Wellness

Vascular Disease May Lurk Behind Varicose Veins

By Sanford Health

Health conditions are often obvious, but a serious vascular disease sometimes hides behind seemingly minor signs that, left untreated, can cause major health problems.

"Such is the case with some artery and vein ailments like blood clots, varicose veins, aneurysms, and stroke," said Greg Nissen, M.D., a vascular surgeon at Sanford Health.

USUAL CAUSES

The greatest causes of most vascular disease are smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

A lot of our population smokes, which is the biggest thing that keeps people from having good health. High-fat diets and a more sedentary lifestyle all increase their blood pressure and can cause diabetes.

Part of it can be genetics, so it’s important that if family members have had strokes or aneurysms they talk to a doctor to see if they need to do a screening test or lifestyle modifications to improve their chance of not having a vascular disease. WARNING SIGNS

Although vascular disease can strike without warning, sometimes people have vision changes or slurred speech, which indicate poor blood circulation to the head and brain through the arteries in their neck.

Besides a healthy lifestyle, regular heart and vascular screenings can help avoid more serious trouble down the road. Sometimes with poor circulation to the head, a screening will show blood moving faster through arteries, which could indicate a blockage.

STROKE

A stroke happens when there’s a lack of oxygen to the brain. Every body cell needs oxygen to survive. When there’s a blockage in the head or neck or arm, that creates a lack of oxygen.

The brain is the control center for the body, so when there’s a lack of blood flow to it, people can’t get words out, and they can’t move part of their body. Sometimes a piece of plaque breaks off and goes into the eye. These are all signs that there is a lack of oxygen to the brain.

VARICOSE VEINS

Some people consider varicose veins an aesthetic issue only, but they can itch, burn, break open and bleed. They can also cause leg swelling and heaviness.

We have to try to figure out what’s causing the varicose vein. Sometimes we can use compression stockings, have the patient elevate the legs or eventually offer an ablation where you close down that vein and shut down extra blood that’s pooling in the leg.

EXCESSIVE SWEATING

This is actually more of a nerve issue, but Sanford Health’s vascular surgery team does treat it.

In general, some people have issues with sweating. We can evaluate them to see if there’s anything from a medical standpoint that can be done. If it can’t be controlled medically or through lifestyle changes, there are some surgical options that might help. n

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