Veins are the blood vessels which are responsible for returning oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart for re-oxygenation. These vessels have walls and valves that control the blood and keep it flowing in one direction. However, if the valves are working poorly or start to fail, the blood can pool and form a bulge in the vein. This is called venous insufficiency, and it can cause spider veins, varicose veins, and skin ulcers, especially in the legs. Venous insufficiency has many causes ... [Read More]
Venous Insufficiency
What Is Venous Insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency is a condition whereby the walls and valves in the veins do not work properly, so the blood does not flow normally through the circulatory system to the heart. When this happens, blood tends to pool in various areas in the veins – most obviously in the legs – and this can cause swelling and varicose veins. Whereas arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the tissues and organs throughout the body, veins carry the oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart for ... [Read More]
Venous Insufficiency: What It Is, How It’s Treated
Veins have an important job to do. They are responsible for moving blood, of course, but they move it in a specific direction. Veins carry oxygen-poor blood from the body’s extremities and other tissue back to the heart. From there, the blood heads to the lungs where it becomes oxygenated once again, before rejoining the circulatory system and being carried throughout the body via the arteries. Venous insufficiency occurs when blood isn’t being properly pushed back to the heart and, due to ... [Read More]
