By John Hogg, MD, DABR, DABVLM, RPVI, RPhS, RVT, RVS — Founder, Medical Vein Clinic
Healthy veins and arteries both play big roles in keeping your circulation humming. Arteries carry oxygenated blood from your heart to your legs. Veins return that blood to your heart.
All goes well until venous and/or arterial disease comes into play. Veins break down when the tiny one-way valves inside your leg veins weaken and fail, causing blood to pool in the legs instead of returning to the heart. Artery disease happens when the arteries supplying blood to your legs narrow or block from plaque buildup, cutting off oxygen-rich blood before it even arrives.
Chronic venous insufficiency, the most common form of vein disease, affects roughly 25 million Americans, men and women both. Research shows chronic venous insufficiency affects up to 40% of women over 40 and approximately 17% of men.
Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, usually shows up in people in their 40s and 50s, at a higher rate in people who have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of smoking. (blockquote) An estimated 8 to 10 million people in the US have PAD. At Medical Vein Clinic, patients come in every week who have been living with one or both conditions for years without knowing it, because someone told them their symptoms were just a part of getting older.
What Are the Symptoms of Vein Disease vs. Artery Disease?
Vein disease symptoms tend to build throughout the day. Legs feel heavy, swollen, and achy by afternoon, especially after long hours at a desk or on your feet. Restless legs at night are common. So is brown discoloration around the inner ankle, which happens when red blood cells die in pooled blood and leave iron deposits in the skin. At Medical Vein Clinic, we call this the Rust Tattoo™. It’s permanent skin staining, but the underlying vein disease causing it is treatable. PAD symptoms feel different. The classic signs are calf cramping or leg pain that comes on during walking and subsides with rest. That pattern, in medical terms, is called claudication. In more advanced cases, patients feel pain even while lying down, wounds on the feet won’t heal, and the feet feel cold to the touch. These are strong warning signals your body is sending to you.
Who Is at Risk for Vein Disease or Artery Disease?
Vein disease runs in families. It’s also tied to pregnancy, jobs that involve prolonged sitting or standing, and hormonal changes. Artery disease is driven by smoking, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and high blood pressure. A person with diabetes faces two to four times the normal risk of developing PAD, regardless of age.
Neither condition is a consequence of aging. Both are medical problems with medical causes, and both respond well to treatment when caught early.
How Are Vein Disease and Artery Disease Diagnosed?
Vein disease and artery disease require different tests. At Medical Vein Clinic, vascular specialists use duplex ultrasound imaging to watch blood moving through the veins in real time. The test is painless, takes about 30 minutes, and identifies exactly where vein valves are failing.
For artery disease, the starting point for a diagnosis is an ankle-brachial index test, which compares blood pressure at the ankle with blood pressure in the arm. A reading below 0.9 confirms reduced arterial flow. Both tests are non-invasive and completed in a single visit.
How Are Vein Disease and Artery Disease Treated?
Vein disease responds well to minimally invasive treatments, including thermal ablation, sclerotherapy, and Varithena™.
Most vein procedures at Medical Vein Clinic take under an hour, require no general anesthesia, and patients walk out the same day. PAD treatment depends on severity. Mild cases improve with supervised exercise, medication, and lifestyle changes. Significant blockages may require angioplasty, stenting, or bypass surgery.
FAQ: Vein Disease vs. Artery Disease
Can you have both vein disease and artery disease at the same time?
Yes. Some patients have both conditions at once. That’s why the team at Medical Vein Clinic tests for both during your evaluation rather than assuming one or the other.
Is vein disease the same as varicose veins?
Varicose veins are one visible sign of chronic venous insufficiency, but vein disease can exist without visible veins. Swelling, heaviness, and skin changes around the ankle can all point to vein disease even when veins aren’t visible.
Does insurance cover testing for these conditions?
Most insurance plans cover duplex ultrasound and ankle-brachial index testing when ordered for documented symptoms. The team at Medical Vein Clinic can verify your coverage before your visit.
How long does a diagnosis take?
Both tests are completed in a single visit, usually within 30 minutes each.
Getting the diagnosis right is what makes the difference. If your legs ache, swell, cramp, or feel heavy on a regular basis, that’s your vascular system asking for a specific answer. Call Medical Vein Clinic today to schedule an evaluation: 210-622-8000. Or go online to schedule: info@medicalveinclinic.com.
Healthy Legs Take You Further.™
