Venous Insufficiency Symptoms

Venous insufficiency affects 25 million Americans. Many may dismiss it as a minor issue, related more to vanity than health, but if left to progress unchecked, it can develop into a debilitating problem. Being familiar with the early signs of venous insufficiency can help you deal with it before it becomes a crisis.

Identification

• Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins in your legs aren't able to return blood to your heart as well as they're supposed to. Because blood has to work against gravity to move from your legs to your heart, the veins in your legs have valves which open to let blood through, then close to keep the blood from pooling back to lower regions. In venous insufficiency, the valves aren't closing fully, either because of damage to the valve or because dilation of the veins keeps them from closing.

  Venous insufficiency is sometimes called chronic venous insufficiency or venous reflux.

Causes

• Venous insufficiency is seen more often in women than men, probably due to levels of progesterone. Age is a factor as well. Smoking or being overweight contributes to the likelihood of developing venous insufficiency, as does being tall. Genetic factors come into play, too. Having a job which requires sitting or standing for extended periods of time makes you more prone to venous insufficiency and also makes it harder to handle the effects.

  These factors can lead to damage to your valves, dilation of your veins or blockage due to a clot, which will cause venous insufficiency.

Early Signs

• Warning signs of mild venous insufficiency can be easy to dismiss. You may have dull pain in your legs, or a feeling of heaviness. Your legs may itch and tingle. You may begin to notice swelling in your lower legs, particularly around your ankles. These symptoms will probably be worse when you're standing and may be relieved if you lie down with your legs elevated.

Effects

• One of the most common symptoms as venous insufficiency advances is varicose veins. The veins expand and become visible on the surface of the skin. This is a progressive problem, in that the more the veins dilate, the less well the valves will work and the more blood will pool back, causing more dilation.

  If venous insufficiency progresses unchecked, you may start to see discoloration of the skin on your lower legs, like a bruise, with more swelling and pain. Eventually, you could develop ulcers on your lower legs, ankles and feet.

Prevention/Solution

• If your venous insufficiency is mild, you may prevent it from getting worse by avoiding long periods of sitting or standing. Make sure to get up and move around periodically, even at an office job. When you're able, spend time with your feet elevated. Wearing compression stockings may help with leg swelling.

  In more severe cases, you may want to consider surgery to strip your varicose veins or close off damaged veins. If you have developed ulcers from venous insufficiency, they should be treated immediately to avoid infection.