Venous Insufficiency: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention And Treatment
Understanding Venous Insufficiency
What Is Venous Insufficiency
Venous insufficiency is a form of venous disease and is the result of valve dysfunction, which occurs when the leg veins are unable to effectively pump blood back to the heart. Venous insufficiency is a milder form of venous disease, but if venous insufficiency exists and is left untreated, it may progress into chronic venous insufficiency which represents a deeper, more serious, and longer-lasting version of venous insufficiency and carries with it the potential for greater medical and health complications. While both venous insufficiency and chronic venous insufficiency are conditions related to veins in the leg, venous insufficiency affects the superficial veins, which are closer to the skin, while chronic venous insufficiency affects veins which are deeper and lie below the muscle layer.
Causes Of Venous Insufficiency
As the human body ages, we naturally become more susceptible to the development of venous insufficiency. However, external factors such as lifestyle influences can play a significant role in causing the development of venous disease. Some of the more common causes of venous insufficiency include:
- Weakening of vein valves due to old age
- Long periods of physical inactivity, or a sedentary lifestyle
- Unhealthy eating habits
- Obesity and an unhealthy body mass index (BMI)
- Smoking and use of tobacco products
- Previous history of blood clots
- Fatigued muscles
- Pregnancy
Symptoms Of Venous Insufficiency
As venous disease begins to form, symptoms which indicate the presence of this condition will begin to appear. Initially, the symptoms of venous insufficiency may be intermittent with the symptoms appearing and disappearing. You should remain cognizant of these symptoms and if you suspect that you may have venous disease, you should immediately contact your healthcare provider for a professional medical diagnosis so that appropriate treatment can begin. If undiagnosed or left untreated, venous insufficiency may develop into a more severe form of venous disease, such as chronic venous insufficiency. Some of the symptoms of the development of venous insufficiency include:
- Appearance of varicose veins
- Swelling (edema) in your feet, ankles or legs (especially at the end of the day)
- Heaviness, aching or cramping in your legs
Prevention, Treatment And Reversal Of Venous Insufficiency
There is no full-proof way to prevent venous insufficiency, and once damage to the veins in your legs occurs it cannot be fully reversed. However, with proper treatment venous insufficiency can be treated and managed to prevent progression of the condition into something more serious.
Prevention
Making lifestyle changes or modifications can help remove or alleviate the conditions which lead to the formation of venous disease. Following the following simple guidelines are the best way to help prevent the development of venous insufficiency:
- Elevate Your Legs: Lifting your legs above the level of your heart for 30 minutes or longer at least three times per day can help reduce pressure in your leg veins and encourages the blood to flow back to your heart.
- Exercise Regularly: Physical activity such as walking and other forms of exercise can enhance the blood circulation in your legs and is a great way to alleviate the symptoms of venous insufficiency. Other forms of low-impact exercises that are also beneficial include swimming and cycling.
- Weight Management: Excess weight can put pressure on your veins and can exacerbate the development of venous insufficiency as it can lead to the damage of the valves in your leg veins. A combination of a healthy diet and exercise can help achieve and maintain your ideal body weight.
- Proper Hydration: Staying properly hydrated will help thin the blood, making it easier to flow through your veins.
- Remain Active: Sitting or standing in one place or position for too long can hinder the proper flow of blood. Try to remain active, take regular breaks to move around or change your body position to simulate blood circulation.
- Smoking and tobacco use:: Smoking can contribute to the development of venous insufficiency as it can constrict blood vessels, trigger inflammation in the veins, damaging the lining and vein walls, while weakening their valves. Therefore, you should consider the effects of smoking and the use of tobacco products on your vein health.
- Clothing Selection: Consider your choice of clothing as tight fitting clothes and high heeled shoes can restrict blood circulation.
Treatment
If symptoms of venous insufficiency should appear, or if the condition should develop, the primary method of treatment is through the use of compression therapy. Compression therapy helps reduce the swelling and discomfort that is present in your legs because the compression will help your veins “push” the blood back through the venous system to the heart and prevent it from pooling. Compression may be achieved by using compression stockings or compression wraps. Generally these compression therapy products may be purchased without a prescription but it is strongly advised that you consult with your medical professional to ensure that you will have the appropriate level of compression which is needed for your particular condition.
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Additional Resources For Understanding Venous Disease
Click here to read more about chronic venous insufficiency.
Click here to read more about venous insufficiency ulcers and venous ulcerations.
Click here to read more about treating venous insufficiency venous ulcerations.
Click here to read frequently asked questions about chronic venous insufficiency.