Veins are those blood vessels that return the blood to the heart. Because of this, many of them have valves that make sure that the blood is pumped upward and doesn’t fall back into the veins. However, one kind of vein disease happens when the valves fail. The veins become dilated and the blood pools in them. These are called varicose veins. They often happen in the legs and ankles and show up as unsightly tangles of veins. The condition can also happen to tiny veins in the face and the nose. These veins are called spider veins.
Vein disorders are extremely common and by the time they reach age 60 most women and a large minority of men will have had some kind of disorder of their veins.
Vein diseases can have many causes. Among them are pregnancy, obesity or working in a job where the person must stand up or long periods of time. Other people develop vein disorders because they’re athletic and their sport of choice, like body building, puts pressure on their veins.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs of vein disease are the obvious varicose veins in the legs and the spider veins on the nose or face. Symptoms can include an itching or burning in the area, a darkening of the skin, leg pain and cramps, restless legs and legs that feel heavy or are swollen.
Fortunately, varicose and spider veins can be treated. They can be treated with sclerotherapy. This is where a chemical is injected into the damaged vein and destroys it. Diseased veins can also be destroyed through lasers. The body simply absorbs what’s left of the vein and reroutes the blood into other veins. In some cases, the veins are simply stripped or pulled out and the cut ends tied off. Again, the blood is rerouted to healthier blood vessels.
People in the Dayton or Springboro, Ohio area who believe they’re suffering from vein disease should get in touch with the Varicose To Perfect clinic. Call for a consultation at (937)405-4010.