Tennessee Vein Center: Types of Vein Disease Treated
Vein Disease Symptoms & Causes
Vein disease is an umbrella term for a type of vein-related condition causing improper functioning of the veins throughout the body.
Vein disease can be caused by various underlying conditions and factors, including:
Genetics- Long periods of sitting or standing
- High blood pressure in the legs
- Blood clots
- Smoking
Symptoms range from mild to severe and most often affect the legs. The most common symptoms include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Cramping
Because many vein diseases come with little to no symptoms during their first stages, most patients ask, “why treat veins?” Getting your veins examined and receiving a proper diagnosis promptly is essential to mitigate the risk of symptom elevation or long-term complications.
Spontaneous and sudden bleeding from a vein is known as phleborrhagia. Veins can burst and rupture when they become enlarged and weakened due to underlying vein disease.
This vein condition occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein within the body, most often in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis. If left untreated, it can lead to a severe medical emergency.
The most common type of ulceration, leg ulcers are open leg sores caused by poor blood circulation in the veins. They are often due to an underlying vein disease affecting your vein valves.
These small, damaged veins often appear on the skin’s surface with a spider-web-like appearance. They’re caused by an irregularly functioning vein valve.
Affecting about 23% of Americans each year, these enlarged, twisted veins are caused by damaged valves that allow blood to flow backward, which can lead to more serious venous insufficiency if left untreated.
Phlebitis means inflammation of a vein.
Most cases of phlebitis in the legs are due to blood clots on a superficial or deep level.
These common pin-head-like lesions appear on the skin in a bright red color.
They are usually harmless and are not tied to any underlying conditions, but they can cause random bleeding if they’re in a high-contact area.
Quick and easy removal is the best treatment option.
Unwanted chest veins are a common problem for women. They are often caused by pregnancy, breast augmentation surgery, or chronic sun exposure.
Blue-green reticular veins may become more pronounced following changes in the breast tissues, while small red spider veins are often a result of chronic sun exposure.
Telangiectasias, or facial veins, are pink, red, or purple in appearance.
They commonly occur around the nose, chin, and cheeks.
Genetics can play a large role in their development, along with chronic sun exposure, alcoholic beverages, hot and spicy foods, rosacea, and environmental irritants.
Port wine stains are a type of birthmark made up of a collection of blood vessels.
They can be pink, red, or dark maroon in color. They tend to darken in color over time as a child grows into adulthood.
A venous lake is a type of vascular malformation that commonly occurs on the lips. They are dome-shaped and result from a collection of enlarged veins under the skin.
They are typically dark purple or blue in appearance.
If a venous lake is large and raised, it can become irritated, itchy, and sore. For most, venous lakes can bleed easily when directly impacted.