Venous insufficiency is a chronic health condition affecting the veins in the lower extremities. Caused by poorly working valves in the blood vessels, which return oxygen-poor blood to the heart and lungs, CVI causes several symptoms and may lead to serious complications.
Let’s learn more about them and where you can go for the treatment of venous insufficiency in Irmo.
What Causes CVI?
Many factors contribute to this potentially harmful health condition, including:
- Advancing age
- Gender (more women than men)
- Sedentariness
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
- Genetic predisposition
The first indicator of vein health problems is the appearance of varicose and spider veins in the lower extremities. As the tiny check valves contained in these blood vessels weaken, blood pools in the feet, ankles, and lower legs, leading to:
- Bulging surface veins
- Leg fatigue
- Swelling
- Pain and achiness
- Itchy, rough, discolored skin
Treating Venous Insufficiency
Left undiagnosed and untreated, varicose veins can worsen. At-home therapies, such as losing weight, getting light aerobic exercise, compression stockings, leg elevation, and stopping tobacco usage, work well to support veins and improve blood flow. However, these interventions work best for mild to moderate cases.
For more advanced problems, your vein doctor may recommend sclerotherapy or endovenous laser vein therapy (EVLT) to close damaged blood vessels and reroute circulation to healthier veins. These treatments also improve the appearance of the lower extremities. More severe cases may require surgical intervention (vein ligation or stripping) to remove the affected blood vessels.
Complications of Venous Insufficiency
More severe cases of CVI can lead to serious health problems. These problems can be treated, but they require more invasive interventions and could impact the quality of life for a prolonged period. They are the following.
Stasis Ulcers
These ulcers are open wounds that begin in the veins and extend to the skin. They discolor and damage the surrounding skin and easily become infected. The infection is called cellulitis, requiring IV antibiotics to avoid sepsis or body-wide infection.
Pulmonary Embolus
Blood clots (deep vein thrombi) can develop in incompetent veins that are larger and deeper than smaller, superficial varicose veins. These thrombi break off from their locations in the legs and move to the lungs, causing life-threatening pulmonary symptoms.
Post-thrombotic Syndrome
This chronic problem may develop with or after a deep vein thrombus or blood clot in the legs. After the clot is treated (often with blood thinners) and resolves, the vein remains damaged due to scar tissue within and around the blood vessel. Up to 50 percent of individuals with blood clots in their legs experience this complication, report experts at the Cleveland Clinic.
Venous Insufficiency Care in Irmo, SC
At SC Internal Medicine Associates and Rehabilitation, our professional team includes 10 highly skilled MDs who can help you with the signs, symptoms, and complications of venous insufficiency. We also provide duplex ultrasound testing right on the premise.
To know more about our services, call us today at (803) 479-1111 or request your visit online. Contact us today.
