Chronic Venous Disease (CVD)
Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) treatment in Walnut Creek, or one of our other East Bay locations, at the BASS Vein Center is very easy to find. We are the most experienced vein doctors in the East Bay with more than 20,000 vein procedures completed, and counting. Wherever you're located, vein treatment is near.
Occurs when the veins in your legs are not working effectively and it becomes increasingly difficult for blood to pass through the vein walls or valves to flow back to your heart.
Veins are hollow tubes with small valves that keep blood flowing in the correct direction. When the valves are open, blood flows in the direction of gravity, toward the feet. When the valves are closed, the blood is prevented from flowing into the legs, instead flowing from the extremities toward the lungs where it picks up oxygen. When the valves malfunction, blood flows backwards, toward the feet. To compensate, the veins bulge and swell. Because the blood is not flowing well inside the veins, it pools in the legs and feet, and increases pressure in the veins. Increased pressure in the veins causes the vein walls to weaken, and further damages the valves. This is called chronic venous disease.
Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) Vein Treatment
Occurs when the veins in your legs are not working effectively and it becomes increasingly difficult for blood to pass through the vein walls or valves to flow back to your heart.
Veins are hollow tubes with small valves that keep blood flowing in the correct direction. When the valves are open, blood flows in the direction of gravity, toward the feet. When the valves are closed, the blood is prevented from flowing into the legs, instead flowing from the extremities toward the lungs where it picks up oxygen. When the valves malfunction, blood flows backwards, toward the feet. To compensate, the veins bulge and swell. Because the blood is not flowing well inside the veins, it pools in the legs and feet, and increases pressure in the veins. Increased pressure in the veins causes the vein walls to weaken, and further damages the valves. This is called chronic venous disease.
Who Is At Risk of CVD?
It is estimated that around 40% of all people in the U.S. have CVD. The condition occurs more often in people who are over the age of 40 and it also shows up more often in women than men. People who sit or stand for extended periods or those who have limited mobility are also at a higher risk.
The more risk factor you have the more likely you will contract CVD. Here are some important known risk factors of CVD:
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Inactivity
- Being overweight or obese
- Family history of CVD
- Ethnic background
- Age
- Gender
- Diet
- Excessive alcohol consumption
What are the Symptoms of CVD?
It is important to speak with a doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms of CVD.
- Ankle & leg swelling
- Feeling of heaviness in the legs
- Aching
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Pain on standing
- Cramps
- Itching and tingling
- Varicose veins
What CVD Treatment is available?
There are several options available for the treatment of CVD. Some are minimally invasive while others are surgical treatments. Non-surgical treatment includes Sclerotherapy and Endovenous Thermal Ablation.
Sclerotherapy
With Sclerotherapy, a solution is injected into the affected veins. This solution causes the veins to collapse and later disappear. More than one sclerotherapy treatment may be needed to achieve the best results. This procedure is simple and can be performed in-office. It can help to eliminate the pain and discomfort caused by varicose veins. And it can also help eliminate the unsightly appearance of spider veins. For that reason, this treatment is often performed for cosmetic reasons.
Endovenous Thermal Ablation
This CVD treatment uses a laser or a radiofrequency to create local heat in the affected vein. During the procedure, the heat is used to help close off the veins causing them to fade and disappear. The veins are left in place, instead of being removed, so that there is minimal bleeding or complications with bruising afterward. This minimally invasive process is faster and less painful than many of the other methods used to remove varicose veins.
Surgical Treatments for CVD
While most patients can see results from minimally invasive treatment options like sclerotherapy and Endovenous Thermal Ablation, some require surgical treatment.
Ligation and Stripping
Ligation and stripping are a combination of surgical treatments that are often performed together. With vein ligation, the surgeon will cut and tie off the affected veins. Many patients recover from this procedure in a few days and can return to their usual activities.
Stripping involves the surgical removal of larger veins by using two small incisions to access them. This is a much more extensive procedure and can require as many as 10 days for recovery. The patient may also experience bruising for a few weeks following the treatment.
CVD Vein Treatment Near Me
If you live in Alamo, Walnut Creek, Alameda, or anywhere in the East Bay Area, and would like to learn more about CVD Treatment, give our experts here at BASS Vein Center a call today. We can help you find the right treatment options for your vein issues.