Vascular Diseases Affecting Veins
The venous form of vascular disease is more common and more likely to reveal its presence with visible symptoms or symptoms that can be felt, such as pain or swelling. Vascular diseases affecting the veins include:
- Varicose veins
- Phlebitis
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Venous stasis disease
Varicose veins
Of these, varicose veins are the least serious. Their occurrence is due to a wide range of factors, but generally they do not lead to more serious problems.
Phlebitis
Phlebitis is the formation of a clot and inflammation within a vein and is often caused by long periods of inactivity (sitting or lying down for an extended length of time) or by some forms of cancer. Phlebitis is a more serious form of vascular disease and may require hospitalization, medication or both.
Deep vein thrombosis
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of a clot in a vein deep in the leg and is a serious form of vascular disease. In the event that the clot breaks loose and travels through the heart to become trapped in the lung (a pulmonary embolism), the consequences are potentially fatal.
Venous stasis disease
DVT can also damage a valve in the vein, leading to a chronic, difficult-to-treat condition called venous stasis disease.