Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a vascular disorder that many people worldwide suffer from, affecting primarily the leg veins. This condition impedes the efficient flow of blood from your legs to your heart, and can result in discomfort, pain, and even serious complications if not addressed promptly. In this article, we delve deeper into the details of this condition and explore all aspects of it to help you understand it better.
What is Chronic Venous Insufficiency?
CVI occurs when the valves within your leg veins become damaged or weakened, making it difficult for blood to flow against gravity and back to your heart. When this happens, the blood that’s supposed to flow upwards ends up accumulating in the legs. This can be caused by factors such as:
- A history of blood clots
- Obesity
- Prolonged periods of sitting or standing
- Pregnancy
- Genetics
- Damage to the leg veins due to trauma or surgery
These can impair the vein valves’ ability to close properly, allowing blood to flow backwards and increase pressure in the veins. Your risk of developing CVI also increases due to certain factors, such as old age, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, and hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause.
Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency
It’s important to recognise the symptoms associated with CVI as it can help you obtain early diagnosis and the appropriate treatment to prevent it from developing into more serious conditions. The symptoms include:
- Leg pain or aches
- Swelling in the legs
- Fatigue or heaviness in the legs
- Itching or tingling sensations
- Leg cramps
- Appearance of varicose veins
Complications
Although CVI is a generally minor condition, if left untreated, it can escalate into more severe complications like varicose veins, spider veins, leg ulcers, skin changes or discolouration, superficial thrombophlebitis (an inflammation of the veins), and the development of deep vein thrombosis (a life-threatening condition). It is crucial to seek timely medical intervention if you’d like to prevent such complications from arising.
Learn More: Varicose Veins VS Spider Veins: Similarities and Differences
Treatment Options
Fortunately, there are many ways to manage and treat CVI. Those suffering from minor cases can turn to conservative approaches that involve modifications to your lifestyle. For instance, regular exercise, weight management, elevating the legs, wearing compression stockings, and avoiding prolonged periods of standing or sitting. Some doctors may also prescribe medications to alleviate symptoms or reduce inflammation.
Otherwise, there are also minimally invasive endovascular surgeries such as ClariVein and VenaSeal for more serious cases. These treatments close off damaged veins and redirect blood flow to healthier veins, returning you optimal vein health.
To determine which treatment options are most suitable for you, seek professional medical advice from a qualified vascular doctor.
Prevention
If you have previously received treatment for CVI and would like to prevent its recurrence, or if you have never suffered from it but wish to lower your risk of developing it, there are some steps you can take:
- Exercise regularly and consume a balanced diet to remain in a healthy weight range.
- Refrain from extended periods of sitting or standing to reduce pressure buildup and blood from accumulating in the legs. Move around more often to encourage circulation.
- Avoid restrictive clothing like tight belts or tight pants that can hinder blood circulation.
- Elevate your legs every night to encourage blood flow back to the heart and reduce pressure in the legs.
Your quality of life can be negatively affected by the development of chronic venous insufficiency. If you think you suffer from this condition and would like to seek treatment, the team at Cheng SC Veins and Endovascular Clinic can help you regain optimal vein health. Schedule your medical appointment with us here.
