Vein
Disease

Stage 1 Spider Veins: Generally the first stage of vein disease, these are fine, threadlike veins that appear on the surface of the skin. A purple-blue color, these veins are not usually uncomfortable. Their prominent appearance is often a source of embarrassment for sufferers, though, and many desire to have them removed.

Stage 2 Varicose Veins: Ropey, thick, twisted veins that can usually be seen beneath the surface of the skin, varicose veins are often very uncomfortable. These are caused by the blood pooling in the veins and pushing against the vein walls. Besides the discomfort that varicose veins cause, sufferers are often self-conscious of how the veins look.

Stage 3 Edema: As the veins fail more and more in their moving of the blood forward, fluid begins to collect. The veins are a critical part of your body’s ability to absorb fluids, so as the veins fail to work properly, the fluid collects, primarily in the legs, and edema occurs. Many sufferers find they need to elevate their legs to find relief from the discomfort caused by the edema.

Stage 4 Skin Change: As the veins grow weaker and are unable to do their function, blood may leak from them and into the skin causing a brownish, reddish stain to appear. The skin becomes thinner, is easily injured and is much slower to heal.

Stage 5 Ulcers: At this point, the blood flow is such that when a sore appears, it takes a long time to heal, months to even years. Some sores may never heal unless treated by a doctor. Seeing a medical doctor can reduce the healing time dramatically at this stage of vein disease.

Deep Vein Thrombosis: A large blood clot that forms deep within the veins is called a deep vein thrombosis. This disease needs to be treated immediately; for if the clot should break loose, it could cause a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary Embolism: Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot in the leg breaks loose, or a portion of a clot breaks loose, and travels to the lung blocking one of the main arteries to the lung. This can be a life-threatening situation if not treated properly by a doctor.