How healthy is your circulatory system? Perhaps you’ve never thought about it, but healthy blood vessels are an important part of your overall wellbeing. After all, their job is to make sure every organ in your body receives adequate blood supply, so it can function properly.
What Is a Vascular Surgeon?
Vascular surgeons are doctors who treat diseases and problems within the vascular system, the network of arteries and veins that carry blood throughout the body.
Vascular surgeons do more than surgery, though. They advise patients on all the different ways to treat vascular problems, including medication, diet changes, exercise, and other lifestyle changes.
What Does a Vascular Surgeon Do?
Vascular surgeons use treatments that range from noninvasive procedures to complicated surgeries. They treat arteries and veins in all parts of the body except for the heart and brain, which are handled by other specialists.
Vascular surgeons are primarily concerned with matching the person to the best treatment option available. In many cases, surgery isn’t the best solution, but when it is necessary, vascular surgeons are the perfect provider to perform it.
Common Vascular Diseases
Spider Veins
Spider veins are tiny, red, blue, or purple-colored veins that develop in a web-like pattern. Spider veins develop due to increased pressure in veins over time. The pressure leads to a loss of function in veins’ valves, which causes blood to pool in them instead of flowing through as it should.
As these veins are close to the surface of the skin, they are easily visible. Spider veins are much smaller than their counterpart, varicose veins. Most people with spider veins rarely have symptoms, other than their appearance.
If you do have spider veins and are interested in the possible ways to treat them, please visit a vein clinic to discuss treatment options.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are bluish-purple, twisted, and bulging veins often found on the legs. Beyond being a cosmetic nuisance, varicose veins can cause burning or a throbbing sensation, swelling, muscle cramping, itchiness, and worsening pain in the lower legs after prolonged standing.
While varicose veins are mostly innocuous, there are cases where they can lead to serious health problems when left untreated. One such problem is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition characterized by the formation of blood clots in deep veins in the legs and other areas of the body. These clots can break off and travel to major body organs, such as the lungs.
Experienced Vascular Surgeon in Tampa Bay Area
It’s impossible to know what might be causing your leg pain and swelling without an in-person exam, as well as a thorough review of your symptoms, concerns, and medical history. At Edward G. Mackay and Associates, LLC, our medical practice is laser-focused on the many venous problems that can affect your legs – so, we know what to look for and exactly how to treat it.
You don’t have to suffer from the discomfort, unattractive appearance, and possible complications brought on by varicose veins. If you live in or around Tampa, turn to Dr. Edward Mackay, our board-certified vein specialist, for a highly effective solution.
To see Dr. Mackay, call our staff at (727) 349-5652, or request your appointment. We look forward to serving you!
