Relief From Venous Insufficiency in Visalia CA

Your veins could be the source of your swelling and pain. 
Find relief! See a vein doctor in Visalia, CA.

VIP is now offering free phone consultations. Click here to take your Online Assessment today!

Dr. Ashkan Shahkarami

Vascular & Interventional Specialist

Visalia, CA vein doctor Dr. Ashkan Shahkarami

Dr. Bennett K. Abe

Vascular & Interventional Specialist

Visalia, CA vein doctor Dr. Bennett K. Abe

Dr. Francisco E. Valles

Vascular & Interventional Specialist

Visalia, CA vein doctor Dr. Francisco E. Valles

Dr. Glade Roper

Vascular & Interventional Specialist

Visalia, CA vein doctor Dr. Glade Roper

Dr. Daniel Hightower

Vascular & Interventional Specialist

Visalia, CA vein doctor Dr. Daniel Hightower

We are VIP Specialists, and we’re to help you get your legs back to health. Our Vascular and Interventional Specialists provide a full suite of screening, diagnostic, and treatment services for spider veins, varicose veins, and more advanced stages of venous insufficiency.

Our vein treatment center is conveniently located in downtown Visalia, California at the corner of Locust Street and East Acequia Avenue. Schedule your visit today!

Venous Insufficiency Information

Venous insufficiency occurs when blood flow is seriously impaired in the veins, usually in the legs. Venous insufficiency is often recognized by one or more visual vein problems, such as spider veins, varicose veins, or more advanced skin changes. Vein problems are very common. Population studies estimate that more than 70% of adults in the United States have visual vein problems, the majority of which have either spider veins, varicose veins, or both.¹⁻³

The underlying cause of most vein problems is a phenomenon known as “vein reflux.” Vein reflux refers to the condition in which blood in a vein or a group of veins flows backwards (away from the heart), causing blood to accumulate in the veins. Reflux can lead to a variety of symptoms that medical professionals will often refer to as “chronic venous insufficiency” (CVI) or “chronic venous disease” (CVD). In addition to visual vein problems, CVI can cause itchiness, pain, and swelling throughout the leg.⁶ It is important to understand that vein problems are progressive, meaning that symptoms can worsen over time if reflux is not properly treated.

Progression of venous insufficiency from least severe (spider veins) to most severe (venous ulcers).

Symptoms of Venous Insufficiency

Symptoms of vein problems can vary widely depending on stage of disease. Some individuals only have cosmetic symptoms while others may experience intense pain and even skin ulcers. Minimally invasive vein treatments are capable of addressing most medically significant symptoms and cosmetic issues as well.

Visual Signs of Venous Insufficiency

Vascular specialists will typically use visual cues to help diagnose vein disease. In its earliest stages, small veins on the surface of the skin may appear red, blue, or purple (spider veins) while larger veins may become twisted and bulge from the skin (varicose veins). As vein disease progresses and more veins are affected, the leg may become swollen while the skin becomes firm and discolored (skin changes) due to the insufficient flow and accumulation of blood in the veins. If left untreated, vein disease can lead to open wounds usually in the ankle region, also known as venous leg ulcers.

Pain Patterns of Venous Insufficiency

Even without obvious signs of venous insufficiency and minimal cosmetic changes to the leg, one or more of the following medically significant symptoms may be caused by underlying venous insufficiency.
  • Leg pain
  • Leg cramps, especially at night
  • Itching or burning
  • Throbbing or aching
  • Restless legs
  • Tingling or numbness
  • Leg fatigue or heaviness
  • Claudication (cramping pain after walking or exercising)

See a Vein Doctor in Visalia, CA

Venous Insufficiency Risk Factors

The following factors increase your likelihood of developing venous insufficiency.

Gender  |  more women are diagnosed with vein problems than men​

Family History  |  vein problems may run in your family

Age  |  risk of vein problems increases with age

Lifestyle or Occupation  |  prolonged standing or sitting may increase your risk of vein problems

Smoking  |  prolonged smoking leads to harmful changes in blood vessels and blood composition

Obesity  |  added pressure to your leg veins from your abdomen may increase your risk of vein problems

Pregnancy  |  varicose veins developed during pregnancy typically resolve within 3-12 months after giving birth, but not always

Why Venous Insufficiency Occurs

To understand why venous insufficiency occurs, it’s best to start with the anatomy of the veins. Healthy veins have one-way valves that open to allow blood to flow towards the heart, and close to prevent flow in the opposite direction. Venous circulation is a low pressure system, meaning that the movement of blood has to rely on the contraction of surrounding muscles to squeeze the veins (like a tube of toothpaste) and propel blood through the vessels. This unique feature of the venous system has important implications when it comes to vein health.

When standing, blood in the veins of the legs must flow upwards against the downward pull of gravity. For some individuals, this downward gravitational pull causes the walls of the leg veins to stretch apart over time, which tends to also pull apart the vein valves and damage them. In other individuals, an obstruction in the veins, such as a blood clot, can damage vein valves. Damaged valves allow blood to leak backwards (a phenomenon known as “vein reflux”) and pool in the veins, leading to more valves stretching out and failing. While blood continues to pool in the veins, the veins become bulgy and twisted.

Vein reflux causing visible varicose veins and spider veins.

The venous system in the leg can be thought of as a network of interconnected pipes in that flow problems in one vein can cause problems in nearby veins. This is one of the reasons that vein disease tends to worsen over time as more veins are affected by insufficient flow.

Severe reflux tends to affect more than just the veins themselves. When blood accumulates in the veins, it tends to leak out from the veins into surrounding tissues, causing the leg to become swollen and heavy. Over time, stagnant blood can also cause an inflammatory reaction, leading to fibrosis (thickening and scarring of tissue), and ulcers (open wounds on the skin) in the most severe cases.

Varicose Vein Treatment in Visalia, CA

Venous Insufficiency Diagnosis

Vein Screening

Unsure if you have venous insufficiency? Getting a diagnosis is very straightforward, and takes about an hour at VIP. Your first visit will begin with a review of your medical history followed by a physical exam to look at any outward signs of vein problems. Together, these activities take about 30 minutes. If you have varicose veins, other outward signs of venous insufficiency, or leg symptoms that indicate venous insufficiency, we’ll perform an ultrasound imaging study to determine the location and extent of your vein disease.

Vein Ultrasound

A non-invasive ultrasound exam is performed on your leg to visualize your veins and identify any concerning blood flow patterns. Ultrasound imaging is the Vascular Specialists primary tool to determine which veins are affected, the extent of your vein disease, and the optimal approach to healing your legs.

Should I See A Vein Specialist?

Venous insufficiency can have a serious impact on your quality of life. A Vein Specialist in Visalia, CA can help you get to the bottom of your pain and swelling, and help you determine if your veins should be treated.
Patient with venous insufficiency in Visalia, CA receiving diagnostic vein ultrasound

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References
[1] Michael H. Criqui, Maritess Jamosmos, Arnost Fronek, Julie O. Denenberg, R., & D. Langer, John Bergan, and B. A. G. (2003). Chronic Venous Disease in an Ethnically Diverse Population The San Diego Population Study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 158(5), 448-456. PMC 2015 Jan 6.
[2] Chiesa, R., Marone, E. M., Limoni, C., Volonté, M., Schaefer, E., & Petrini, O. (2005). Chronic venous insufficiency in Italy: The 24-cities Cohort study. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, 30(4), 422–429.
[3] Wrona, M., Jöckel, K. H., Pannier, F., Bock, E., Hoffmann, B., & Rabe, E. (2015). Association of Venous Disorders with Leg Symptoms: Results from the Bonn Vein Study 1. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, 50(3), 360–367.

Medical Disclaimer
The Materials available on visaliavips.com are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients.