Veins return deoxygenated blood back to the heart so it can be replenished with oxygen.
Sometimes, venous walls or valves do not work effectively.
This disorder, called venous insufficiency, results in deoxygenated blood pooling in extremities and not returning to the heart.
These symptoms may require vein disease treatment to resolve.
Causes and Symptoms Veins need to move blood upwards back to the heart, using muscles in the body and interior valves to ensure that the blood moves in the correct direction.
If these valves malfunction, the blood may reverse direction and move backwards.
Valve malfunction can occur due to age, a lack of exercise and activity, and standing for an extended period of time.
The symptoms of venous issues include the swelling of the lower extremities, excessive aching and tiredness, varicose veins, leathery skin, flaking and itching of the skin on the feet and legs, and sores known as stasis ulcers.
If vein disease treatment is not sought to resolve these symptoms, the issues typically progress to become more serious.
Management of the Condition Patients can utilize self-management techniques in the early stages of this disorder to slow the progress of symptoms.
Avoiding excessive periods of either standing or sitting can help manage symptoms.
During periods of inactivity, extend and flex the legs interchangeably to promote better blood flow.
Engage in regular aerobic exercise, and lose weight if necessary.
While sitting or lying down, elevate your legs above your heart.
Compression stockings squeeze the legs to help blood move back upward to the heart.
These garments also come in a variety of compressions, depending on the severity of the symptoms.
Patients need to take care to keep them clean and to ensure that the stockings do not bunch around the legs.
Medication can also help control symptoms.
Antibiotics can help resolve skin infections associated with stasis ulcers.
A physician may also prescribe medication to prevent blood clots from forming.
Nonsurgical Treatment Sclerotherapy is an option that involves injecting a solution into small varicose veins to make them collapse.
This vein disease treatment is reserved for issues in the early stages only.
Endogenous thermal ablation uses lasers or radio waves to direct heat on problem areas to close off these vessels.
Surgical Treatments Surgical treatments are also available.
Ligation involves cutting and tying off the problematic vessels to discontinue their function.
Stripping entails removing large vessels by making two small cuts.
Microincision phlebectomy is where a surgeon uses small cuts and a tiny hook to pull out the affected vascular parts.
A bypass involves removing problematic vessels and transplanting healthy ones into the area from a different part of the body.
When considering various vein disease treatment options, try to resolve the symptoms before they become severe.
Failing to treat this disorder can lead to extreme pain, swelling, and potentially serious ulcers on the skin that can become infected.