What Causes Vein Disease in Naperville, Sycamore & Geneva, IL

Vein disease in the legs is very common – but very manageable. In fact, according to a large study by JAMA, nearly 50 million American men and women will suffer from vein disorders or problems in their legs in their lifetime. The good news? Vein disorders are treatable with minimally invasive techniques, so the sooner you address your leg pain issues the faster you’ll be back on your feet – pain free.

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Vein Disease Symptoms

Vein disease in the legs is very common – but very manageable. In fact, according to a large study by JAMA, nearly 50 million American men and women will suffer from some sort of vein disorder or disease in their legs. The good news? Vein diseases are treatable with minimally invasive techniques, so the sooner you address your leg pain issues the faster you’ll be back on your feet – pain free.

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Most people with a Vein Disease or Vein Disorders are anxious to know:

What is vein disease?

Vein disease is a medical condition in which a person’s veins are not properly returning blood from the legs back to the heart. There are several types of diseases:

What symptoms will I experience?

Vein disease is progressive, which means if left untreated you will have an increased risk of developing more symptoms, including potentially life-threatening complications such as blood clots. Common symptoms of vein disease include:

Bulging veins that are excessively visible
Heavy feeling in the legs
Calf pain and cramping
Discolored skin
Fatigue
Aching
Burning
Throbbing
Itching
Restlessness of the legs

Are there any risk factors?

Vein problems are easier to treat if they are diagnosed early. As a result, it’s important to be aware of the following risk factors:

A family history of varicose veins
Women are more likely than men to develop varicose veins and other vein diseases
Pregnancy dramatically increases a woman’s risk of developing varicose veins
Professions that require long periods of either standing or sitting can cause vein problems
Obesity
Age

What are my treatment options for vein disease?

Gone are the old-school treatments of vein stripping and open surgery. At Gilvydis Vein Clinic, we use the following cutting-edge technology and years of experience to create the best possible outcomes for our patients that suffer from a vein disease– with minimal discomfort and downtime:

Ultrasound Vein Mapping: Using an ultrasound to create a map of the body’s vein system helps to pinpoint any problem, as a skilled medical professional can see where the veins are functioning properly and where a specific problem exists.
Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA): Replaces the need for vein stripping and open surgery. There is no scarring and minimal to no discomfort. Patients can even return to work the same day with some limited restrictions for two weeks.
Sclerotherapy: Achieves much the same effect as EVLA, but uses a liquid agent rather than light energy. Patients can drive themselves home after sclerotherapy and typically return to their normal activities the same day.

Signs You Have Vein Disease

Healthy veins are responsible for returning oxygen-starved blood to your heart. To do this, they have to fight against the force of gravity. That’s where tiny valves inside each vein normally help. If blood tries to flow backward, the valves close tightly. Vein disorders cause valves to begin to leak or fail completely. When that happens, blood can accumulate in the legs resulting in high venous pressure and many other uncomfortable and unsightly symptoms.

Varicose veins are the most well-known sign of vein disease, but they can also cause the legs to feel heavy, achy, or tired. The legs may also become swollen and prone to cramps that can interfere with ease of movement during the day and restful sleep at night. Types of vein disease may include:

Spider veins: When blood pressure increases, it can cause these tiny veins to become visible under the skin. These twisting blood vessels can appear bright red, purple or blue.
Varicose veins: Similar to spider veins, varicose veins are also caused when blood vessels swell. The difference is that varicose veins are larger and more prominent.
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI): CVI means that several vein valves are starting to fail. This can cause blood to pool in the legs and feet.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): DVT happens when a blood clot forms in your arms or legs. Improperly functioning valves can contribute to this problem by allowing blood to pool. If you have varicose veins your chance of getting deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is five times higher. DVT can migrate and cause a pulmonary embolism.
Pulmonary embolism: If a blood clot in the legs breaks loose, it can lead to a blockage of the pulmonary arteries. This life-threatening condition, known as a pulmonary embolism, doesn’t allow the lungs to work correctly.

What Symptoms Will I Experience with a Vein Disease?

As blood vessels start to swell, this can lead to aching or throbbing pain in your legs. Here are a few additional warning signs:

Painful legs and feet
Bulging veins
Swollen ankles
Itching legs
Hot or burning ankles
Heaviness in the feet
Skin that looks discolored or thick

Additionally, secondary skin irritation can occur like edema, dry, flaky skin, and varicose eczema. Other manifestations of poor circulation or pooled blood in the veins are hyperpigmentation, where patches on the skin appear much darker than the surrounding skin, and atrophie blanche, an angular scar-like mark caused by poor healing after a trauma. Leg ulcers and cellulitis, and infection in the underlying tissues of the skin, can also form.

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What are Vein Disease Risk Factors?

Venous insufficiency is common, with 200,000 diagnoses each year just in the U.S. Vein disease may have hereditary causes, so a family history of DVT or CVI can increase your risk. Other risk factors for CVI include being overweight, aging, and previous blood clots.

Women typically have a higher risk than men due to hormonal factors, and pregnancy further increases the likelihood of developing varicose veins because of higher blood flow.

Risk factors include:

A family history of varicose veins
Being female
Being pregnant or having been pregnant
Professions that require long periods of either standing or sitting
Obesity
Age (risks increase after the age of 50)
Heavy lifting
Blood clots
A personal history of varicose veins
Smoking
Cancer
Muscle weakness, leg injury or other trauma
Phlebitis, or the swelling of a superficial vein
Lack of exercise or sedentary lifestyle
Pelvic tumors and vascular malformations

How to Prevent Vein Disease?

If you have any of the risk factors for vein disease, you should pay careful attention to your diet and lifestyle to prevent the formation of blood clots or the development of other conditions related to insufficient blood flow. There are some steps you can take to modify your daily activities to decrease your chances of serious complications:

Get up and move around at least five minutes each hour.
Don’t smoke or quit if you do.
Exercise regularly.
Lose weight or maintain healthy body weight.
Don’t cross your legs when seated.
Wear compression hose or socks when you must sit for long periods, such as on a plane.

Diagnosing Vein Disease

A definitive diagnosis of vein disease requires a clinical exam by a trained vein specialist or diagnostician. The duplex ultrasound is one of the most common tests for diagnosing venous disease.

Duplex ultrasound

A duplex ultrasound, the most accurate diagnostic test for venous disease, combines the best of traditional ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound. The doctor or technician moves a transducer over the test area to measure the speed and direction of the blood flow by bouncing sound off red blood cells. A computer program measures the reflection of the sound and creates pictures from the sound waves to assist the physician in diagnosing problems with blood flow.

Speak With Doctors You Can Trust

Vein disease is a very personal thing, but it’s not something you need to be ashamed of. Speaking with a vein doctor about CVI may allow you to find relief from spider veins and leg pain. With state-of-the-art vein treatment options, it’s often possible to correct CVI and prevent blood clots from forming. To learn more about how our team of vein specialists can help you personally, contact Gilvydis Vein Clinic for more information. You can also click below to schedule a free consultation and vein screening to get started.

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Types of Vein Disease

Varicose Veins Appearing In Hiker's Legs

Spider Veins

Spider veins are tiny veins that lie just under the surface of your skin and are often purple or red in color. Some say spider veins remind them of a spider web, hence the name.

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Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are a common type of vein disease/disorder, which is why patients are always asking us what causes them and how to get rid of them.

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Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Like the water pipes in your home, veins and arteries have a mechanism that prevents blood from flowing the wrong way. If the mechanism becomes faulty, blood can flow backward and pool in the vein. This can happen in any limb, but most commonly occurs in the leg.

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Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious and sometimes life-threatening vein disease. The presence of varicose veins can increase your risk of developing a DVT.

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Pulmonary Embolism

A pulmonary embolism is the result of a deep vein thrombosis or blood clot and is considered a very serious medical emergency.

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Vein disease is progressive and will get worse over time if left untreated. If you have symptoms that indicate vein problems, don’t wait to seek a diagnosis and treatment.

Our team of vein doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating vein disease as quickly and efficiently as possible, using minimally invasive techniques. This is what makes us the best vein clinic in the Geneva, Sycamore, Rockford, and Naperville Illinois, area.