Vein Disease

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

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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, including:

close up shot of varicose veins on someones legs and ankle

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins that often appear blue or purple and are most commonly found in the legs.

Treating Spider Veins With Sclerotherapy

Spider Veins

Spider veins refer to swollen blood vessels beneath the skin that often look like red, blue, or purple spider webs or tree branches.

what are the warning signs of a pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary Embolism

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that blocks an artery in your lungs, preventing the blood from following its normal path.

Deep Vein Thrombosis Symptoms

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) occurs when blood clots into a solid state within the venous system, a system of veins deep within the body, away from the skin’s surface

Signs & Treatments for Chronic Venous Insufficiency in Illinois

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

CVI is caused by weakened or damaged vein valves that fail to move blood from your legs to your heart. This results in blood pooling in the lower extremities, gradually increasing pressure within the veins. 

Vein Disease Symptoms

Vein disease can cause a variety symptoms, such as aching or throbbing pain in your legs.  Other symptoms include:

Visible Signs:

  • Bulging veins
  • Swollen ankles
  • Skin that looks discolored or thick
  • Possible leg ulcers and cellulitis
  • Scar-like marks and hyperpigmentation

Physical Symptoms:

  • Painful legs
  • Itching legs
  • Hot or burning ankles
  • Heaviness in the legs
Ultrasound vein mapping machine used on a leg to examine veins
Ultrasound screen during a vein mapping procedure

Risk Factors for Vein Disease

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.

 

Additionally, Venous insufficiency is common, with 200,000 diagnoses each year just in the U.S.

 

Risk factors include:

  • A family or personal  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
  • 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

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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions About Vein Disease

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 

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 

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: 

Get Back to You.

Over 24,000 Successful Vein Treatments
& Counting

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, IL area.

Contact us today to get a leg up on life!

Dr. Rimas Gilvydis along side other vein specialists

Get Back to Yourself.

We’re proud to be one of three vein centers in Illinois  with an IAC accreditation. Get back on your feet with a team of vein specialists who help you understand your vein treatment options.