13, 4, 2020

Easter Dinner & Leg Pain: What’s the Correlation?

2021-11-04T19:53:27-07:00

After a holiday, patients frequently complain about leg pain. Especially, holidays where hours of cooking are involved like Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, Passover, etc. Some people who may have mild venous reflux disease, may not notice any symptoms until they are standing for hours- like during cooking. Over the years, we always hear from patients that their legs were aching and fatigued after cooking. The reason for this is venous reflux disease causes backflow of blood. The blood pools in the legs and the pooling of blood causes sensations of heaviness, fatigue, aching, and even night cramps and restlessness. Ankle swelling may also be more prominent. Elevating the legs allows the blood to flow in the correct direction and reduces the pooling of blood and symptoms. Wearing compression stockings during cooking can be helpful to reduce symptoms. Also when standing upright for hours, it is helpful to do calf pump raises.

Diagram of healthy and diseased vein valves

Leaky vein valves allow blood to pool, causing leg pain, heaviness, and fatigue.

Easter Dinner & Leg Pain: What’s the Correlation?2021-11-04T19:53:27-07:00

6 Stages of Venous Disease, Which Stage Am I?

2025-09-04T12:27:16-07:00

Venous Reflux Disease is progressive and worsens over time.

venous disease is progressive and worsens over time.

venous disease is progressive and worsens over time.

Venous reflux disease is also known as venous stasis, chronic venous insufficiency, or venous incompetence. Venous reflux disease refers to 'leaky valves in the veins of the legs. Reflux may occur in the deep and/or superficial leg veins. The deep veins are those within the muscle; they bring at least 80-90% of the blood from the legs back to the heart. The superficial veins are outside of the muscle and under the skin. The main superficial veins are the Great Saphenous Vein that courses up the middle of the thigh and calf and the small saphenous vein, which courses up the back of the calf. Normally, there are one-way valves within the leg veins, which help blood flow in one direction: toward the heart. This means blood is traveling against gravity. The calf muscle also helps move blood toward the heart. When vein valves are leaky, blood flows backward (reflux) towards the feet. Blood pools in the lower legs, causing bulging veins at the surface. Symptoms include leg heaviness, leg fatigue, leg pain, ankle swelling, phlebitis (inflamed and painful veins) restless legs at night, and night cramps. Venous reflux disease is progressive and worsens over time. Skin changes may also develop, including darkening of the skin around the ankles. The darkening of the skin is sometimes referred to as

skin changes. The skin can become dry and itchy (venous eczema). Eventually, the skin can break down causing a wound, called a venous leg ulcer. See the image to better understand the 6 main stages of venous disease. Stage 6 is the open leg wound, known as a venous leg ulcer.

Stage 1. Healthy Veins, Stage 2. Spider Veins

Stage 1. Healthy Veins, Stage 2. Spider Veins

Stage 3. reticular veins and varicose veins

Stage 3. reticular veins and varicose veins

Stage 4. Venous Nodes - Edema venous insufficiency

Stage 4. Venous Nodes - Edema venous insufficiency

Stage 5. Chronic insufficiency

Stage 5. Chronic insufficiency

Stage 6. Venous eczema and venous leg ulcer

Stage 6. Venous eczema and venous leg ulcer

6 Stages of Venous Disease, Which Stage Am I?2025-09-04T12:27:16-07:00

Hidden Signs That Varicose Veins Are Developing

2021-10-29T19:03:03-07:00

Varicose Veins Are Not Always Visible to the Naked Eye

An estimated 80 million Americans suffer from a vein-related condition. Since most veins lie deep under the skin’s surface, vein disorders are not always visible to the naked eye. As a result, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms that might reveal an underlying vein condition such as

A duplex ultrasound examination can be done to properly diagnose varicose veins and underlying vein conditions. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels inside your body. The ultrasound exam, which is painless and takes fewer than 30 minutes, allows a trained specialist to examine your venous system to determine if your symptoms are connected to a vein-related condition. The good news is that many vein conditions can be easily treated. Often, you just need to look beneath the surface to get moving in the right direction.

Hidden Signs That Varicose Veins Are Developing2021-10-29T19:03:03-07:00

What Your Ankles Say About Your Health

2025-09-04T12:21:07-07:00

5 signs of venous reflux disease were found on the ankles

venous reflux disease were found on the ankles

Venous reflux disease refers to 'leaky valves in the leg veins. It is also referred to as venous insufficiency. When the one-way valves that help blood in the veins flow from the feet to the heart, no longer work properly, blood begins to pool around the ankles. Over time, the pooling of blood causes increased hydrostatic pressure within the blood vessels. This is referred to as venous hypertension in the medical community. Venous hypertension is associated with chronic venous insufficiency, which means the vein valves have become leaky for a long time before physical signs are apparent. An ultrasound examination can first identify if the underlying veins are weak and leaky not visible to the naked eye, long before physical signs become apparent. Some signs you may see that may indicate underlying venous reflux disease include:

chronic venous insufficiency or venous reflux disease

Darkening of skin, and itchiness are a sign of chronic venous insufficiency or venous reflux disease

  1. Skin darkening around the ankle (hyperpigmentation). This is also referred to as venous stasis. This is a result of long-standing venous reflux or pooling of blood.
  2. Itchy, scaly skin around the ankles. This is referred to as venous eczema. This skin becomes itchy and scaly from chronic inflammation.
  3. spider veins in the inner ankle. These are commonly associated with venous reflux in the great saphenous vein. The great saphenous vein courses the ankle all the way to the groin. When blood pools from thigh upper thigh all the way to the ankle, small spider veins may appear in the ankle. These are commonly perceived as cosmetic because most people don't realize there is an underlying problem.
  4. ankle swelling (edema). There are many causes for ankle swelling. Some are serious like heart conditions where others are less serious like a salty diet. When ankle swelling is present talk to your doctor about the various causes. However, one of the most common causes of ankle swelling is venous reflux disease. Anyone who has ankle swelling can benefit from an ultrasound examination to determine if venous reflux disease is present.
  5. skin ulceration and breakdown in the ankle. Over time, pooling of blood in the ankles and venous hypertension causes the skin to darken, it can become scaly and itchy and eventually ulcerate because the skin breaks down from chronic inflammation. This is called a venous leg ulcer. Venous leg ulcers are treated by treating the underlying venous reflux disease.

All of these signs and symptoms can be reduced by treating the underlying problem, venous reflux disease. See our treatments page to better understand treatment options.

What Your Ankles Say About Your Health2025-09-04T12:21:07-07:00

26, 12, 2018

28, 9, 2018

Height may be a genetic risk factor for varicose veins, study shows

2020-12-19T04:12:51-08:00

Height may be a genetic risk factor for varicose veins

Tall patients frequently ask if their height contributed to the development of their varicose veins. Now, there may be an answer. A study at Stanford University School of mdexamining patients leg web copyMedicine study found a person’s height to be a significant risk factor for developing varicose veins. The exact reason is unknown. Intuitively, one would think the gravitational forces are greater in the leg veins of tall people. (Interesting side note, giraffes would be expected to develop varicose veins but do not: the reason for this is that their skin is firm, providing support like compression stockings). The correlation between varicose veins and height, may not be a structural or gravity-related issue but rather genetic.

 

“We not only found an association between height and varicose veins, but the genetic studies we did showed a causal link,” said cardiologist and study author Dr. Nicholas Leeper, an associate professor of surgery and cardiovascular medicine at Stanford. “That suggests that the genes and pathways that drive human height are also likely to be causing varicose veins.”

 

Another recent study in Russia, showed a particular gene in ethnic Russians, that was associated with the development of varicose veins, was also responsible for other traits such as rheumatoid arthritis and has a negative impact on human height, an opposite finding from the Stanford study.

 

To read more about the Stanford study, click here. 

 

Height may be a genetic risk factor for varicose veins, study shows2020-12-19T04:12:51-08:00

12, 1, 2018

Do you have an underlying vein problem?

2020-12-19T04:03:52-08:00

Varicose Veins Are Not Always Visible to the Naked Eye

Underlying Vein Problem ,Varicose veins may be present long before you see them

Underlying Vein Problems are Not Visible to the Naked Eye

An estimated 80 million Americans suffer from a vein-related condition. Since most veins lie deep under the skin’s surface, vein disorders are not always visible to the naked eye.  As a result, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms that might reveal an underlying vein condition such as pain, fatigue, heaviness, cramping, or restlessness in your legs.
A duplex ultrasound examination can be done to properly diagnose varicose veins and underlying vein conditions. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels inside your body. The ultrasound exam, which is painless and takes fewer than 30 minutes, allows a trained specialist to examine your venous system to determine if your symptoms are connected to a vein-related condition. The good news is that many vein conditions can be easily treated. Often, you just need to look beneath the surface to get moving in the right direction.
At La Jolla Vein Care we provide our own on-site vascular ultrasound imaging. Call us at (858) 550-0330 to schedule a personalized consultation!
Do you have an underlying vein problem?2020-12-19T04:03:52-08:00

29, 3, 2017

What Do Compression Stockings Do?

2020-12-19T04:25:38-08:00

You wear compression stockings to improve blood flow in your legs.  Compression stockings gently squeeze your legs to move blood up your legs. This helps prevent leg swelling and, to a lesser extent, blood clots.

 

image of person putting on compression stockings

person putting on compression stockings

If you have varicose veins spider veins, or have just had surgery, your health care provider may prescribe compression stockings.

Wearing stockings helps with:

  • Aching and heavy feeling in legs
  • Swelling in legs
  • Preventing blood clots, primarily after surgery or injury when you are less active

source:https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000597.htm

What Do Compression Stockings Do?2020-12-19T04:25:38-08:00

How Do I Know If I Have An Underlying Vein Problem?

2020-12-19T03:59:38-08:00

Varicose Veins Are Not Always Visible to the Naked Eye

varicose-vein-valve-image-on-legs

dysfunctional vein valves

Most vein conditions are not visible to the naked eye. The veins that are visible can be the ‘tip of the iceberg’ indicating an underlying problem. Therefore, a duplex ultrasound examination may be recommended to determine if there is an underlying condition called, venous inssufficiency. Venous insufficiency indicates when the vein valves are leaky.

Bulging, ropy varicose veins, and spider veins in certain anatomic regions of the body such as the inner ankles and inner thighs or blue veins behind the knees suggest underlying venous insufficiency.

svmagnifying-glass-1030x687

Veins are not always visible to the eye

How Do I Know If I Have An Underlying Vein Problem?2020-12-19T03:59:38-08:00

Are Varicose Veins Inherited?

2021-11-15T13:07:00-08:00

Do You Have Your Mother’s Legs?

mom : daughter inherited varicose veins

Varicose veins may be hereditary. This picture demonstrates a mother and daughter who have the same distribution of varicose veins.

One of the strongest risk factors for varicose veins is a family history. We often see mothers and their daughters, fathers, and sons, siblings, and sometimes the entire family for similar varicose vein issues. This picture demonstrates a mother and her daughter with ironically the same varicose vein pattern of distribution. Don’t want your mother’s legs? Stay on top of your vein condition and have them treated or maintenance treatment to avoid bulging varicosities.

Are Varicose Veins Inherited?2021-11-15T13:07:00-08:00
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CONTACT INFORMATION

La Jolla/UTC

Vista

Patient Privacy Practices

Privacy Policy

Hippa Privacy Practices
HIPAAOneTM Certified Seal 2

Use the search features below to find articles and insights for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO

La Jolla/ UTC

North County San Diego/ Vista — Endovascular Center
Now Open! Call/Text for Appointments

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