Vein Disease 101
Whether you are unhappy with the road map-like appearance of your legs or you are experiencing leg pain or pressure that is making it difficult to enjoy your daily activities, you could be one of the 50% of the population that suffers from vein disease. It’s not just a cosmetic issue and it won’t heal on its own like other conditions. Fortunately for you, the doctors and staff at Advanced Vein Therapy are specialists in this area and will not only make your legs more comfortable, but improve their overall appearance as well.
Your veins have the very important and gravity-defying task of returning your blood to your heart. To accomplish this, they are equipped with a network of one-way valves that prevent the “reflux” of blood back into the body. When these valves weaken or fail, blood begins to pool in the veins and that’s when complications begin to occur.
Vein disease commonly presents itself through the following symptoms, especially in the calf area:
- A noticeable change in the size and color of the vein at the skin’s surface
- Cramping
- Aching
- Burning
- Itching
- Soreness
- Tired or restless legs
Using a detailed ultrasound, the specialists at Advanced Vein Therapy can determine if your symptoms are a result of vein disease and if you will benefit from one of the therapies we offer.
If you have a family history of vein problems, you can’t really prevent it from happening to you but you can slow down its progression by keeping yourself at a healthy weight and avoiding long periods on your feet. When varicose veins are causing you to experience minor pain, some patients find relief by wearing compression stockings to assist the leg in pumping the blood back to the heart. Although the stockings will not cure you of varicose veins, they can help you be more comfortable until you are able to undergo treatment.
Depending on your unique situation, varicose veins can be treated through Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT or EVLA), Sclerotherapy or Phlebectomy. Even though these procedures involve removing the damaged vein, your blood will continue to flow properly by traveling through the remaining healthy veins. If you have recently been pregnant or had major surgery, you should delay having vein treatment for at least three months following those events. Patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), incontinence or who have difficulty ambulating are not good candidates for varicose vein treatment.
If these symptoms sound familiar and you suspect that you may be suffering from vein disease, why not find out for sure from one of the leading vein treatment centers in the Treasure Valley? Since 2005, our board-certified radiologists have enabled our patients to enjoy a higher success rate, fewer complications and a much lower rate of recurrence. Contact us to schedule your free varicose vein screening* today.
*Subject to third party payer restrictions