Vein disease is poorly understood, and a great deal of what patients are told about it is out of date. These articles are written by Dr Johan Blignaut from his own consulting-room experience, and are reviewed and updated as clinical practice changes.
Understanding Vein Disease
Dr Johan Blignaut 12 min read
Patients usually ask how to get rid of the vein they can see. The more useful question is why it is there at all. I explain how genetic susceptibility, changes in the vein wall, failing valves and venous reflux interact, why risk factors such as standing, pregnancy, weight and height are not the same as causes, and why the visible vein is so often fed by reflux somewhere else entirely.
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Vein Conditions & Symptoms
Dr Johan Blignaut 7 min read
Swollen legs are one of the most common reasons patients arrive at my rooms, and they are very often blamed on the veins. Sometimes that is right — often it is not. I explain the pattern that points to vein disease, the alternatives that are regularly missed (lymphoedema, cardiac causes, medication, lipoedema and DVT), and how a duplex ultrasound settles the question either way.
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