Leg Swelling – Venous Causes
Have you experienced leg swelling? There are several causes for leg and ankle swelling that include being overweight, age, heart disease and venous causes. The venous causes could be from vein disease, DVT, or weakened veins in the legs. The veins in our legs need to work against gravity to pump blood back to the heart, and if the walls and valves of these veins get damaged, blood flows the wrong way, pooling in veins and causing the swelling.
Women are more susceptible to varicose veins and the leg swelling that goes with them due to hormonal changes over their life. Beyond that, there are several reasons for veins not performing properly. As we mentioned, being overweight is a cause. The extra weight that our legs have to tolerate puts a strain on them and the veins inside. Standing or sitting for long periods of time can also lead to vein deterioration.
Usually, in the case of venous leg swelling, the swelling seems to be mild as compared to infections, injury, or surgery. Even still, the swelling can be uncomfortable. It can make it difficult to wear constrictive clothing and may be associated with a dull pain or heaviness in the legs. These are symptoms of vein disease.
One of the easiest ways to help control the swelling in the legs is to use compression socks. Your vein doctor may, after proper diagnosis, recommend getting compression socks to help control the swelling. In addition to reducing the swelling, compression socks improve blood flow in the lower legs and feet. If the swelling is related to DVT, or deep vein thrombosis, a vein specialist may prescribe anticoagulants, or blood thinners, to reduce the likelihood of the thrombus breaking off and causing more damage in your veins.
The best way to prevent swelling is to maintain a regimen of light exercise. Exercise increases blood flow and aids in weight loss, which can take a lot of stress off of your legs. Keeping your legs elevated above heart level while lying down for 15 minutes three to four times per day can also reduce swelling. If the leg swelling is related to varicose veins, the best vein doctor in Katy at Premier Vein can recommend other procedures to remove the varicose vein and reduce the swelling in your legs.