Venous Insufficiency
What is venous insufficiency?
Your arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Your veins carry blood back to the heart, and valves in the veins stop the blood from flowing backward.
When your veins do not work as efficiently as they should to carry blood from your limbs back to the heart, it’s known as venous insufficiency. In this condition, blood doesn’t flow back properly to the heart, causing blood to pool in the veins in your legs.
Several factors can cause venous insufficiency. Even if you have a family history of venous insufficiency, there are simple steps you can take to lower your chances of developing the condition.
Causes of venous insufficiency
Venous insufficiency often times is caused by varicose veins, or in many instances, weakness in the leg muscles that squeeze blood forward to the heart.
In healthy veins, there is a continuous flow of blood from the limbs back toward the heart. Valves within the veins of the legs help prevent the backflow of blood.
Venous insufficiency is more common in women than in men. It’s also more likely to occur in adults over the age of 50, as reported by medical publications.
Other risk factors include:
- obesity
- pregnancy
- smoking
- cancer
- muscle weakness, leg injury, or trauma
- swelling of a superficial vein (phlebitis)
- family history of venous insufficiency
- sitting or standing for long periods of time without moving
Symptoms of venous insufficiency
Symptoms of venous insufficiency include:
- weak legs
- leg cramps
- erectile dysfunction (ED)
- delayed wound healing
- prolonged injury recovery
- aching, throbbing, or a feeling of heaviness in your legs
- swelling of the legs or ankles (edema)
- pain that gets worse when you stand and gets better when you raise your legs
- itchy legs
- varicose veins
- a feeling of tightness in your calves
- thickening of the skin on your legs or ankles
- skin that is changing color, especially around the ankles
- leg ulcers
“Varicose Veins are a symptom of venous insufficiency.”
How is venous insufficiency diagnosed?
Your doctor will want to do a physical examination and take a complete medical history to figure out if you have venous insufficiency.
They may also order some imaging tests to pinpoint the source of the problem. These tests may include an ultrasound.
Duplex ultrasound
A type of test called a duplex ultrasound may be used to test the speed and direction of blood flow in the veins.
A technician will place some gel on the skin and then press a small hand-held device (transducer) against this area. The transducer uses sound waves that bounce back to a computer and produce the images of blood flow.
How venous insufficiency is treated
Treatment will depend on many factors, including the reason for the condition and your health status and history. Other factors your doctor will consider are:
- your specific symptoms
- your age
- the severity of your condition
- how well you can tolerate medications or procedures
The most common treatment for venous insufficiency is prescription compression treatments. This special treatment applys pressure at the ankle and lower leg. It helps improve blood flow and can reduce leg swelling.
Treatment for venous insufficiency can include several different strategies:
Improving blood flow
Here are some tips to improve your blood flow:
- Keep your legs elevated whenever possible.
- Use compression treatment to apply pressure to your lower legs.
- Keep your legs uncrossed when seated.
- Exercise regularly.
Ultra-minimally invasive treatment
Radiofrequency vein treatment is an innovative ultra-minimally invasive technique that targets and treats damaged veins. This is done by applying radiofrequency energy through a tiny catheter; no stitches needed!
Surgery
Sometimes more serious cases of venous insufficiency require surgery. Your doctor may suggest one of the following surgery types:
- Surgical repair of veins or valves
- Removing (stripping) the damaged vein
- Vein bypass: A healthy vein is transplanted from somewhere else in your body. Generally used only in the upper thigh and only as a last option for very severe cases.
Ambulatory phlebectomy
This outpatient procedure (you won’t have to spend the night in the hospital) involves your doctor numbing certain spots on your leg, and then making small pricks and removing smaller varicose veins.
Sclerotherapy
This treatment method is generally reserved for advanced venous insufficiency.
In sclerotherapy, a chemical is injected into the damaged vein so that it’s no longer able to carry blood. Blood will return to the heart through other veins, and the damaged vein will eventually be absorbed by the body.
Sclerotherapy is used to destroy small to medium veins. A chemical is injected into the damaged vein so that it’s no longer able to carry blood.
How to prevent venous insufficiency
If you have a family history of venous insufficiency, you can take steps to lessen your chances of developing the condition:
- Don’t sit or stand in one position for long stretches of time. Get up and move around frequently.
- Don’t smoke, and if you do smoke, quit.
- Get regular exercise.
- Maintain a healthy body weight.
HAVE YOU BEEN EXPERIENCING ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS?
- weak legs
- leg cramps
- erectile dysfunction (ED)
- delayed wound healing
- prolonged injury recovery
- aching, throbbing, or a feeling of heaviness in your legs
- swelling of the legs or ankles (edema)
- pain that gets worse when you stand and gets better when you raise your legs
- itchy legs
- varicose veins
- a feeling of tightness in your calves
- thickening of the skin on your legs or ankles
- skin that is changing color, especially around the ankles
- leg ulcers