Vein disease is very common and affects as many as 25% of all Americans. In women, the incidence can be as great as 1/3 with higher prevalences in individuals with family history of vein disease.
Not all patients with vein disease present with visible varicose veins in the legs and symptoms of venous insufficiency can be overlooked. In this article, the most common presentations of vein disease are reviewed along with what symptoms one should be aware of. Later presentations of vein disease are advanced cases with elevated CEAP scores (4, 5 or 6) and are more difficult to treat. Ideally, vein doctors N recommend that vein disease is treated in the early stages to produce more meaningful results that can also be appreciated on visual inspection as well.
Unfortunately, the symptoms are not well recognized by non-vein doctors, and the leg symptoms from varicose veins can often be attributed to other conditions. Many patients are evaluated for primarily cardiac or neurologic conditions, and once those conditions are excluded, no further work-up is recommended. While those issues are important, so is venous insufficiency and that needs a proper evaluation.
Vein disease is not always considered because varicose veins are not always always visible. Even members in the medical community are unaware to consider vein disease in the absence of visible varicose veins. There also is the false perception that vein disease is harmless. You have to be your own advocate when seeking out the best vein doctor near me !
Vein symptoms do overlap with other conditions such as heart failure (leg swelling). In these instances, vein disease is not uncommonly overlooked and patients are never referred for an evaluation. It's unfortunate because vein disease is simple to diagnose with the right expertise. More importantly, appropriate treatment can be life-changing for patients If you have any of the following conditions, then we recommend you further search the best vein clinics in NJ:
· Visible varicose veins or spider veins
· Leg discoloration over the shins (chronic venous stasis)
· Leg swelling
· Leg pain
· Heaviness in legs
· Restless legs
· Itching
