The Stages of Vein Disease and When to Act

Veins play a very important role in our health and wellness: they are responsible for bringing blood to our heart. Each vein is made up of various valves, which open and close as muscles contract in order to allow blood to move through the veins in one direction.

Vein diseaseIf those valves become damaged and do not open and close as they are supposed to, blood flow is affected. Blood may leak through the damaged valves and go backward, or the blood may start to flow in both directions instead of just one.

What are the Types of Vein Diseases?

Venous, or vein, diseases include:

Varicose Veins: swollen, enlarged veins most commonly found in the legs and feet.

Spider Veins: dilated capillaries commonly found on the legs or face.

Deep Vein Thrombosis: a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein

Superficial Venous Thrombosis: a condition that occurs when there is a blood clot or inflammation in a superficial vein that is visible on the surface of the skin.

Chronic Venous Thrombosis: this refers to a blood clot that is a couple months old and has left a scar on the vein.

Blood Clotting: necessary to help stop bleeding in the instance of an injury, but sometimes clots can form within veins and they do not go away on their own.

Venous Stasis Ulcers: an ulcer or wound that is caused by damaged veins.

When you suffer from chronic venous insufficiency, it means that the valves within your vein wall are not functioning properly. This common condition affects approximately 40% of Americans, and can cause swelling and/or feelings or heaviness, aches and pains, cramping, itching, discoloration of the skin, open sores, blood clots, or varicose veins. This vein condition occurs because of a lack of proper blood flow.

Various Stages of Vein Diseases

As with most health conditions, there are various stages of vein diseases that give off certain signs or symptoms that can help your vein doctor know how to proceed with treatment for your particular situation. There are three main stages of vein disease. You can tell which stage you are in based upon how severe you are experiencing symptoms.

In the first stage, you will start to notice changes to the color of your skin and swelling in the legs and/or feet. The second stage is when the skin becomes irritated, on top of the discoloration and swelling. There could be redness, rashes, blisters, itchiness, etc. The third stage includes all of these things as well as the appearance of varicose veins and venous stasis ulcers.

vein diseaseIf you have developed these ulcers, it’s a sign that you may have an advance case of a vein disease or insufficiency. These open sores are often seen in the lower part of the legs or on the ankles. At this point, if you have not already gone to see a vein doctor, now is the time.

One of the biggest red flags to watch out for is the presence of sporadic pain and/or discomfort in the lower extremities. This might not sound like much of a big deal, as many people do experience pain and discomfort in their legs and feet from all kinds of things: being sore from a workout, wearing high heels for too long or wearing a shoe that doesn’t fit right, etc. But the pain from damaged valves in the veins is something entirely different — and you will recognize that something is wrong when you feel it. If you do notice that you are experiencing this type of pain and/or discomfort, it’s important to seek out help from a vein doctor.

Contact our Best Vein Doctor at Fox Vein & Laser Experts

Fox Vein & Laser Experts has the best vein doctor and medical team in South Florida, covering all over Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. You don’t need to live your life suffering from vein diseases. Dr. Susan B Fox has been expertly and successfully diagnosing and treating vein diseases for decades. She can create a personalized treatment plan for you based upon your current and past health, the status of your venous insufficiency and how badly you are experiencing symptoms, your general health, medications, etc.

Call our office today at 954-627-1045 to schedule a consultation. Don’t wait until your symptoms get too bad. It’s time to let Dr Fox and her team work their magic to make you feel better again.