Have you ever wondered why there are visible veins on your legs or arms? If so, you might have also wondered why some of them are green while others appear blue. Knowing the colors of your veins can offer some significant information about your venous health. It can help you pinpoint the potential issues.
The experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen specialize in the treatment of varicose veins, spider veins, chronic venous insufficiency, and more. In this blog, we are going to explore the major differences that set blue and green veins apart. So, read on to understand what these veins indicate about your overall health.
Different Types Of Blood Vessels In The Body
Prior to diving into differentiating blue veins from green veins, it is important to know the different types of blood vessels present in your body. The circulatory system is made up of three types of blood vessels: veins, capillaries, and arteries. Let us discuss each of them briefly.
- Veins transport oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart
- Capillaries are smaller vessels that connect arteries to veins and help the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products between the cells of the body and the blood.
- Arteries carry blood that is rich in oxygen away from the heart and into the body’s tissues.
Blue Vs Green Veins | All You Need To Know
As opposed to the popular belief, your veins are not actually green or blue in color. They appear so when seen through the skin because of the way the light penetrates the tissue. Upon entering the skin, the light gets absorbed by the pigments, including hemoglobin and melanin.
Hemoglobin is a protein that is readily available in the red blood cells that bind the oxygen and provide the blood its supposed red color. However, when the blood is depleted of oxygen, it results in green or blue veins. This is why veins that are close to the surface of the skin and thus carry less oxygen look oddly colored.
Why Are My Veins So Visible?
The appearance of your veins relies on a number of different factors, such as your skin tone, body mass index, age, and more. People who have lower body fat percentages usually have more visible veins, as do people with lighter skin tones. Moreover, as people age, their skin gets more prone to becoming thinner, and as a result, it loses its elasticity. This can make their veins look more noticeable. Furthermore, there are certain medical conditions, i.e., venous insufficiency, that can result in your veins looking more prominent.
Signs of Venous Insufficiency
Venous insufficiency can arise when your veins are not able to return the blood back to the heart. This can lead to the progression of varicose veins, spider veins, and other symptoms, including skin discoloration, leg swelling, leg ulcers, and more. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, it is vital for you to seek immediate medical attention from a reputed vein specialist. Venous experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen use ultra-modern treatment plans that are personalized for each patient. Speaking of treatment options, let us look into them!
Vein Treatment Options
At Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen, these vein experts offer a number of non invasive treatment options for vein issues. These board-certified doctors are highly experienced in performing these procedures and helping their patients relieve thier veinous issues. The treatment they offer includes:
- Sclerotherapy: It is a minimally invasive treatment option that involves injecting a solution into the damaged veins. The solution causes the vein walls to stick together, eventually closing the veins off and permitting them to be absorbed by the body. This procedure is most popularly used to treat small varicose veins and spider veins.
- Ambulatory Phlebotomy: In this procedure, the varicose veins are removed via tiny incisions on the skin. Typically, it is used for larger veins and is performed on an outpatient basis.
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): It is a procedure that utilizes radiofrequency energy to heat and shut off a damaged vein. A small catheter is inserted straight into the vein via a small incision, and radiofrequency energy is used to heat the vein. This results in it collapsing and eventually being absorbed by the body.
- Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA): For this procedure, a laser is used to heat and then shut off a larger problematic vein. During the procedure, a laser fiber is inserted into the vein via a tiny incision, and the heat results in the damaged vein collapsing. It gets reabsorbed by the body with time.
- VenaSeal: This is a relatively new technique that utilizes medical glue to shut down varicose veins. It is injected into the problematic vein, sealing it close and resulting it to be absorbed by the body.
Summing It All Up!
The color of your veins can give a lot of insights into your venous health. While most of the time, you might notice blue or green veins because of the way the light penetrates your skin. However, if this discoloration is accompanied by unusual symptoms, then take it as your sign to seek immediate medical attention from an authentic vein specialist. By doing so, you will rule out any underlying health issues.
At Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen, the vein specialists ensure that a massive range of minimally invasive treatment options for veinous issues is provided. By using state-of-the-art technology and tailored treatment plans, they make sure that their patients receive the best possible care they can. If you want to learn more about these vein experts, then feel free to contact them right away. Remember, being vigilant about these signs can go a long way, as treating any issue at its early stage will help you recover better and in less time.