To distinguish the differences between varicose veins and a more serious vascular disease, the vascular experts at Premier Surgical Vascular & Vein Center in Knoxville, TN want you to understand what these diseases are.
About Venous Disease
Venous disease is a common condition that affects the veins of the body.
The veins are the thin-walled structures found just under your skin. These are the blood vessels responsible for returning the blood back to the heart.
Venous diseases such as varicose veins can happen when valves, the structures that keep a one-way flow of the blood, are weak or defective. As a result, blood flows backward and stagnates within the vein. This explains why varicose veins look the way they are – swollen and twisted.
Other Symptoms of Varicose Veins
Aside from the obvious physical changes, varicose veins can also result in a feeling of heaviness on the legs, burning or throbbing sensation, skin discoloration around the affected site, and itchiness.
Risk Factors
Obesity, a family history of the disease, pregnancy, being female, and jobs that entail long periods of standing or sitting can all increase your risk of developing varicose veins.
About Vascular Disease
Vascular disease can refer to any condition affecting a network of blood vessels – it can be the arteries, veins, and vessels that carry the lymph (the fluid that flows through the lymphatic system).
There are different types of vascular diseases. This includes aneurysm (a bulge in the wall of the blood vessel), peripheral artery disease, lymphedema, and Buerger’s disease.
Is it a varicose vein or a more serious vascular disease?
If you have other symptoms such as pale or bluish skin, lack of leg hair or toenail growth, weak pulses in the legs, decreased skin temperature on the legs or burning/aching pain at rest, it’s best to see a vascular specialist immediately as these could indicate a more serious vascular disease.
The team of board-certified Vascular Surgeons at Premier Surgical Vascular and Vein Center in Knoxville, TN, are experts at diagnosing and treating varicose veins, as well as more serious vascular diseases. We offer minimally invasive procedures for treating both conditions.
Don’t let your varicose veins or a potential vascular disease affect your quality of life.
For appointments, you may call (865) 588-8229 or visit this link.