Introduction
Reflux veins or venous insufficiency is a condition in which the leg veins struggle to return blood to the heart. The symptoms in our legs include inflammation, pain, heaviness, fatigue, changes in skin color and the formation of varicose and spider veins. We at EliteVs treat all venous diseases with various methods.
One-way valves in veins send blood to the heart by preventing backflow. When compromised or broken, these valves may not close properly. This causes backflow and venous pooling, especially in the lower legs. Varicose veins affect twenty five million Americans due to venous reflux disease. Small purple lines under the skin called “spider veins” might become huge, bulging varicose veins.
What’s the Reflux Vein?
The normal healthy leg veins have a system of valves that prevents the blood from depositing into the feet when standing. These small, one-way valves inside the veins can be impaired. These valves in healthy veins send the blood back to the heart in one direction. When these valves are broken, blood flows backwards and collected in the vein. Additional blood in the vein pressure on his walls. This aggregation of blood causes surrounding pressure known as reflux.
Due to this reflux, large blue, red or meat-colored veins can appear through the skin. If not treated properly, it can turn into other changes in skin texture and, at the worst, in the worst condition, to the ulcers of the foot. With constant pressure the walls of the veins become weak and flower. We can ultimately inspect varicose, spider, or reticular veins.
Symptoms of Vein Disease
Individuals who have worries about the appearance of varicose or spider veins, without any other accompanying symptoms, should have an evaluation promptly upon their discovery. Patients presenting with additional symptoms of venous insufficiency, as indicated below, should undergo a comprehensive examination that includes a duplex ultrasonography study:
- Leg or ankle swelling
- Heavy or tired legs
- Leg pain or general achiness
- Varicose veins and spider veins
- Leg wounds or sores
- Restless legs
- Itchy legs
- Cellulitis (skin infection) of the legs
- Leg cramping, especially at night
- Skin darkening/discoloration of the legs
Venous reflux disease treatment and prevention
Avoid long periods of standing or sitting: For long trips where you’ll be sitting, turn and spread your legs, legs and ankles 10 times per 30 minutes to maintain blood circulation in the foot veins. If you have to stand for a long time then sit to take the break and lift your feet up.
Exercise regularly: Daily exercise and walking is especially beneficial for our body.
Stay hydrated: Plentiful water makes blood flow diluted and better. Dehydration can further deter the thickening blood vinegar insufficiency.
Eat healthy: Fruits and vegetables improve circulation and walls of vein.
Quit smoking: The compounds in tobacco smoke deoxygenate and thicken blood. Nicotine hardens and narrows arteries.
Elevate your legs: Raise your legs above the heart while sitting or lying.
Less or avoid salt: Salt or sodium, can promote water retention. CVI may result in inflammation of the foot and weakness of the venue wall due to additional fluid.
Wear compression stockings: This helps reduce leg swelling and increase blood flow.
Antibiotics: Ask your health care provider and take antibiotics as needed to treat skin infections.
Practice good skin hygiene: A daily moisturizer can fix dry or cracked skin and improve legs health, but it does not reduce venous insufficiency.
Several factors cause venous reflux
Malfunction of the valve
When veins valves become weak or damaged, they fail to seal properly. This makes the flow of blood reversed, which goes from the heart to the lower end.
Increased Pressure
Over time, the blood pooling caused by valve dysfunction can lead to elevated pressure in the veins. The heightened pressure can hinder the functioning of the valve and lead to more severe venous reflux.
Vein Distension
Veins can become stretched and enlarged due to increased pressure and reverse blood flow. This can lead to the development of varicose veins, which are dilated and convoluted veins that are easily visible beneath the skin.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Doctors can diagnose venous reflux by using ultrasound, physical examination and other imaging tests. Possible treatment modalities include lifestyle changes, the use of compression stockings to increase blood flow and, in more severe cases, minimum aggressive intervention to fix or seal damaged veins.
Treatment for Vein Disease (venous reflux)
Healthy lifestyle changes may be recommended for venous reflux treatment to improve blood circulation. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating well, and exercising regularly will improve blood circulation.
Walking is beneficial exercise. Resting and elevating your feet can reduce swelling and soreness from prolonged standing. Walking or moving can improve circulation in inactive people. Compression stockings are often used alone or in combination to treat venous reflux. Venous blood circulation can be preserved by compression socks or pantyhose. Solutions include:
Improving Blood Flow
Regularly exercise Need
Try to legs elevated when possible
Regularly legs uncrossed while seated
Make habit of compression stockings wearing
Medication
Anticoagulants: Medications that thin the blood
Diuretics: Medications that drain fluid through the kidneys
Pentoxifylline: A medication that helps improve blood flow
Surgery
Ambulatory Phlebectomy
Sclerotherapy
Vein Ablation
Venaseal Closure
Venous Reflux Risk Factors
Your risk of venous reflux may increase if:
- Venous disease family history
- Engaged prolong standing in physically demanding jobs like nursing and teaching
- Have been pregnant or have had many pregnancies
- Age factor, obesity, Women
Non-Invasive and Surgical Venous Reflux Treatments
In some cases of venous reflux, there has been significant damage to the vein walls, rendering alternative medical methods ineffective. If the integrity of the vein walls has been compromised, a vein specialist has the ability to perform a variety of treatments to stop or completely eliminate the affected vein.
Venous reflux treatment may include non-invasive or surgical procedure like:
- Laser treatment: Using Laser therapy to destroy the affected vein and redirect blood
- Ablation: Using heat to kill the affected vein and divert blood to healthier veins
- Sclerotherapy: Inject chemical through injection to collapse damaged vein
- Ligation: Surgically typing off blood flow to the vein
- Vein stripping: Vein removal with minor incision. Used as a last option for severe venous reflux
Conclusion
It is important to understand the reflux veins to detect and treat various types of venous diseases. Due to the progress in medical technology and studies, now we understand the underlying processes and treatment options for reflux veins as well as venous inadequacy and varicose veins. Health Care Physician can reduce symptoms by efficiently treating the reflux, improve life quality and avoid potential problems. Continuous research and innovation in this field will improve our ability to diagnose and treatment of reflux veins, which will increase patient outcomes and overall vascular health. If you facing any vein related issue, ask our top board certified vein specialist Nirman Tulsyan. Book an appointment or call us at +1-973-975-4447.