Veins and Arteries – What’s the Difference? (1)

As part of the blood circulatory system, veins and arteries are connected to each other. Arteries transport oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body and veins return deoxygenated blood back to the heart again. In addition to performing different functions, veins and arteries are also have differences in their structure.

Arteries are muscular and are made to withstand the high pressure of the heart’s pump. If arteries harden by developing deposits of cholesterol and calcium in their walls, they can become narrowed or the deposits can tear off and form a clot. If the blood carrying the oxygen supply is suddenly restricted to the heart, it can result in a heart attack which would require immediate CPR treatment, if the restriction is to the brain, it can result in a stroke. Wherever flow is blocked, the tissue can be affected.

Whereas veins are soft and have little valves that help to prevent blood from going backward or pooling. In healthy bodies, when the surrounding muscles contract, the veins are compressed and the blood is pushed back towards the heart. The valve then closes so the blood doesn’t slide backward.

Therefore, inactivity can cause swelling in the legs. When calf muscles are not compressing the veins, the blood tends to pool in the legs. The higher pressure causes the water portion of the blood to leak out of the veins and to bloat the skin and surrounding tissues.

Those with varicose veins or spider veins typically have faulty valve problems, which allows pressure to build and disfigure the vein walls, blood to pool, and bloating to occur in the surrounding tissues.

For those who are experiencing varicose veins or spider veins and who would like a non-surgical option, there are two highly-effective treatments to consider, which can gently relieve the vein disfigurement, blood pooling, and bloated tissues. A specialist vein doctor can offer endovenous laser ablation or sclerotherapy for varicose veins.

These procedures take only minutes per leg and require no hospitalization or surgery center. Because no scalpels or sutures are utilized in either treatment, there are no long-lasting scars or keloids. There’s minimal discomfort, and most treatments are characterized as being virtually painless.

With these modern therapies, most people can resume their daily activities immediately after treatment. Additionally, most major health insurance carriers provide coverage for the treatment of vein disease and venous insufficiency when medically necessary.

If you would like more information regarding your veins and arteries and how endovenous laser ablation or sclerotherapy for varicose veins can help you, please contact the Goldman Vein Institute today at one of our two convenient locations:

Jupiter 561-625-9853 or Wellington 561-790-4550 or visit us at www.goldmanveininstitute.com.

At the Goldman Vein Institute, our mission is to provide our patients with comprehensive care for varicose veins, spider veins, and other conditions caused by venous insufficiency. Our highly-qualified and experienced, board-certified vein specialists, Dr. Goldman and Dr. Varghese-Goldman, combine their extensive knowledge and experience, with the latest innovations in vein treatments.

With our offices in Jupiter and Wellington Florida, the Goldman Vein Institute serves patients from Stuart, Hobe Sound, Tequesta, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Hialeah, Sunny Isles, Bay Harbor, Bal Harbour, Miami Beach, Aventura, Surfside, Hallandale, and Hollywood, and we welcome patients across South Florida to visit our state-of-the-art vein centers, where we provide the latest in vein treatment technology.

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