All About Venous Reflux Disease

Your arteries are designed to transport blood from the heart to the rest of your body. Your veins return blood back to the heart and have valves that make sure blood doesn’t flow backward because of gravity. These valves are especially important for your legs. If your veins lose elasticity or are dilated for a long period of time, your valves are unable to close properly, which leads to venous reflux disease.

What are the Symptoms?
The most common symptoms of venous reflux are muscle cramping, pain, itching, fatigue, burning, throbbing and swelling. Venous reflux disease can cause varicose veins to form, during which blood pools in your legs. If left untreated, this condition may lead to skin discoloration or scarring in the lower legs.

What Causes Venous Reflux Disease?
There are several reasons for venous reflux disease, including:

• A genetic predisposition to the disease
• A change in hormones brought on by pregnancy and menopause
• Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy
• Obesity
• Standing for long periods of time

Is Venous Reflux Disease Treatable?
Treatments for this disease continue to advance. Today, radiofrequency vein ablation is a common method. This involves inserting a tiny catheter into the vein to emit microwave radiation that seals the affected vein. There are also several types of sclerotherpy treatments that can be used effectively. This process uses chemicals or heat to seal the veins at the surface. In conjunction with whatever method is used to treat venous reflux disease, your doctor will also recommend changes in your lifestyle. Wearing compression stockings and elevating your legs intermittently throughout the day are good ways to relieve pain and prevent more varicose veins from developing.

If you think you may be suffering from venous reflux disease, talk to a vein specialist at Reeder Vein Institute about an individualized treatment option that may be right for you. Contact us online today or call us directly at 682-499-5672 in Fort Worth.  We look forward to hearing from you!