Don’t underestimate varicose veins in males. There can be a serious problem lurking.
While it is true that vein treatment center near me is primarily sought by women, up to 50 percent of men in the United States may develop varicose veins in their lifetime. This is just as true in Princeton, New Jersey. And varicose veins are not just a cosmetic concern—they can lead to discoloration, bleeding, skin ulcers, and a “heavy leg” sensation that may seriously slow your roll. These are signs of poor blood circulation in your lower extremities. What Causes Varicose Veins in Men? The problem involves veins in the lower extremities that suffer from high pressure from within. Naturally, blood pools in these veins due to gravity, resulting in high pressure within the veins. Over time, these vein walls can become damaged from the constant pressure and suffer from venous insufficiency. This is when symptoms such as leg cramps, heaviness, and swelling should no longer be ignored. So if you are asking yourself “Do varicose veins cause leg pain?” the answer is a resounding YES! Venous insufficiency is more common in individuals who sit or stand for prolonged periods, increasing age, obesity, and most importantly patients with a family history. Is There A Difference Between Men and Women Who Have Varicose Veins? Venous insufficiency is a progressive disease process most commonly identified by varicose or spider veins. Women tend to present earlier in the disease because they are often more in tune with their bodies. While the appearance of spider veins in the legs may not bother some men, it’s important to be aware that these are early signs of vein disease and preventing more serious complications requires awareness. The diagnosis can only be made by a qualified vein doctor who specializes in ultrasound. How To Prevent Varicose Veins? There are some simple things you can do at home before you schedule a Princeton vein center visit:
How to Treat Varicose Veins? Fortunately, treatment for varicose veins has become incredibly simple and safe due to major advances in the field. Surgery is no longer required. Instead, the options are now minimally-invasive and do not require any downtime. In fact, many patients return to work the very same day after a quick treatment session. Most importantly, the procedures are covered by all major medical insurance and Medicare making varicose vein treatment cost tolerable.With the best vein doctor in NJ, you will only find board-certified vascular specialists who have received formal venous training during vascular surgery and cardiovascular fellowships. Safe and effective varicose vein treatment requires the best varicose vein doctors in NJ. Article Source: https://southjerseyveincenter.home.blog/2020/02/18/vein-disease-in-men/
0 Comments
Vein disease is quite prevalent in the US with nearly 1 out of every 4 Americans affected. The disease is more common in females and is most often seen with an inheritance pattern. The most visible symptoms of vein disease are spider and varicose veins, however most suffering from vein disease are unaware of the other potential symptoms and signs related to venous insufficiency. Having awareness of typical signs and symptoms of vein disease is important to avoid progression of vein disease and seeking early diagnosis at a reputable vein clinic.
What Should Tip You Off to Vein Disease?If you have vein disease it is common to experience some of these symptoms
CEAP Class 1: Spider VeinsThe presence of Spider or Reticular veins are typically the first signs of venous disease. What Do Spider Veins Look Like?Telangectasias (or spider veins) are tiny capillaries right on the surface of the skin. They usually form distinct networks or “webs” and can be either bluish/purple or red in color. What Do Reticular Veins Look Like?Reticular veins appear as green or blue linear veins on the surface of the skin. They are smaller than varicose veins and do not bulge from the skin. Many times, reticular veins will be noted to underlie a bed of spider veins and as such are referred to as feeder veins. Getting rid of such spider veins will also depend on treating these feeder (or reticular veins). What Causes Spider and Reticular Veins?Venous insufficiency and genetics are the most common culprits. Venous insufficiency refers to dilated and incompetent veins underneath the surface of the skin related to either truncal veins or perforator veins. Venous insufficiency is what is responsible for the symptoms of vein disease. The most common reasons for venous insufficiency are:
CEAP Class 2: Varicose VeinsVaricose veins are larger and more dilated veins that appear underneath the surface of the skin as twisted, enlarged veins. It is during Stage Two when individuals become bothered by the appearance and symptoms of vein disease.
Stage Two: Varicose VeinsVaricose veins are larger and more dilated veins (> 3mm) that appear on and above the surface of the skin as twisted, dilated veins. This tends to be the most bothersome sign of vein disease because of the disturbing appearance. Varicose veins don’t always cause pain or obvious symptoms, but educated patients will realize some of the symptoms may have been considered something else. Proper attention requires a level of understanding that leads to early diagnosis and treatment of venous insufficiency. Symptoms of Varicose Veins
Risk FactorsThe risk factors for spider veins and varicose veins are the same. Again, the most important determinant is likely to be a family history of vein disease. CEAP Class 3: SwellingStage three marks more advanced vein disease and is a strong reason to seek an evaluation. Leg Swelling may be present without obvious signs of spider or varicose veins. The cause of swelling is due to venous insufficiency and indicates increased venous pressures. However, swelling is also a sign of other serious conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, renal or liver disease, malnutrition, lymphatic disease and blood clots. These conditions should be properly considered along with venous insufficiency. Symptoms Accompanying Leg Swelling/Inflammation:
CEAP Class 4: Skin Discoloration/PigmentationAt this stage of vein disease, the appearance of your skin as skin becomes thinner and even some discoloration becomes visible. This is due to the chronic venous hypertension and pooling of blood in the lower extremities that leads to inflammatory changes on the skin. Symptoms of Skin Discoloration
For advanced stages of vein disease (CEAP class 4-6), it’s very important to receive attention from a qualified vein specialist and sometimes even a wound clinic to help manage the disease. Treatment for venous insufficiency becomes paramount if detected by ultrasound. CEAP Class 5 and 6: Healed and Active UlcersLeg ulcerations result from the chronic, untreated inflammatory condition that results from advanced venous insufficiency. This stage requires coordinated care from a vein specialist and wound clinic, especially with active ulcerations. Most recently, a randomized study reported in the NEJM demonstrated the superiority of early endovenous ablation treatment for the healing of active ulcers in comparison to conservative treatment. This has encouraged the early identification of superficial venous reflux disease in the treatment of leg ulcers. Putting It All Together:Spider veins and Varicose Veins represent a continuum of vein disease that culminates in more serious medical concerns with advanced, untreated venous insufficiency. Awareness of all types of symptoms related to vein disease, especially in the presence of spider or varicose veins should prompt early attention by a vein specialist NJ. The importance of identifying vein disease was strongly supported by recent randomized data demonstrating more rapid healing of leg ulcers with modern vein treatments in comparison to compression stockings and delayed ablation. Modern vein treatments seek to cure underlying venous reflux using catheter based techniques that are minimally-invasive and improved efficacy. Early treatment for symptomatic vein disease at CEAP class 2 or greater is appropriate when conservative therapies have not alleviated symptoms. Duplex ultrasound (DUS) has become the gold standard for evaluating signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency. The test can be performed in 20-60 minutes directly in the office to provide information on vein disease and vein reflux. The examination is best performed by a registered ultrasound technician for accuracy and quality. A proper vein specialists in NJ should also be knowledgeable in both the performance and reading of venous ultrasound.
It is recommended that symptomatic patients with leg pain or leg swelling who have physical findings consistent with CEAP stages 2-6 undergo clinical evaluation with duplex ultrasound for detection of chronic venous insufficiency. For superficial venous evaluation, the primary veins that are evaluated on ultrasound include the GSV, SSV and their primary tributaries. The ultrasound should be performed with pulse wave doppler using a linear 7.5-10MHz transducer. The end goal is to identify incompetent truncal veins and perforator veins. The deep system should also be carefully evaluated to exclude any disease. The vein specialists NJ utilize modern guidelines from the American College of Phlebology to ensure proper performance and documentation of exams. The exam is generally performed in the standing position, though reverse trendelenburge can be also considered in patients vulnerable to vagal episodes or dizziness with prolonged standing. During examination, the veins are evaluated for size, wall characteristics, debris, and vein reflux. The venous reflux portion is measured with pulse wave doppler and is assisted by augmentation maneuvers. Venous blood flow is characterized by movement of blood towards the heart and any incompetent valves can be detected by abnormal reflux or regurgitation exceeding 500 milliseconds on doppler ultrasound. Vein doctors in New Jersey are expected to review these results prior to vein treatment recommendations. Vein Clinics in New Jersey will recommend treatment based on symptoms and ultrasound findings that are consistent. Insurance coverage for vein treatment in New Jersey is carrier specific and should be discussed in detail with the vein doctor New Jersey before proceeding. Duplex ultrasound is also just as important in the follow up after vein treatment for varicose veins. Radiofrequency ablation and sclerotherapy are effective methods to cure spider veins and varicose veins, however duplex ultrasound permits post treatment monitoring for effectiveness and safe outcomes, such as excluding endovenous heat induced thrombosis (EHIT) from ablation. There are 4 stages of EHIT that are closely examined in the post procedure follow up ultrasound. As such, DUS is required for diagnosis, pre-treatment planning, and follow up after vein treatment with radiofrequency ablation, laser ablation , sclerotherapy and venaseal. Article Source: http://njveinclinic.mystrikingly.com/blog/ultrasound-to-detect-vein-disease |
AuthorLena Siddiqi Archives
January 2022
Categories |