Deoxygenated blood should flow from the legs to the heart by traveling upwards, which is against the force of gravity. While this may seem difficult, it really does happen via the help of the calf muscle’s pumping action and the veins themselves. As we stand and walk our calf muscle constricts and squeezes the leg veins, pushing the blood to the heart via a valve system. During rest or when we sit down, the muscle relaxes and forces the valves within a vein to close. This stops blood from leaking and flowing backwards. In most cases, ninety percent of deoxygenated blood manages to re-enter the heart via our deep veins system. If some blood leaks and flows back into the leg or feet, one is likely to end up in a vein doctor New Jersey clinic because of pain.
Types of veins
There are two kinds: superficial and connecting veins. The former are near the skin surface and can be seen with naked eyes. Their role is to ferry blood from the tissue near the skin surface to the deep veins where it will then flow up toward the heart. Connecting veins, on the other hand, carry blood from superficial veins to the deep veins. These veins can develop problems that can lead to various vascular conditions. These can be treated by the best vascular doctor in NJ. The three most common vein problems include the following:
1. Varicose veins
These can be described as swollen veins with a knobby and rope-like appearance. While most body veins can become varicose, the most affected are the ones in legs and feet. When varicose veins (varicosities or varices) appear, there is excessive pressure in the lower body veins due to impaired valves. If valves in leg veins are unable to close fully, some blood will flow backward and gather. As this continues, the vein walls will be subjected to excessive pressure and begin to swell and twist. Some varicose veins are smaller and less annoying: spider veins. If you have these, you can call a spider vein doctor NJ and have them treated for cosmetic reasons.
A lot of people are able to live with spider veins and varicose veins because they don’t hurt or cause immobility. This is not recommended though, as varices are caused by a vascular disease called venous insufficiency or venous reflux. If they are ignored, the disease will continue to spread and cause terrible complications in their last stage. So, consider seeing a vein doctor New Jersey if you have varices because they will only get worse in the near future. Symptoms of varicose veins include the following:
- Dark purple and blue veins
- Twisted and swollen veins that look like cords
- A heavy feeling in legs
- Muscle cramping pain
- Throbbing and burning pain
- Itchy veins
- Pain that gets worse when you have been sitting or standing for several hours.
- Bleeding from veins
- Skin discoloration and changes of texture
- Skin inflammation, leading to ulcers.
If you notice the above-mentioned symptoms of varicose veins, ensure that you see a good vascular doctor in NJ the soonest possible. Even as you seek the assistance of a vein specialist, we would also recommend doing some self-care activities at home. These include exercising daily, raising of legs, taking frequent breaks if you have to stand up or sit down for several hours and wearing compression stockings. If these self-help measures don’t offer much assistance, have your varicose veins removed by a renowned vein doctor New Jersey.
If you have people in your family who have varicosities, chances are that you will suffer from the same. Risk goes up with every pregnancy you carry as well as being a female. Females’ reproductive system is controlled by hormones that tend to fluctuate and cause undesirable symptoms like varicose veins. When you begin taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, your risk goes up again. The aging process causes valve health to deteriorate, as well as being obese. By seeing a vascular doctor in NJ early enough, you can avoid venous ulcers, blood clots, venous dermatitis and more complications.
2. Phlebitis
When veins become inflamed, pain and swelling may result. Sometimes the inflammation is triggered by a blood clot (thrombus). This condition is also called thrombophlebitis. It affects leg veins more often than arm veins. Thrombophlebitis or phlebitis affects superficial veins and deep veins.
- Superficial phlebitis is barely serious and can resolve without meeting a vein doctor New Jersey. Sometime treating swollen veins with warm compresses and anti-inflammatory medicines is all you should do. If superficial phlebitis is happening together with deep vein thrombophlebitis, further medical help from a vein doctor New Jersey is needed.
- Deep vein thrombophlebitis is also referred to as deep vein thrombosis or DVT. It affects our deep veins that push blood upward against gravity. DVT should be diagnosed early by a qualified vascular doctor in NJ to keep thrombi or blood clots from breaking off (embolizing) and traveling to the lungs. This can result to a fatal condition called pulmonary embolism.
What causes superficial phlebitis?
It is triggered by trauma to a vein. Those who are prone to it are those who undergo IV (intravenous catheter) placement in a vein. The condition can cause inflammation and pain even without a formed blood clot. When it happens in leg veins, the cause is usually varicose veins. To reduce the chances of blood pooling and clotting inside your vein, therefore, reduce inactivity. Some blood clotting are congenital abnormalities you cannot avoid, but you can get in touch with your vein doctor New Jersey anytime you have consistent and unbearable pain in legs. To know if you have superficial phlebitis, look for these signs:
- Burning or throbbing pain
- The affected area may feel itchy, hard, warm and tender
- Pain may worsen when you lower your legs to get out of bed in the morning.
- There will be a painful red area along the affected superficial vein. It will appear like a long, thin red area that slowly forms as the inflammation moves along the path of superficial vein. When the tinier feeder veins are involved, the spreading pattern might look like that of spider veins. See a good vascular doctor in NJ when you notice this.
- Superficial phlebitis might affect the area where peripheral intravenous line was initiated and be accompanied by mild fever.
- When there is an infection, you might also notice fever, redness, pain, swelling and skin changes.
Seeing your spider vein doctor NJ is the right thing to do if you notice some of the afore-said symptoms of superficial thrombophlebitis.
What causes deep vein thrombosis and symptoms?
Deep vein thrombophlebitis of the lower leg, thigh or pelvis blocks blood circulation in the affected veins. The blockage can cause swelling, warmth and acute pain in the affected leg. Causes of DVT include:
· Obesity,
· A leg accident (bone fracture, for instance) that leads to a vein injury,
· Genetics,
· IV catheter being placed inside a vein
- heavy smoking, especially when you are a lady using birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy
- Standing or sitting down for several hours
- Pregnancy because as the uterus becomes bigger it compresses the large veins in the pelvis area, increasing your risk of blood clots.
If you have deep vein thrombophlebitis, the only way to know is to meet a great vascular doctor in NJ like Dr. Sareh Rajaee. Symptoms of DVT include the following:
- Swelling around your ankles, foot and/or leg
- Pain in the foot and ankle area without a known cause
- A part of skin that feels warmer
- Skin redness or paleness and sometimes it turns blue.
- Cramping pain in the affected leg, particularly in the calf area.
DVT is best treated by an educated and experienced vein doctor New Jersey using medicines like blood thinners. Drugs like warfarin, enoxaparin, heparin and fondaparinux are prescribed. In cases where DVT is extremely severe and does not respond to blood thinners, your vascular doctor in NJ can prescribe other types of medicines called thrombolytic drugs. These are used to break up the blood clots and are administered intravenously. Compression stockings can be so helpful, as they can prevent swelling and decrease your chances of having blood clots.
These come in different sizes and strengths, and your spider vein New Jersey clinic will prescribe the best ones for you. Wear them every single day to improve blood circulation. Filters are often placed inside the big abdominal vein called vena cava. They are also prescribed when blood thinners fail to do their thing. Filters can stop pulmonary embolism from happening by preventing blood clots from travelling to the lungs. Filters are known to have long-term side effects, as if they are left in for too long they can cause DVT. Once the risk of blood clotting is over, your vein doctor New Jersey will stop using them.
3. Venous Ulcers
The direct cause of venous ulcers or open sores is chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that should be identified and treated by a reliable vascular doctor in NJ the earliest possible. These occur when you have varicose veins and other symptoms that have not been treated for too long. Venus ulcers are also called venous stasis ulcers or non-healing wounds that mostly affect the lower leg or ankles. These are stubborn wounds that don’t heal for a long time. These are caused by venous insufficiency and hypertension and when you have these conditions, varicose veins are also likely to be there. When you have thrombophlebetis and blood circulation issues, venous ulcers can form too. These can also be triggered by given drugs, obesity and severe diseases like kidney failure, inflammatory diseases and diabetes. Symptoms of venous ulcers that should make you see a vascular doctor in NJ are:
- Cramping and swelling around the affected areas
- Dull pain and a feeling of heaviness in the calf area of your leg
- Dark red, purplish and brown spots with hardened skin due to pooling of blood.
- The skin around the open sores may become shiny, warm or hot to the touch and tight.
- Itching and tingling
- The edges of the open sores may have uneven shapes..
Venous stasis ulcers can hurt a lot and redden and should be examined by a good vein doctor New Jersey as soon as they form. Sometimes they are covered by a yellow, tough tissue and an uneven edge. They do release pus and can take too long to heal completely. If you have varicose veins, or have legs that swell often, your chances of developing venous ulcers are high and should seek the assistance of a vascular doctor in NJ as soon as possible.
How venous ulcerations are treated
The whole process will begin with a diagnosis where a duplex ultrasound test will be done. It entails a non-invasive test that allows a vein doctor New Jersey to look for abnormal veins that lead to venous ulcers. After evaluation of veins, he or she will recommend the following things:
- Compression of the affected leg. This technique is so important to the healing process of venous sores. It is best done using compression stockings because they produce enough pressure to counter the pressure in veins caused by pooling of blood.
- Transparent dressings are also used by the top vascular doctor in NJ to cure venous ulcers. Placed over open wounds, transparent dressings are made of a clear plastic film. If combined with a support stocking, transparent dressings can greatly improve blood circulation in legs. Hydrocolloid dressings can be applied over the ulcers to promote healing as well.
- Vein ablation – This is a minimally invasive catheter based therapy done to heat up a vein and close it. Sometimes a surgical procedure called wound debridement is done by the vein doctor New Jersey to remove any amount of dead tissue from the open sore and promote the healing process.
The three vein problems are not the only ones you should expect. Veins are subjected to bleeding and infections. The best way to know the cause of pain in your legs is to get in touch with a vein doctor New Jersey area and schedule an appointment with him or her. Once a diagnosis is done in a professional manner, you will get to understand what exactly is wrong with your leg veins. Treatment will be planned and you will enjoy great health sooner than later. Do as your vascular doctor NJ instructions you to do and all you will be well.