Venous Disease

What is Venous Disease?

Venous disease encompasses a range of conditions that affect the veins — the blood vessels responsible for returning oxygen-depleted blood from the body back to the heart. While your arteries carry blood away from the heart under high pressure, your veins work against gravity to move blood upward from your legs and other extremities, relying on a system of one-way valves and muscle contractions to keep blood flowing in the right direction.

When these valves become damaged or weakened, blood can flow backward and pool in the veins, a condition known as venous reflux or venous insufficiency. This pooling increases pressure inside the veins and can lead to a variety of symptoms and complications, from cosmetic concerns like spider veins to serious conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

How the Venous System Works

Understanding how your veins function helps explain why venous disease develops:

• Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to nourish tissues throughout the body.
• Veins return oxygen-poor blood back to the heart for recirculation through the lungs.

Veins are flexible, hollow tubes with small flaps inside called valves. When your muscles contract — particularly your calf muscles during walking — these valves open to allow blood to move upward through the veins toward the heart. When your muscles relax, the valves close to prevent blood from flowing backward.

The two largest veins in your body are the superior vena cava, which collects blood from the head and arms, and the inferior vena cava, which collects blood from the abdomen and legs and delivers it to the heart.

If the valves inside your veins become damaged as a result of venous disease, they may not close completely. This allows blood to leak backward or flow in both directions, leading to increased venous pressure and the development of symptoms.

Types of Venous Disease

Venous disease can take several forms, ranging from mild cosmetic issues to life-threatening conditions. At Preferred Vascular Group, we treat the full spectrum of venous disorders:

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

CVI is the most common form of venous disease. It occurs when leg veins cannot efficiently pump blood back to the heart due to damaged valves. Over time, blood pools in the lower legs, causing swelling, skin changes, and discomfort. Without treatment, CVI can progress to skin ulcers that are difficult to heal.

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that bulge visibly beneath the skin, most commonly in the legs. They develop when weakened valves allow blood to pool, stretching the vein walls. Beyond their appearance, varicose veins can cause aching, heaviness, and swelling that worsens throughout the day.

Spider Veins

Spider veins are tiny, web-like veins visible just beneath the skin’s surface. While they are often considered a cosmetic concern, they can indicate underlying venous insufficiency and may cause discomfort in some patients.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins, usually in the legs. DVT is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition because the clot can break free and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.

Phlebitis and Blood Clots

Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein, often caused by a blood clot. It can affect both superficial veins near the skin’s surface and deeper veins. Superficial phlebitis is usually manageable, but deep vein phlebitis requires prompt medical attention.

Symptoms of Venous Disease

Venous disease symptoms can range from mild to severe and often worsen over time without treatment:

• Aching, heaviness, or fatigue in the legs — especially after prolonged standing or sitting
• Swelling in the ankles and lower legs
• Visible varicose or spider veins
• Skin discoloration, often brownish, around the ankles
• Itching or burning sensations along affected veins
• Restless legs, particularly at night
• Leg cramps
• Slow-healing wounds or ulcers on the lower legs
• Throbbing or tenderness along a vein

Many people dismiss early symptoms as normal signs of aging or fatigue. However, venous disease is progressive — symptoms typically worsen without treatment and can lead to complications including skin breakdown and chronic wounds.

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase your risk of developing venous disease:

• Family history — genetics play a significant role; over 80% of venous disease cases have a hereditary component [1]
• Age — vein valves weaken naturally over time
• Pregnancy — hormonal changes and increased blood volume put added pressure on veins
• Prolonged standing or sitting — reduces muscle-driven blood flow in the legs
• Obesity — increases pressure on leg veins
• Previous DVT or blood clots — damages vein valves and increases risk of recurrence
• Sedentary lifestyle — lack of regular movement reduces circulation
• Hormone therapy or birth control — can affect blood clotting and vein wall elasticity

Diagnosis

Accurate diagnosis is the first step toward effective treatment. At Preferred Vascular Group, we use advanced diagnostic techniques:

• Duplex Ultrasound: The gold standard for evaluating venous disease. This painless, non-invasive test uses sound waves to visualize blood flow and identify valve dysfunction, blood clots, and areas of reflux.
• Physical Examination: Our specialists assess visible vein changes, skin condition, and swelling patterns.
• Medical History Review: Understanding your symptoms, risk factors, and family history helps guide diagnosis and treatment planning.

Treatment Options

Treatment for venous disease depends on the type and severity of the condition. Our vascular specialists offer a full range of options:

Conservative Treatment

• Compression stockings to support vein function and reduce swelling
• Leg elevation to encourage blood flow back to the heart
• Regular exercise to strengthen calf muscles and improve circulation
• Weight management to reduce pressure on leg veins

Minimally Invasive Procedures

When conservative measures are insufficient, we offer advanced outpatient treatments:

• Vein Ablation: Uses radiofrequency or laser energy to seal damaged veins, redirecting blood flow to healthy veins.
• Sclerotherapy: A solution is injected into affected veins, causing them to collapse and be reabsorbed by the body. Effective for spider veins and smaller varicose veins.
• Ambulatory Phlebectomy: Small varicose veins are removed through tiny incisions, typically with minimal scarring.

These procedures are performed in our office-based settings with little to no downtime, allowing patients to resume normal activities quickly.

Why Choose Preferred Vascular Group?

Our board-certified vascular specialists have extensive experience treating all forms of venous disease. At Preferred Vascular Group, you can expect:

• Expert diagnosis using state-of-the-art duplex ultrasound technology
• Personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific condition and goals
• Minimally invasive procedures with fast recovery times
• Compassionate care at eight convenient locations across Georgia and Ohio

If you are experiencing symptoms of venous disease, early treatment can prevent progression and improve your quality of life.

References

1. Eberhardt RT, Raffetto JD. “Chronic venous insufficiency.” Circulation, 2014. PubMed
2. Venous Insufficiency. StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 2024. NCBI Bookshelf
3. Beebe-Dimmer JL, et al. “The epidemiology of chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins.” Annals of Epidemiology, 2005. PubMed