Your vascular health matters for efficient blood flow from the heart to the body and vice versa. Have you thought about how you can improve your vein health? Like other issues, healthy diets are essential as well as regular exercise. You need also to be at a healthy weight for the best vein performance. Kissimmee chronic venous insufficiency specialists at vascular vein centers offer comprehensive diagnosis and treatments of various vein issues, to promote healthy living. What is chronic venous insufficiency, its causes, and how does it affect your Vein health? Keep reading for more details.
What is chronic venous insufficiency?
It is a condition that occurs when your leg veins malfunction preventing your blood from flowing to your heart. Usually, your veins have valves that stop the backward flow of blood. But when the valves are not functioning the blood may flow backward, accumulating in your legs.
When not treated, chronic venous insufficiency leads to the following symptoms on your leg.
- Swelling
- Pain
- Varicose veins
- Cramps
- Leg ulcers
- Skin discoloration
It may not prompt any health risks at first but may become painful and even affect your mobility over time. You must seek medical care when you first notice these symptoms to avoid complications.
What are the causes of chronic venous insufficiency?
It occurs when you have damaged valves allowing blood to flow backward rather than to the heart. Valve damage may occur due to aging and sitting or standing for long periods.
A blood clot in the leg’s deep veins may also lead to chronic venous insufficiency, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis. Having pelvic tumors or vascular malformations may also lead to chronic venous insufficiency.
Other causes include the following:
- Smoking
- Lack of exercise
- Swelling and inflammation of a vein close to the skin
You are at risk of developing chronic venous insufficiency if you:
- Are pregnant
- Have excessive weight
- Have leg damage resulting from injury, previous blood clots, or surgery
- Have a family history of chronic venous insufficiency
What are the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency?
- Leg ulcers taking time to heal
- Restless legs syndrome
- Brown-colored skin near the ankles
- Swelling in your legs or ankles
- Tightness, itchiness, pain in your legs
It may be hard to tell whether you have chronic venous insufficiency; hence you might want a proper diagnosis.
During your consultation, your provider checks your medical history and carries out a physical exam. They may also take an imaging test, including an ultrasound, to view your blood flow or leg vein structure.
What are the available treatment options for chronic venous insufficiency?
There are different treatments for chronic venous insufficiency at Vascular Vein Centers, and your provider considers the following before prescribing one.
- The degree of your condition
- Age, medical history, and health status
- Your signs and symptoms
- Medication preferences
Your treatment plan may include the following.
- Regular exercise, wearing compression stockings, keeping your legs elevated, avoiding standing or sitting for a long period
- Medicines
- Radiofrequency ablation or endovenous laser ablation
- Sclerotherapy
- Surgery
If you have swollen legs, experiencing pain, and slow healing ulcers in your legs, you might have chronic venous insufficiency. You may need to have a thorough check-up to ascertain your condition. Contact Vascular Vein Centers today for diagnosis and treatments of chronic venous insufficiency.
