Understanding Vein Health

At Vein Clinics of America (Now USA Vein Clinics), our approach is helping you understand the whole picture, and knowing the origins of vein disease is an important first step. Much of the time vein disease is genetic–if your parents or grandparents have or had varicose veins or spider veins, they’re likely to have passed them down to you.

The cause of varicose and spider veins

The direct cause of varicose veins and spider veins is unhealthy valves in your veins that allow blood to flow in the wrong direction, which leads to strained and bulging veins. Pregnancy, weight gain, and the simple effects of aging can aggravate vein disease. Other factors–such as employment that requires long periods of standing or sitting–can also worsen varicose veins symptoms over time, requiring vein disease treatment.

See the difference between healthy and unhealthy veins:

As you can see, healthy valves allow blood to flow in one direction only. When veins aren’t functioning properly, the blood flows backward, causing strain and damage, resulting in varicose veins.

See below for the definition of varicose and spider veins:

Varicose vein disease, also known as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is very common. It is estimated that 1 in 10 men and 1 in 3 women suffer from this disease process. Vein disease causes a spectrum of visible signs (what vein disease “looks like”) and physical symptoms (what vein disease “feels like”) in patients. Although many patients experience both the signs and symptoms of vein disease, it is not uncommon for some to experience signs but no symptoms or symptoms but not signs.

Visible signs of vein disease may include:

• Spider veins
• Large bulging varicose veins
• Leg swelling
• Skin changes such as skin discoloration, eczema, venous ulcers or open wounds. This typically occurs in more advanced stages of CVI.

Physical symptoms of vein disease may include:

• Heavy and tired legs
• Leg aching and pain
• Cramping and itching
• Leg restlessness

In addition to the signs and symptoms noted above, varicose vein disease causes patients to feel self-conscious and prevents them from living the healthy, active lives they want to live.

If you are experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, we encourage you to find a vein clinic in your city and schedule your first consultation with our team of vein experts.

When we think of varicose vein disease, most people visualize large, ropey bulging varicose or spider veins. However, chronic venous insufficiency presents in a variety of ways.

The different ways that chronic venous insufficiency presents may include:

• At first, patients may experience swelling, maybe one or two bulging veins, or spider veins, especially around the ankles.
• As the disease progresses and symptoms worsen, patients may experience skin changes. The skin at the ankles and lower legs will become brown or red, shiny, and will begin to peel.
• Eventually, as the skin begins to break down, or following a local injury, a venous ulcer, or open wound, will begin to form. Although the venous ulcer may heal, it will return unless the source of the disease is treated. Although these ulcers are not typically painful, they put patients at risk for infection and require much care.

Vein disease is progressive and there is no cure. However, understanding signs, symptoms, and risk factors can help you seek treatment which will help slow disease progression, and improve your quality of life.

Common risk factors for vein disease include:

• A family history of vein disease. The likelihood of developing varicose vein disease increases significantly if both parents suffer from the disease.
• Pregnancy. Because blood volume nearly doubles during pregnancy, superficial venous valves often begin to fail. The risk of vein disease increases with 2 or more pregnancies and the disease process often includes pelvic source and vulvar varicosities.
• Injury or surgery of the lower extremities. This can cause damage to the underlying blood vessels, leading to development of varicose veins.
• Advanced age. Because CVI is progressive, advanced age is a risk factor for more advanced vein disease.
• Sedentary lifestyle. Standing or sitting for long periods of time exacerbates vein disease in those predisposed to it.