Why do vein have valves

As backpressure builds the valve eventually gives way and opens in the wrong direction, sustaining damage in the process. Additionally, if a blood clot forms on a valve it can cause scarring that prevents the valve from opening and closing properly. Less commonly, a past accident or injury to the legs, surgery involving the legs, or a disease process that affects the circulation can also damage vein valves.

As the number of damaged valves increases, the circulation in your legs will be significantly impaired. This condition, generally referred to as venous insufficiency, provides many symptoms that will undoubtedly get your attention. A few simple self-care techniques can help you manage mild to moderate damaged veins and venous insufficiency symptoms. One useful option is compression stockings, which help prevent blood from pooling and can reduce swelling and achiness.

These are available over-the-counter or by prescription if you need higher levels of compression. Or, if you prefer a different activity you can choose swimming, dancing, or another form of exercise that gets your legs moving. In-between exercise sessions get an assist from gravity by elevating your legs.

Aim for two minute sessions per day with your legs elevated above the level of your heart. If your symptoms are more advanced or you are simply ready to ditch the compression stockings and opt for a more permanent solution there are several minimally invasive procedures that are performed in-office with only local anesthesia needed.

Sclerotherapy is a treatment for spider veins where an injection of a liquid compound is introduced directly into the veins that cause the veins to become absorbed by the body and the blood is then rerouted to healthy veins. To learn more about vein valves and these treatments, we invite you to schedule a free consultation at Desert Vein and Vascular Institute.

All of our physicians are board-certified vascular surgeons who specialize in helping people like you. Defects that lead to swelling distention of the vein varicose veins Varicose Veins Varicose veins are abnormally enlarged superficial veins in the legs.

Varicose veins may ache or cause itching or a sensation of tiredness. Doctors can detect varicose veins by examining the The veins in the legs are particularly at risk of blood clotting or swelling of the vein because when a person is standing, blood must flow upward from the leg veins, against gravity, to reach the heart.

Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Manual was first published in as a service to the community. Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. Problems With the Veins. Venous Disorders. Test your knowledge.

An aortic dissection occurs when the inner layer lining of the aortic wall tears and separates from the middle layer of the wall. Aortic dissection is frequently fatal. Among which of the following groups is aortic dissection most common? More Content. Superficial veins, located in the fatty layer under the skin. Vein valves work hard, against gravity, to bring the blood that flowed down via arteries back up to your heart. When your vein valves are open and healthy, they are able to do their job properly, as the blood is easily able to flow up.

When vein valves are not fully open your muscles are at rest. As long as your valves are healthy, this closing of the vein valves is not a problem. In fact, it is what keeps blood from pooling in your legs. If your vein valves are damaged, they will not be able to do their job of flowing blood back up to your heart. And this is called venous insufficiency. The symptoms of venous insufficiency include:. These symptoms may start out small, but will likely get worse the longer your veins go without treatment.

Venous insufficiency is not as life-threatening as other vein issues like blood clots. However, venous insufficiency can be incredibly painful and possibly even disabling. Thus, it is always best to schedule a consultation with a vein specialist at the first sign you may be suffering from something that looks like venous insufficiency see symptoms above. There are a number of different factors that could contribute to your development of this vein issue, but these are the primary causes of venous insufficiency according to John Hopkins Medicine :.

At Vein Clinics of America, treating venous insufficiency is something we do every day. You will want to meet with a vein specialist to get your specific diagnosis and treatment plan, but for more patients, vein valve problems are treated with Endovenous Laser Treatment also called EVLT , Radiofrequency Ablation Treatment RFA , or Sclerotherapy Treatment.

These veins are usually below the surface and not able to be seen without ultrasound. It is performed by your doctor inserting a small catheter into the diseased vein and using laser lights to generate heat, which then causes the vein to collapse.