To understand what causes varicose veins, you have to understand how your veins work. Unlike arteries, which contain muscle tissue to pump blood from the heart, your veins rely on a series of tiny, one-way valves to control the flow of blood back to the heart and the lungs. When the muscles surrounding the veins contract, these valves open to allow blood to flow towards the heart, and then close to prevent it from flowing backwards, back into the veins. One of the most common causes of varicose veins is chronic venous insufficiency, which is a condition in which these valves become diseased or damaged and don't close properly. As a result, the blood flows back into the diseased veins and collects there, causing them to become enlarged and discolored (the blue color comes from the deoxygenated blood pooling in the veins).

Spider veins and varicose veins are often considered problems mostly experienced by women. However, these issues are common to men as well.  June is Men’s Health Month, a time of raised awareness for men’s health issues. Dr. Ray Workman and Dr. Shawn Fleming encourage men to learn more about the causes of vein disease and the steps men can take to prevent their risk.

If you are like many other people, you may have noticed a few varicose veins or spider veins on your legs, but you don't worry about them. After all, they're common – 27% of the adult population has them, right? And they're not serious…just a cosmetic issue, right? Wrong. These unsightly, bulging veins are symptoms of a disorder that afflicts more than 26 million Americans – vein disease. And it's more serious than you think.

Many people view varicose veins as "merely a cosmetic problem." This can lead to the belief that they can be left untreated without any ill effects. This isn't true. If you don't seek treatment for them, they can cause many unpleasant complications. In this article, top Winston-Salem vein doctor, Dr. Ashley Rickey, explains three common complications that can result from untreated vein disease.

Wounds on the feet and legs can happen for many reasons – cuts, scrapes, accidents, or even poorly fitting shoes. For most people, these wounds respond quickly to normal first aid treatment, and heal within a few days.

Perhaps you’re tired of hiding your varicose veins under long pants, or perhaps you’re growing weary of the swollen legs and ankles and that annoying ache. Perhaps you’ve read about vein disease and understand that leaving varicose veins untreated will only make it worse. Whatever your reason, Winston-Salem vein specialists are here to help.

Many people know very little about the condition known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), and few are fully aware of the possible threats that DVT poses. The experts at Novant Health Vein Specialists, a leading Winston-Salem vein clinic, are here to help increase your awareness of this potentially fatal condition. Dr. Phil Moore, a board-certified vascular surgeon specializing in the treatment of venous insufficiency, explains all you need to know in this exclusive interview.

We at Novant Health Vein Specialists understand that many patients suffering from varicose veins are concerned about their procedure and the associated pain. This is why the medical team at our advanced vein treatment center in NC employs minimally invasive methods that virtually eliminate the pain and therefore any worries.

The reason the medical community is banding together in March for DVT Awareness Month is that it is a disease that afflicts an estimated 2 million Americans, the majority of whom do not know that they have it. Many – truth be told – don't even know what the initials DVT stand for, even though more Americans die from the disease or complications arising from it each year than die from breast cancer, AIDS, and automobile accidents combined.

Along with the rewards of living well and living long, many of us are rapidly discovering the many health problems aging can bring on. Modern medicine is helping us live longer and healthier lives, but often we also have to put up with more medical inconveniences and health risks than we did before. Vein disease is a good example.