Venous disease is a relatively common, yet potentially serious, disease that impacts tens of millions of Americans. It is a chronic condition that manifests as diseased or abnormal veins, usually in the legs, but can appear elsewhere on the body. These diseased or abnormal veins are blood vessels responsible for passing blood back to the heart
Left untreated, it can lead to a number of serious conditions. The good news is that there are treatments for venous disease. However, it’s important to catch this issue early on so you can prevent major issues before they start. Here’s how treatment can help.
Venous disease most often leads to varicose veins, which are more commonly known as spider veins. These veins look similar to burst, thin lines across the skin due to thickened, dilated, lengthened, or twisted veins. They take these forms because the veins cannot properly control blood flow, resulting in web-like clusters.
But the condition can lead to more than just unsightly veins. Venous disease often imparts the following on legs:
If you’re experiencing any of these conditions, it’s important you seek out medical care. Champion Heart & Vascular Center, PA can help diagnose and treat your condition.
Much like other conditions, it’s easier to treat venous disease if caught early. Fortunately, there are several relatively simple treatment options for the condition. However, make sure you speak with a medical professional before beginning any non-surgical treatments. Some treatments include:
If exercise and elevation don’t work, you still have many other options, including sclerotherapy. This process involves injecting a solution directly into the veins, causing them to disappear. This procedure is one of the more common solutions for treating varicose veins and preventing other issues. However, it can take several sessions to completely remove varicose veins. Still, it is a relatively painless and simple outpatient procedure.
Another option is endovenous thermal ablation. This procedure utilizes a laser or radio waves that deliver local, high heat to the veins. The process remedies the affected vein, though they remain in place, leaving little to no trace of the application or condition.
While most conditions can be treated without surgery, a small percentage of those affected will require it. Often, ligation and stripping are used together. This joint process cuts, ties, and removes portions of the impacted veins, and most often requires a week or more to heal, along with bruising. Another option is microincision or ambulatory phlebectomy. This procedure is minimally invasive and requires only small incisions, while a small hook removes problemed veins.
Treating varicose veins early can prevent more serious conditions. Schedule your appointment with us today to learn more about varicose veins and treatment options.
