Types Of Venous Disorders

There are different types of venous disorders, of which two are most commonly experienced by the general population. They include varicose veins and spider veins, and appear to be similar but are actually quite different. Varicose veins are veins in your body that have been increased in size or enlarged, so much so that they are very visible on your skin. Sometimes they bulge from your skin and can look very unsightly. They are often purplish blue in color, similar to that of a bruise. Spider veins on the other hand, look like a smaller version of varicose veins, but they can sometimes branch out over a wider area and look just as bad on the surface of the skin. They are not as dark as varicose veins, and normally are reddish blue in color.

Both varicose veins and spider veins develop mostly on the lower half of the body, with the latter sometimes showing up on the face as well. The nature of spider veins is such that this venous disorder often results in a more noticeable problem than varicose veins, and can spread over a large surface area. As varicose veins can result in very large swellings where they show, they are comparatively worse looking than the smaller spider veins, but they can be hidden from view due to where they usually show up, which is on the back of the length of the leg. It is no coincidence that spider veins are often the more popular cases that are treated in terms of venous disorders. Once you develop spider veins, they can quickly result in lower self esteem due to the exterior appearance being affected.

Interestingly, spider veins can and should be treated, but the disorder that should receive more urgent attention would be that of varicose veins. You might not look good with a cluster of spider veins on your thigh, for example, but varicose veins could be hidden behind your calf and yet, lead to serious conditions that might even endanger your life. If left untreated, varicose veins can swell over time, leading to poor circulation in the muscle tissue surrounding them. This will eventually lead to poor development and ulcers, which can be quite painful. A more serious problem could be resulting blood infection due to deoxygenated blood that pools in the veins. This can even lead to gangrene if medical attention is not afforded it.

It definitely pays to visit and consult a qualified vein doctor to discuss your condition and available treatment if you develop a case of either varicose or spider veins. The medical checks that will be performed are normally general procedures that are inexpensive, such as x-rays, and they can easily detect and locate the problem. Your vein doctor will then determine the extent of the problem, and discuss the various treatments that would be suitable. The factors taken into consideration would include age, health condition, and the patient’s lifestyle. It might even be sensible to visit a doctor even if you do not have any venous disorder, and find out what you could do to prevent such a condition from developing.

Jake Spruce is a medical journalist specialising in venous disorders and often engages in discussions on the field, including methods for spider vein treatment and spider vein removal.