{"id":20004,"date":"2021-06-23T11:51:59","date_gmt":"2021-06-23T15:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novusspinecenter.com\/?p=20004"},"modified":"2021-07-16T14:04:39","modified_gmt":"2021-07-16T18:04:39","slug":"venous-insufficiency-causes-symptoms-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novusspinecenter.com\/blog\/venous-disease\/venous-insufficiency\/venous-insufficiency-causes-symptoms-treatment","title":{"rendered":"Venous Insufficiency: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"VenousVenous insufficiency <\/strong>is a condition that occurs when veins in the legs do not work effectively in returning blood to the heart. With this condition, the blood “pools” or collects in the veins. An early symptom of venous insufficiency is swelling (edema)<\/a> in the ankles and feet. The condition is quite common and often becomes a chronic condition.<\/p>\n

In general, venous insufficiency does not pose a serious health threat; however, it can become disabling and cause pain as the condition worsens. In addition, if allowed to continue untreated, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)<\/strong> can lead to skin changes, skin ulcers, and infections.<\/p>\n

According to the Society for Vascular Surgery<\/a>, CVI affects up to 40% of the U.S. population. Hippocrates recognized the condition in ancient times and wrote of using bandaging as a treatment.<\/p>\n

What Is Venous Insufficiency?<\/h2>\n

Arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Veins carry blood back to the heart. In the legs, veins have one-way valves to keep blood from flowing backward. When the vein walls and valves fail to work correctly, pumping blood back to the heart is not as effective as with healthy veins. The condition is called venous insufficiency.<\/p>\n

When a person has venous insufficiency, the blood will pool (stasis) in the veins of the legs instead of flowing back to the heart effectively. If chronic venous insufficiency is not treated, it can result in pain and swelling. In addition, leg ulcers may develop.<\/p>\n

Venous insufficiency is more common in women than in men. It is also more likely to occur in women between the ages of 40 and 49. However, men between the ages of 70 and 79 are also likely to develop the condition.<\/p>\n

What Causes Venous Insufficiency?<\/h2>\n

Several factors can lead to venous insufficiency, though it’s most commonly caused by blood clots (deep vein thrombosis<\/a>) and varicose veins<\/a>. In addition, when there is an obstruction to blood flow, such as is the case with a blood clot, blood builds up below the clot and leads to venous insufficiency.<\/p>\n

In varicose veins, the valves are impaired or can be missing causing blood to leak through a damaged valve. In some cases, weak leg muscles that normally help squeeze blood forward can also contribute to venous insufficiency. Lack of exercise can be a contributing factor to venous insufficiency. Additionally, sitting or standing for long periods can raise the pressure in the veins and may weaken the valves. For unknown reasons, the valves in veins can become ineffective after an extended period of standing.<\/p>\n

Individuals who have suffered leg trauma due to an injury, surgery, or previous blood clots are more likely to develop the condition. Other causes of chronic venous insufficiency include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\n