National Vascular Disease Awareness Month is a reminder that vascular disease including heart disease account for the most deaths in the U.S. Vein disease may not directly cause heart problems, but it shares risk factors with other vascular diseases increasing the likelihood of heart disease.
These risk factors include:
- Age
- Genetics
- Gender
- Obesity or high body mass index (BMI)
- Sedentary lifestyle or standing for long periods of time
- Smoking
At USA Vein Clinics, our vein specialists have heard countless stories about the impact of vein disease on people’s health. From the discomfort of varicose veins to the more serious complications of deep vein thrombosis, we’ve seen firsthand how these conditions can affect individuals’ daily routines and overall well-being. In this blog post, we’ll share one of the most common stories we hear from our patients and discuss how vein treatment can make a significant difference.
What We Usually Hear From Patients
Susan, a patient at USA Vein Clinics, had been struggling with painful, swollen legs for years.
“I couldn’t stand the pain anymore. I felt like I had rocks tied to my legs,” she recalled. After undergoing a vein treatment procedure, Susan reported a significant improvement in her symptoms.
“Now, I feel much better and the pain has gone away,” she said.
Other patients report feeling self-conscious on top of experiencing pain. Karen L. was finally able to wear skirts after 40 years of hiding her varicose veins.
“I remember my mother told me never go for surgery because she went for surgery and it was so painful,” she says.
She decided to put up with her condition, dealing with pain and unbearable swelling. Years later, a friend of hers would recommend she see a vein specialist at USA Vein Clinics. She was astonished by USA Vein Clinics’ unique, non-surgical treatment methods to tackle symptoms of vein disease.
“I was surprised it wasn’t as painful as my mother told me,” Karen added. “Now, I couldn’t be happier at my age to wear a skirt; it is truly a miracle.”
Some patients lose sleep because of symptoms of vein disease. Gretchen W. once complained about how the pain from her varicose veins disrupted her sleep.
“Now that I had the procedure, I feel 100% better,” she said. “I am able to sleep without discomfort and I don’t have any of the symptoms I had before.”
Some patients delay their treatment, which can make symptoms worse and lead to complications like non-healing wounds and dangerous blood clots. Andigo was one of those patients, neglecting treatment since his early 20s.
“It only got worse as I got older, so by the time I reached USA Vein Clinics, I can say that my case was pretty severe,” he said. It took months for the vein specialist in Seatle, WA to treat his varicose veins. After the treatments were done, Andigo was free of varicose veins.
The blood flow originally going to Andigo’s varicose veins was redirected to healthier veins. Any open sores he may have had for years were now healing faster. Andigo is no longer at risk for nonhealing sores and potentially deadly blood clots.
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What Is Vascular Disease?
Vascular disease encompasses conditions that affect veins, arteries, and the heart. Vascular disease doesn’t discriminate and can affect people of all ages. However, certain risk factors like genetics, age, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and smoking can further impact your veins and arteries.
Vascular disease includes:
- Vein diseases like chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
- Dangerous blood clots like pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
- Artery diseases like peripheral artery disease (PAD).
A person with a vascular disease like chronic venous insufficiency will experience uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating symptoms, including:
- Leg pain
- Swelling
- Heavy feeling in the legs
- Varicose or spider veins
- Poor circulation
If a patient with vein disease neglects treatment, they could develop serious health complications such as:
- Venous ulcers: non-healing leg wounds.
- Deep vein thrombosis: a dangerous blood clot.
- Pulmonary embolism: when a blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs.
Why Does This Matter?
Vein disease and other forms of vascular disease can get progressively worse. That’s why USA Vein Clinics strives to educate patients on vein disease and offer minimally invasive treatments, especially during National Vascular Disease Awareness Month. Their treatments are FDA-approved and effectively reduce symptoms of vein disease and improve blood circulation.
These treatments are also minimally invasive procedures with a shorter recovery time and without scarring or stitches. USA Vein Clinics offers the following treatments for vein disease:
- Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT)
- ClariVein®
- Visual sclerotherapy
- Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy
- Varithena Vein Treatment
- VenaSeal™
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
As National Vascular Disease Awareness Month continues, it’s important to know that early detection and preventative measures are paramount to maintaining healthy veins and arteries. It also helps a patient with vascular disease avoid more serious conditions like heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.
If you are experiencing symptoms of vascular disease like chronic venous insufficiency, schedule an appointment with one of our expert vein specialists at a location near you. A vein specialist can provide an accurate analysis of your condition and recommend the next steps toward a healthy life.
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