If your legs feel heavy after a long day and your ankles swell by evening, you might be tempted to chalk it up to getting older. But that could be a mistake.
While occasional leg discomfort can happen to anyone, you shouldn’t automatically blame persistent symptoms on aging. In many cases, these symptoms may be signs of venous disease.
If you’re dealing with leg discomfort, visit our team at Vascular Specialists in Tinley Park, Illinois. We’re here to explain venous disease and help you recognize the signs.
Your veins have one important job: to carry blood throughout your body back to your heart.
Venous disease, as the name suggests, affects your veins, and there are many types, including chronic venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency develops when the valves inside your leg veins no longer function properly.
It’s reported that 25 million Americans have chronic venous insufficiency, and that’s just one type of venous disease. As the condition progresses, it can contribute to symptoms such as aching, heaviness, swelling, skin changes, and visible varicose veins.
Other types of venous disease include spider veins, superficial thrombophlebitis, and deep vein thrombosis.
While our team can only diagnose venous disease with a thorough evaluation and, when appropriate, imaging studies, these five signs often hint at venous disease:
Do your legs feel fine in the morning but progressively heavier as the day goes on? That’s a big clue.
Many people describe venous disease as a feeling of heaviness, aching, or fatigue that worsens after prolonged standing or sitting. You may also notice that your discomfort improves when you elevate your legs.
Occasional swelling after a long flight or standing all day isn’t unusual. However, regular swelling, especially around your ankles, may indicate that blood and fluid are pooling in your lower legs because your veins aren’t circulating blood efficiently.
Note: Swelling and redness can be signs of deep vein thrombosis. If you suspect you have a blood clot, seek medical care.
For some people, spider veins and varicose veins are primarily a cosmetic concern. For others, they’re a sign of underlying venous disease. Twisted, bulging veins often develop as increased pressure stretches and enlarges them over time.
The bottom line: Even if your veins don’t hurt, it’s worth getting an evaluation at our Vein Care Institute.
Surprisingly, your skin may also hint at underlying venous disease. As your circulation becomes less efficient, your skin can look and even feel different.
You may notice:
You shouldn’t ignore these changes, as they may signal more advanced venous disease. The slow-healing wounds, in particular, can cause serious complications if you don’t address them.
Leg cramps can have many causes, but if your symptoms are accompanied by aching, swelling, or varicose veins, your veins may be part of the problem. In one study, researchers found that 84% of participants with chronic venous disease also had restless legs syndrome.
If poor vein function is contributing to your symptoms, treating the underlying venous disease can help. In a 2021 study, 85.9% of people who underwent endovenous ablation for varicose veins reported improvement in their restless legs symptoms.
If leg discomfort or restless legs are keeping you awake, our team can determine whether venous disease is the underlying cause and recommend ablation treatment if it’s right for you.
Age can increase your risk of venous disease and the associated discomfort, but it’s not the cause of your symptoms.
Other risk factors include:
Many people assume aching legs are simply something they have to live with. In reality, venous disease is both common and treatable.
If leg discomfort is becoming part of your daily routine, it’s time to get answers.
Our team may recommend a venous ultrasound to assess how well blood is flowing through your leg veins and determine whether venous disease is contributing to your symptoms.
As with most medical conditions, the earlier vein disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to prevent complications like ulcers. During your evaluation, we discuss both lifestyle changes and treatment options that support healthier veins.
Call 815-824-4406 to reach our Tinley Park office or request an appointment through our website to schedule your vein evaluation today.
