“You like big veins and you cannot lie” said nobody ever (unless you’re a phlebotomist of course). Here at Southwest Vein and Leg, we see patients for a variety of different vein conditions including diseases that cause veins to become enlarged. Two of those conditions that often get confused with one another are chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins. But what exactly are the differences between these diseases and what is there or you to know? Let’s take a closer look to see.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are those large, bulky veins that people (predominantly women) get on their legs and feet which tend to look dark purple or blue. But what’s happening underneath the surface? Varicose veins are actually formed when excess blood pools in the superficial veins. Typically, patients who spend a lot of time sitting or standing for professional work get them because they place an increased pressure on the vein walls. When there’s too much pressure, it can weaken the internal valves in the vein, which causes the blood to flow backward.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Similar to varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency occurs when blood pools in the superficial veins. However, this condition can happen either with or without varicose veins. Typically, chronic venous insufficiency is caused when blood pressure is abnormally high or after the veins have been injured, damaged, or if you have suffered from blood clots in the past.
Here at our office we treat patients with both of these vein diseases. If you think that you have either of these diseases or if you have experienced any pain or throbbing in your veins, contact our Fort Worth or Cleburne office and call us at 817.235.0769.