versions of varicose veins and also don’t pose a threat to your health.
To learn more about vein disorders, consult your doctor at Advanced Foot, Ankle, & Wound Specialists, PA.