Chronic Venous Disease

What is Chronic Venous Disease?

Chronic venous disease (also called chronic venous insufficiency) occurs when the walls or valves of leg veins are not working effectively, causing blood to pool in the legs. As many as 40% of people in the U.S. have chronic venous disease. The condition is common in individuals over 50 and more prevalent in women than in men.

Learn more about the signs and symptoms of chronic venous disease, screening, preventative steps, and the treatments we offer to help get you back to normal life.

Causes Of Chronic Venous Disease

Valves in the veins help prevent blood from flowing backwards while traveling up toward the heart, but increased blood pressure can cause the veins to expand, leading to damage or loss of valve function. Valve damage or increased venous pressure can also be caused by aging, reduced mobility, blood clots (deep vein thrombosis), or leg injury.

Risks

Certain risk factors may make you more likely to develop chronic venous disease:

Age
Family history
Smoking
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Varicose veins
Obesity
Pregnancy
Sedentary lifestyle

Signs & Symptoms Of Chronic Venous Disease

Signs and symptoms of chronic venous disease that you or your doctor may notice include:

Swelling or tightness in the lower legs and ankles, especially after long periods of standing
Leg aching or tiredness
Leg cramps or muscle spasms
Skin changes on the legs or feet, such as darkened color, flaking, itching, or leathery-looking skin
Leg ulcers or skin wounds
New varicose veins (spider veins)
Cellulitis (skin infection)

If you are experiencing symptoms of chronic venous disease, seek treatment early by scheduling a screening in order to avoid more serious complications.

Diagnosis Of Chronic Venous Disease

To diagnose chronic venous disease, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and medical history, perform a physical exam, and may use a vascular or duplex ultrasound. Early diagnosis through routine screenings for those at risk is key for longterm success. If left untreated, additional complications may arise.

Complications Of Chronic Venous Disease

The symptoms, complications, and treatments for chronic venous disease become more complicated as the condition progresses, so it’s important to seek treatment right away if you notice any symptoms.

Left untreated, the venous pressure and swelling increase to the point that capillaries (tiny blood vessels) burst, causing skin discoloration, sensitivity, and inflammation. In serious cases, this can lead to ulcers, infection (cellulitis) and even internal tissue damage.

Treatment Of Chronic Venous Disease

Vascular and Interventional Specialists offers minimally invasive, outpatient procedures to treat chronic venous disease and help avoid more serious complications:

Sclerotherapy – A medicine or chemical solution (such as Verithena® or VenaSeal®) is injected into the affected veins, causing them to collapse and disappear.
Radiofrequency ablation – A catheter emitting high-frequency radio waves is inserted into the affected veins, closing the veins and improving blood flow.

Prevention Of Chronic Venous Disease

Preventative measures, including lifestyle changes, can help reduce your risk of developing chronic venous disease:

Get plenty of exercise, especially walking
Stop smoking or using tobacco
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Maintain a healthy body weight
Watch for skin changes in the lower legs and feet

In addition to these preventative steps, other measures can help treat early stages of chronic venous disease, improve blood flow in the legs, and help prevent leg ulcers:

Avoid sitting or standing for long periods
Elevate your legs while sitting or lying down
Wear compression stockings
Avoid wearing restrictive clothing like tight belts
Practice good skin hygiene
Treat skin infections with antibiotics as needed

Please Call Your Vascular Specialist to Schedule an Appointment

VIS is here to help. If you are at risk for Chronic Venous Disease or have experienced one or more of the signs & symptoms, please reach out to schedule a screening. We’ll walk this journey with you.

If you are experiencing chest pain or tenderness, back pain, persistent hoarseness when speaking, cough or shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, sharp pain in your upper back that radiates downward, or pain in the chest, jaw, neck, or arms, seek urgent medical attention by dialing 911.