Veins are the vessels that carry blood from your body back to your heart. Special valves inside healthy veins make sure that blood moves toward your heart and does not flow in the wrong direction. When these valves do not work properly, you experience symptoms, including:
- Spider veins: Small, thin and winding veins that look like little threads at the surface of your skin. They are often red, purple and blue.
- Varicose veins: Swollen and twisted that often push up under your skin.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Blood clots that develop in veins in the leg or pelvic area.
- Pulmonary embolism (PE): The most serious complication of DVT, PE occurs when a clot breaks free from an artery and lodges in your lungs. PE can cause your heart and lungs to collapse, a serious condition.
- Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI): Blood in the legs does not flow back correctly to the heart due to problems with the valves in the veins.
Varicose veins are often visible as blue lines on the legs and may cause aches and discomfort.
Deep vein thrombosis and chronic venous insufficiency symptoms can include:
- Discolored legs
- Leg swelling
- Leg ulcers
- Pain, tightness or tenderness
- Pale red, blue or white skin
- Slight fever
- Rapid heartbeat
- Warm skin
Aging and being overweight can contribute to the development of venous disease.
DVT clots may also be related to:
- Family history
- Obesity
- Pregnancy, which increases risk temporarily
- Sitting or lying down for too long (such as on a long flight)
- Surgery
- Traumatic injury
For some types of venous disease, like varicose veins or spider veins, your doctor conducts a physical exam to make a diagnosis. He or she will look at and feel the veins and ask about symptoms.
We use state-of-the-art imaging tools and other tests to assess varicose veins and to help diagnose venous disease, including:
- Blood tests
- Computed tomography (CT)
- Duplex ultrasound
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Venogram