As you grow old, it’s possible you’ll begin to notice veins in your legs grow to be more visible or puffy. These vein changes often don’t have a big effect in your health, but they will begin to affect how blood moves through your body.
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a vein condition that may cause symptoms that worsen over time and affect your quality of life. Early signs of venous disorders can include varicose veins, swelling and discomfort. More advanced symptoms may include discolored skin and venous ulcers, that are open sores that will be slow-healing or nonhealing, and at a better risk of infection.
Read on for more concerning the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, what you may do to maintain it from getting worse and when to hunt treatment.
What’s chronic venous insufficiency?
The meaning of chronic venous insufficiency is true within the name:
- Chronic, as it’s possible you’ll know, means it doesn’t go away.
- Venous signifies that it’s related to your veins.
- Insufficiency means there isn’t enough of something. On this case, the valves in your veins are weakened and don’t have enough power to push your blood up toward the center.
If you will have CVI, blood pools in a single area, increasing pressure in your veins and skin, and making injuries more likely. Since your blood follows the trail of gravity, CVI mostly occurs in your legs, but it surely’s possible to get it in your arms as well. Other names for this condition include chronic venous stasis and peripheral venous disease.
CVI is most frequently diagnosed and treated by vein and vascular specialists in partnership with a primary care doctor. Wound healing specialists treat the venous ulcers that may develop when CVI reaches more advanced stages.
Is venous insufficiency just like arterial insufficiency?
Each conditions are attributable to insufficient blood flow. But venous insufficiency often just affects blood flow in your extremities, while atrial insufficiency affects your entire body. Individuals with venous insufficiency often have arterial insufficiency of their legs – a condition commonly known as peripheral artery disease.
Spot early signs of vein changes
Changes in the looks of leg veins are quite common, especially as you grow old. While these changes don’t mean you will have or will get a venous disorder like CVI, it’s good to learn about possible symptoms, in case you begin to note additional changes.
There are seven stages of venous disorders, based on what the affected area looks like.
Early stages of venous disorders
Spider veins and varicose veins are a number of the earliest visible signs of a possible venous disorder. For many individuals, these vein changes don’t go on to cause major health problems or a more serious vein condition. But for others, they could be a warning sign of conditions like CVI.
Stage | Visible symptoms |
---|---|
Stage 0 | No visible symptoms |
Stage 1 | Visible blood vessels, reminiscent of spider veins |
Stage 2 | Varicose veins which can be not less than 3 millimeters (about 1/8 inch) wide |
Should you notice any early stages of vein changes, it’s a very good idea to let your primary care doctor know. They’ll give you the chance to recommend self-care and home treatment methods, in addition to refer you to a vein and vascular specialist if needed.
Stages of chronic venous insufficiency
A CVI diagnosis generally signifies that your symptoms are at stage 3 or above. Within the early stages of venous insufficiency, symptoms are generally mild. You would possibly feel a dull ache in your legs or begin to notice a number of spider veins.
But as venous insufficiency becomes more advanced, you’ll likely notice more changes in your skin and a rise in discomfort or pain. In essentially the most advanced stages of CVI, venous ulcers can appear.
Stage | Visible symptoms |
---|---|
Stage 3 | Leg swelling |
Stage 4 | Changes to skin color or texture |
Stage 5 | Healed leg wound (venous ulcer) |
Stage 6 | Open leg wound (venous ulcer) |
Chronic venous insufficiency symptoms to look at for
So how do you realize in case your varicose veins are something more? If vein problems are affecting blood flow, there can be other changes in how your legs look and feel.
How your legs feel when you will have chronic venous insufficiency
Painful legs are a standard symptom of CVI – it’s possible you’ll feel dull aching, heaviness, pain, burning, tingling, itchiness and cramping. Symptoms are often worse at night or after standing for some time. Your legs will likely feel higher while you put your feet up.
How your legs look will be signs of venous insufficiency
Changes in skin texture and color are sometimes among the many earliest signs of CVI. Listed below are things to look at for:
- Swelling (edema): You will have swollen ankles or legs. This is normally most noticeable at the tip of the day or after standing for some time.
- Changes in skin color: To start with, it’s possible you’ll notice darker or reddish-brown skin on the inside your ankles or in your shins and feet. Scarring from a healed wound can have less color than the encompassing skin.
- Leathery skin: Thick or hard skin in your legs or ankles will also be an indication of CVI.
- Dry or irritated skin: You will have skin that’s itchy, flaky or cracking. It might also be red, crusty or weeping.
Venous ulcers (open sores) are serious signs of chronic venous insufficiency
About 20% of individuals with CVI have venous ulcers, which most frequently develop near the ankles. These open sores don’t heal easily because good blood flow is essential for wound healing – and blood flow is restricted when you will have CVI. Also, because venous ulcers are an open wound that will be hard to heal, they’re at a better risk of infection.
So in case you think a venous ulcer is starting to form or you will have been managing an open sore in your legs that doesn’t appear to be convalescing, it’s essential to get care quickly.
Making an appointment with a wound healing clinic like Amery Hospital & Clinic’s Wound Healing Center is the perfect next step. Their care team makes a speciality of treating slow-healing and nonhealing chronic wounds attributable to a variety of conditions. Should you’re undecided where your closest wound clinic is, make an appointment together with your primary care doctor and they may help connect you with more advanced care if needed.
If you will have an open wound and are noticing signs of a possible infection – reminiscent of fever, increasing redness across the wound, or the skin near the wound is hot to the touch – it’s a very good idea to go to your nearest emergency room as a precaution.
Risk aspects that may cause chronic venous insufficiency
Various factors can increase the possibility that you simply’ll get CVI.
- Varicose veins: About 20% of adults have varicose veins. Of those with varicose veins, about 1 in 50 will develop CVI.
- Being middle age or older: People over the age of 65 usually tend to have worse CVI symptoms.
- Being female or assigned female at birth: Female hormones and physical aspects could make it more likely you’ll develop CVI. A previous pregnancy also increases your risk, with more pregnancies being linked to more risk.
- Low levels of physical activity: A sedentary lifestyle can increase your risk of CVI and make your symptoms worse.
- Standing or sitting for long periods: Sitting and standing can allow blood to pool in your lower legs, increasing your probability of CVI. Even sleeping in a chair or recliner can increase your risk.
- Being chubby: There are different the reason why extra weight can increase your risk of CVI, including increased vein diameter and venous pressure.
- Smoking and tobacco use: Tobacco products may cause swelling and inflammation throughout your body, making it harder to your body to maneuver blood.
- Family history: You’re more more likely to develop CVI if someone in your loved ones had it.
- Certain medical conditions: If you will have May-Thurner syndrome or one other condition that affects blood flow, you’re more more likely to develop CVI.
- Blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) in your leg: Should you’ve had a blood clot in your leg, there’s a high probability that you simply’ll develop CVI inside a few years.
Ways to assist prevent Chronic venous insufficiency
People often wonder in the event that they can prevent CVI. It’s not all the time possible, but you may lower your risks in case you make changes to your lifestyle.
- Elevate your legs: Raising your legs above the extent of your heart may help blood move towards your heart, as an alternative of pooling in your legs. When lying down, put a pillow or two under your legs and stay that way for about half-hour. Repeat throughout the day as needed.
- Exercise: Moving your body helps to maintain your blood moving. Plus, it will probably help with weight control. Should you’re undecided the way to begin exercising, taking short walks is a very good place to start out. Attempt to work as much as not less than half-hour of activity, most days.
- Change your position: Since you ought to reduce the pressure in your leg veins, try not to face or sit in a single place for too long. When sitting, avoid crossing your legs. As an alternative, put each feet flat on the ground.
- Listen to your weight: Should you’re chubby, shedding weight can reduce your probability of getting CVI. Reducing weight is a challenge for most individuals, so seek advice from your doctor in case you’d like some help.
- Eat a balanced weight loss program: Attempt to eat a heart-healthy weight loss program full of fruits, veggies, lean proteins and healthy fats. It’s especially essential to look at the quantity of salt in your weight loss program – an excessive amount of salt may cause your body to retain water. This may occasionally cause swelling in your legs, putting pressure in your veins and making them weaker.
- Drink more water: Despite the fact that one in all the symptoms of CVI is swelling attributable to water retention, drinking more water does help with venous insufficiency. That’s because water helps thin your blood, making it flow more easily.
- Wear comfortable clothing and shoes: Tight clothing, girdles, belts and high-heel shoes could make it harder for blood to flow through your body. It’s best to wear loose clothing and shoes with a low heel.
- Take excellent care of your skin: Try to scrub and moisturize your legs every single day. Should you see changes in your skin or signs of an ulcer, make an appointment together with your primary care doctor.
- Avoid smoking and other tobacco products: Quitting smoking is among the best things you may do to enhance your overall health. Check with your doctor in case you’d like help quitting.
- Take your advisable medications: For instance, if you will have deep vein thrombosis, your doctor may recommend anticoagulants.
Can chronic venous insufficiency be reversed? No, but symptoms will be managed
While there’s no strategy to reverse CVI, the excellent news is that lifestyle changes and treatments can aid you manage the condition. For instance, treatment can’t fix damaged veins, but removing or blocking off those veins may help ease or eliminate symptoms, so you are feeling higher.
Options for treating chronic venous insufficiency
Those diagnosed with CVI often experience worsening symptoms over time, especially in the event that they’re not following a treatment plan designed for them by their care team. Your care team may include your primary care doctor and vein and vascular specialist, in addition to a wound healing expert if needed.
Compression therapy is among the best treatments for chronic venous insufficiency
Compression therapy uses controlled pressure to enhance the flow of blood in your legs and make it easier for blood to maneuver out of your legs up toward your heart.
- Compression stockings: The best type of compression therapy is wearing tight-fitting socks that lightly squeeze your legs. You possibly can buy compression stockings at retail stores or online. There are also prescription stockings that provide more compression than those you purchase at a store.
- Compression pumps for venous insufficiency: In case your CVI is in a later stage, your doctor may recommend an intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) pump if other treatments aren’t working. This pump has inflatable sleeves you wear in your legs that help blood flow through your veins. But IPC therapy is probably not appropriate for all people. For instance, you’ll have to be extra careful with IPC therapy in case you even have peripheral artery disease (PAD). So, all the time remember to follow your doctor’s recommendations.
Medications can address some causes and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency
Your doctor may prescribe medications to assist improve how blood flows through your body. If you will have infected ulcers attributable to CVI, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics.
Procedures and surgeries for chronic venous insufficiencies are often minimally invasive
Your doctor will work with you to find out which procedure is smart, based on the stage of your CVI and other aspects:
- Sclerotherapy: Your doctor injects a foam or liquid solution into your vein. This causes the vein to collapse or disappear after a while. You might need multiple treatments.
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): This treatment for larger veins uses high-frequency radio waves to seal the vein. For the reason that vein is left in place, there’s minimal bleeding and bruising.
- Avulsion: Your doctor may recommend avulsion for varicose veins near the surface of your skin. Throughout the procedure, your doctor will make small incisions within the skin over your veins. Then, they’ll use a special hook to remove the damaged vein.
- Vein ligation and stripping: Vein ligation is a procedure where your doctor cuts and ties off the veins which can be causing you problems. Vein stripping is a procedure that could be used for larger veins when other treatments don’t work – it involves removing the vein through two small incisions that your doctor makes within the skin.
- Angioplasty and stents: Occasionally, a blocked or collapsed vein causes CVI. A vascular surgeon can use a tiny balloon on the tip of a catheter (narrow tube) to reopen blood vessels. A stent (a small mesh tube) stays in place permanently to carry open the vein.
- Bypass surgery: If nothing else works, your doctor may use a man-made vein or healthy vein from somewhere in your body to redirect blood flow across the damage vein.
Venous ulcers need specialized wound care
As mentioned earlier, venous ulcers could be a complication of more advanced CVI. They will be difficult to heal on their very own, so working with a wound healing specialist – like those at our Wound Healing Center – will be a very important a part of the treatment plan. Wound healing centers offer a variety of advanced treatment options, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, skin grafts and cellular implants.
When to see a health care provider about chronic venous insufficiency symptoms
Should you’ve noticed a latest spider vein or varicose vein, it doesn’t mean you will have or could have a chronic vein condition. But when you will have varicose veins and are noticing additional symptoms reminiscent of swelling, cramping, aching or a heavy feeling in your legs, or irritated or cracked skin, it’s a very good idea to see a primary care doctor. If needed, they’ll refer you to a vein and vascular specialist for more advanced care.
Make an appointment at a wound healing center if you will have an open sore in your leg, especially if it doesn’t appear to be healing.