Your risk factor for vein diseases goes steadily up through your lifetime. That is because the adverse influence of gravity on the integrity and function of the thin, delicate valves in your veins is cumulative. All of the problems caused by vein disease become more common as patients grow older.

Should you decide to seek advice or treatment for abnormal veins or the symptoms or signs that occur in the legs as a result of vein malfunction, you are best served by seeking out a physician who is Board Certified in Venous and Lymphatic Medicine.

The Problem

Most people don’t realize that if they live long enough gravity will eventually break down the one-way valves that are present in their veins, no matter how tough these valves were when they were born. When these valves break down the result is an increase in pressure in the veins themselves.

This increase in pressure leads to the signs and symptoms of vein dysfunction in the patient’s legs.

Clarifying Confusing Signs and Symptoms

The fact that venous diseases have a number of different signs and symptoms often misleads health care providers. Those who don’t have specialized knowledge of vein diseases may fail to notice signs and symptoms or fail to recognize that these symptoms and signs are all tied together by one common thread—<a title="venous hypertension [high pressure]" href="http://www.fivestarvein.com/2013/02/12/medical-advice/venous-hypertension-the-other-high-blood-pressure-part-1-of-2/">venous hypertension [high pressure].

Those who actually train for the special requirements of vein care are more successful at making sense of confusing signs, symptoms and complications.

Distinguishing the Best Care Providers

The easiest way to find a care provider who can actually diagnose your vein issues before they become worse is to search for one who is board certified in vein issues and certified by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. Certified specialists must spend years training in the field of vein health and treatment.

In addition, their continued accreditation status is dependent on whether or not they’re willing to keep up with current medical technology, academic research and patient treatment standards.

When seeking a vein care provider, being Board Certified is not enough. Many doctors are taking care of patient’s veins who are not certified by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine.

Does that mean they are not good vein doctors? Not necessarily. However, let me pose a question. Would you allow a physician who was not Board Certified in Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery operate on your heart? Even if he was Board Certified in Family Practice or Radiology or Internal Medicine or General Surgery? Of course not!

Using the same logic, it is best to seek out someone who is board certified in the particular area that you are having a problem with. That gives you the best chance [although not 100%] of getting your problems solved. For vein care, that means being Board Certified in Venous and Lymphatic Medicine.