Venous & Lymphatic Diseases
Nearly 35% of the population in the U.S. has some form of vein disease.
From annoying spider veins to lymphedema to chronic venous hypertension emerging in unsightly varicose veins, vein and lymphatic diseases are visible signs that something is significantly wrong with your health and should not be ignored.
We know how distressing this can be, but it’s precisely why we’re here to help. More patients choose Dr. Jack Perlmutter and the medical team at Illinois Vein Specialists’ (IVS) as our sole focus is on the proper diagnosis and treatment of vein and lymphatic disorders – it’s all we do!
You need so much more than just a cursory review of your medical records before pursuing or being rushed into an invasive or unnecessary surgery. That’s why Dr. Perlmutter and the IVS medical team purposefully seek to understand your unique health history, lifestyle, habits, and goals.
Essential to this process is listening and educating you – our patient – and those in your circle of support (e.g. family, friends, and primary care physician) about what causes vein disease, the procedure(s) we use to best treat your specific venous and/or lymphatic condition(s), and post-treatment care instructions. This enables us to accurately diagnose and create a personalized treatment plan that will restore you to better health.
What is Vein Disease?
Vein disease is a chronic condition that causes the valves in your veins to break. This results in increased pressure in the veins, Varicose Veins, skin changes, slower healing of wounds, and inefficient blood flow to the heart.
Vein disease also exacerbates and complicates many other medical conditions such as recovery from lower extremity surgery, general wound healing, congestive heart failure, neuropathy, and more.
Several factors can cause or contribute to vein disease, including genetics, pregnancy, obesity, and age. When a person develops a vein disease, the valves in the veins break, causing blood to begin flowing backward, causing the indwelling veins to swell and stretch, eventfully resulting in their appearance on the skin. This inflammation can be painful, and if left untreated, the condition will worsen over time.
Vein Disease Requires prompt Medical Intervention
Surface Varicose Veins are visible, appearing as ropey, distended veins on the skin. They are progressive, and, over time can cause many issues with your legs. Proper Diagnosis is essential.
The best way to diagnose vein disease is with a venous ultrasound. It is a non-invasive diagnostic tool used to measure blood flow through the veins performed by our Vascular Ultrasonographer.
Vein disease, while more obvious in the elderly, is not primarily a disease of aging nor is it a disease of only women. It can occur in men and women, as well as teenagers. That’s why it is so important to seek treatment quickly. The faster you are diagnosed the faster you are on the road to healthy legs!
If you or a loved one are impacted by the signs or symptoms of spider or varicose veins, seeking treatment is crucial to your continued health and comfort.
Vein diseases can complicate other medical conditions such as slow healing and recovery from surgery. In some cases, it can even contribute to neuropathy, which is numbness or tingling in the feet or legs. Another common symptom of vein disease is swelling in the lower legs and a feeling of heaviness or fatigue in the legs.
