Chronic Venous Insufficiency
admin Vascular Diseases

Could You Spot Chronic Venous Insufficiency?

Vein disorders have become all the more popular in the 21st century. The most popular vein diseases namely varicose veins, blood clots, and chronic venous insufficiency were less heard of earlier.

This sudden increase in the number of people suffering from one or the other form of a vein disease can be majorly attributed to a poor lifestyle. Today, most people have a desk job that is mainly characterized by a sedentary lifestyle and this undoubtedly is the leading cause of most aged patients complaining of vein disorders.

It is only with the advancements in medical technology and the availability of new techniques, that vascular experts are now able to accurately treat a majority of these popular vein disorders through painless and non-invasive laser treatment.

Let us learn about the medical condition of chronic venous insufficiency, its causes, and most common symptoms.

What is Chronic Venous insufficiency?

For a few people, the valves of their legs and feet veins get ruptured and do not function as desired. This hinders the blood flow back to the heart and leads to swollen and enlarged veins that often ache and cause itching on the skin.

The malfunctioning veins lead to blood pooling as the blood remains stagnant in the veins. The patients also often have a constant heavy feeling in the affected area. This medical condition called varicose veins, when left untreated for a long tenure becomes chronic and has other major side effects on the overall health of the patient.

Chronic venous insufficiency forces the blood pressure in the legs to rise up to extreme levels and also exponentially increases the chances of stasis ulcers.

What are the Root Causes of Chronic Venous Insufficiency?

There are multiple factors that lead to chronic venous insufficiency in the due course of time. Let us become aware of the most common ones below:

  1. A family history of blood clots, varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency
  2. A known medical condition of blood clots or Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
  3. Being overweight or obese and having a sedentary lifestyle with a total lack of physical activity
  4. Hormonal changes in the body
  5. Suffering from high blood pressure
  6. A habit of excessive smoking on a daily basis
  7. Any form of damage during surgery or an accidental injury to the leg

Except for the genetic reasons of chronic venous insufficiency, most other causes of this medical condition can be repaired by consuming a low-fat diet, performing mild exercises that focus on the leg and the ankle, and avoiding to stand or sit for long tenures at a stretch.

What are the Main Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency?

The biggest sign and the most prominent symptom of chronic venous insufficiency is the appearance of the enlarged and bulging out bluish purple varicose veins.

There are, however, a few more easy to recognize symptoms that have been detailed below:

  1. A feeling of heaviness and extreme tightness in the lower area of the one or both legs
  2. Severe swelling in the legs and feet, especially around the ankle
  3. Cramping in the legs and acute pain in the feet
  4. Increased pain during walking
  5. Itching around the ankle and the affected area of legs and feet
  6. Skin tan or skin discoloration leading the reddish-brown skin
  7. Also, leg ulceration in some critical cases when treatment for varicose veins is delayed

It is supremely important to pay close attention to your body and identify the above signs of chronic venous insufficiency. If you notice either of the above symptoms, prioritize seeing a vascular expert.

Can Avis Hospitals treat your Chronic Venous Insufficiency?

Yes! Avis Hospitals is a trusted medical institute for the most genuine treatment of your vascular disorders. Based out of Hyderabad, Avis Hospitals has been catering to the requirements of vascular experts for patients from many different parts of India.

The vascular department at Avis Hospitals is led by Dr. Rajah V Koppala. He is not only highly qualified but also greatly experienced. In his over 24 years of medical career, he has successfully treated patients with the most severe cases of vascular diseases.

Dr. Rajah V Koppala is a vascular expert with expertise in the endovenous laser treatment of varicose veins. Whether you have early symptoms of varicose veins, have a history of blood clots in the veins, have DVT and are planning to travel abroad, have been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency or have an undiagnosed vein disorder, Dr. Rajah V Koppala will help you with accurate diagnosis and bona fide treatment.

He always ensures that the patients are well informed of their medical condition and the prescribed treatment. He also comforts the patients by answering their queries and making them feel confident about their recovery. Do not compromise with your health by delaying the treatment of your varicose veins, book a consultation with Dr. Rajah V Koppala today!

What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency?
admin Vascular Diseases

What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency?

Blood is pumped from the heart to all body parts and limbs. The human body veins are responsible to carry the used and deoxygenated blood back from the body parts to the heart. All veins have one-way valves that direct the blood to flow to the heart and restrict its backward movement.

The blood in the leg veins must flow upward, against the pull of the gravity to reach the heart. Venous insufficiency occurs when the leg vein valves do not function as desired and restrict the blood’s movement to the heart. As a result of this, the blood flows back to the leg veins. These malfunctioning valves force the blood to remain collected in the leg veins thus causing blood pooling.

If this medical ailment is left untreated, the condition becomes chronic and the symptoms get worse leading to a disorder that is referred to as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) in medical terms. CVI is also accompanied by extremely high blood pressure in the affected leg veins which may also result in stasis ulcers and other severe health complications.

Causes of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Women are more probable to suffer from CVI than men. It usually occurs in people over 50 years of age and there are more than a handful of reasons that can lead to chronic venous insufficiency. Let us have a look at the risk factors below:

  • Presence of blood clots in the deep veins of legs that cause Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) which is responsible for damaging the venous walls and the vein valves
  • Pelvic tumors and vascular malformations
  • Any leg injury
  • Pregnancy or being pregnant again with not enough time gap in between
  • A family history of CVI or varicose veins
  • A poor lifestyle that includes an absence of regular exercise and lack of a balanced diet
  • Excessive smoking or chewing tobacco
  • Being obese or inactive
  • Standing for prolonged hours at a stretch that raises the blood pressure in the leg veins and weakens the valves

Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

There are subtle symptoms in the earlier stages of chronic venous insufficiency but if you pay attention to the appearance and sensation in your legs, it will not be very difficult for you to understand and evaluate the urgent need to visit a vascular specialist.

Given below are some of the major warning signs of CVI :

  • Constant itching on the legs
  • Lower leg skin color changing to brown and the skin looking dull
  • Leg cramps and restlessness
  • Severe leg pain when walking or resting
  • Swelling around the ankle and/or lower leg area
  • Wounds that do not heal and lead to leg ulcers
  • Tightening in calves
  • New development of varicose veins
  • Skin commences to look and feel like leather

Treatment for Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Chronic venous insufficiency is 100% treatable. If you notice any early symptoms, you must immediately consult a vascular expert as delayed treatment may have serious ill-consequences.

Following is a list of the feasible treatments that the vascular expert might undertake :

  • Antibiotic oral medicines to cure dermatitis or skin infections with steroid-based ointments for direct application on the skin. A medical wrap may also be suggested for the affected leg area
  • Medication to prevent the possibility of blood clots
  • Sclerotherapy – the medical procedure where a thin needle is used to inject medicines directly into the affected veins. These medicines disrupt the lining of the vein and completely shut it off. The dead vein is later absorbed by the body itself.
  • Endovenous ablation – this is an invasive process that uses laser light or laser fiber to dissolve the problematic veins
  • Surgery – this is comparatively a much more complicated process where the vein is either repaired or cut and tied off so that blood no longer flows through it.
  • Compression stockings – These stockings offer support to the legs and improve blood circulation. Available in multiple sizes, tightness, lengths, and style, your doctor will be able to guide you with the right pair of compression stockings as per your need
  • Lifestyle changes – This undoubtedly is the most important form of self-care and the most effective treatment for CVI. Regular exercise, weight loss, giving up on cigarettes, and not standing or sitting for too long will aid in the recovery of CVI

Though the treatment offered to a patient depends on the age, the severity of  the symptoms and a few other factors, all doctors will first attempt to curb the swelling in the legs and prevent the formation of leg ulcers.

Dr. Rajah V Koppala, the vascular specialist at Avis Vascular Centre has successfully treated thousands of patients suffering from varicose veins, leg ulcers, and CVI. Schedule a consultation to avail his expert medical assistance today!