venous disorders
Spider Veins - Small veins visible through the skin of your legs are called spider veins. Spider veins are early symptoms of venous disorder. Compression wear can help to relieve symptoms and prevent formation of further spider veins.
Varicose Veins - Veins in your legs that are enlarged, clearly visible under your skin, and twisted or bulging. Varicose veins are usually painless. Sometimes they can hurt, itch, or burn. If you experience one of these symptoms, it is recommended that you see your doctor. It is important to diagnose varicose veins as early as possible to prevent the disease from progressing and to avoid more serious complications. With varicose veins, compression wear can help.
Venous Edema/Swelling – Edema is defined as a perceptible increase in the volume of fluid in the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Applying pressure on edema will leave an indentation that remains on the skin after the pressure is released. Venous edema usually occurs in the ankle region, but it may extend to the leg and foot.
Leg Ulcer - Venous leg ulcers usually develop on the inside of the leg, just above the ankle.
The symptoms of a venous leg ulcer include
- pain
- itching
- swelling
in the affected leg. There may also be discolored or hardened skin around the ulcer, and the sore may produce a foul-smelling discharge.
Venous disease is the main reason for over two thirds of all leg ulcers. Other common types of leg ulcer include:
- arterial leg ulcers – caused by poor blood circulation in the arteries
- diabetic leg ulcers – caused by the high blood sugar associated with diabetes
- vasculitic leg ulcers – associated with chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
- traumatic leg ulcers – caused by injury to the leg
- malignant leg ulcers – caused by a tumor of the skin of the leg
Most ulcers caused by artery disease or diabetes occur on the foot rather than the leg.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - a serious condition in which a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the lower leg or calf and blocks blood flow. DVT can lead to leg swelling, redness, and pain, but it can also occur without these symptoms. DVT can become a life-threatening condition if the blood clot breaks loose from its original location in the vein and travels through the bloodstream into the lungs. This potentially fatal event is known as pulmonary embolism (PE). Here you can find more information on DVT in general and solutions for its prevention.
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Venous disorders is a disease that affects between 15% and 40% of the adult population worldwide. With increasing age, the likelihood of developing this disorder increases. There is often a genetic predisposition however, factors such as a sedentary lifestyle (predominantly standing or sitting activities), pregnancy, obesity and too little exercise also can play a part.