It is estimated that 20% (1 in 5) of American women and 7% of American men suffer from Venous Disease resulting in symptoms and some form of incapacitation. There are approximately 500,000 patients suffering from venous ulcers.
There are approximately 150 veins in each lower extremity. The deep veins are the most important and run parallel to the arteries. Deep veins are situated below the fascia and in between the muscle plains. These, carry 85% of the blood back to the heart for re-oxygenation in the lungs. The remaining 15% of blood flow is carried by the superficial veins which are just beneath the skin and in the fatty tissues.Veins in the lower extremities have valves. These should open only in one direction (UNIDIRECTIONAL). Opening and closing of vein valves occurs due to calf muscle contraction when we walk, and abdominal and thorax pressure changes when we breathe. When the valves are not working properly (usually due to hereditary or environmental factors) they allow venous blood to flow in the opposite direction, i.e. venous flow becomes BIDIRECTIONAL.
This back and forth (BIDIRECTIONAL) movement of blood, results in venous pressure increase, leading to vein wall dilatation and tortuosity of the superficial veins known as VARICOSE VEINS; this pressure increase also affects the capillary circulation at the level of the skin, resulting in the development of venous channels in the skin known as Telangiectasias and Spider veins.
This bidirectional flow in the venous circulation of the lower extremities is known as VENOUS REFLUX DISEASE (VRD). VRD promotes congestion, pooling of blood, and increase in venous pressure which is transmitted to smaller and smaller vessels until they show up in the skin. These skin veins vary in size, from less than 1 mm up to 30mm causing a variety of symptoms. Burning, throbbing aching, tired legs, heaviness, swelling, rounding of the ankles, night cramping, the appearance of brown pigmentation in the gaiter area of the legs (lower leg, above the ankle), eczema, cellulitis, and if not treated venous ulcerations and lymphedema.
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