Venous insufficiency
What is venous insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency is defined as difficulties in the venous return of blood flow through the veins from the legs to the heart. The blood is sent from the legs to the heart by the contraction of the muscles of the upper legs. When venous insufficiency occurs, the walls of the veins are weakened and the valves are damaged causing the veins to fill with blood, especially when standing.
What are the symptoms?
Venous insufficiency manifests itself with symptoms such as itching and tingling, swelling, intense pain, a feeling of heaviness or cramps in the legs, pain that worsens when the person stands still and improves when the legs are raised or held high. In addition, skin changes such as irritated or dry areas if scratched, redness, superficial varicose veins, thickening and hardening of the skin of legs and ankles and ulcers or wounds that take time to heal in this same part of the body also occur.
Causes of venous insufficiency or why it occurs
Venous insufficiency is usually due to a malfunction of the veins. Although it can also happen as a result of an old blood clot in the legs that obstructs or prevents the normal flow of blood.
Risk factors include age, family history, history of deep vein thrombosis in the legs, being obese, being pregnant, sitting or standing for a long period of time, being tall or being a woman, since in the latter case it is related to the levels of the hormone progesterone.
Can it be prevented?
Prevention is done with the administration of anticoagulants after suffering a deep vein thrombosis, in addition to the application of compression stockings during the two years following the thrombosis or venous trauma to the lower limbs.
Lifestyle changes that can minimize risk factors such as weight loss, regular exercise or reduction of sodium in the diet help to reduce the pressure in the lower limbs.
What does the treatment consist of?
Treatment will consist of the use of elastic stockings and avoiding spending many hours in the same position, as well as other factors that predispose to its formation and blood stagnation. If these measures are insufficient, pharmacological and/or surgical treatment will be necessary. Stripping of varicose veins or certain non-invasive treatments for varicose veins may be recommended for symptoms such as leg pain or thickening and hardening of the skin of the legs and ankles. If you have wounds, ulcers or any skin condition, you should take the care indicated by the specialist.