How Varicose Veins Can Lead to Chronic Venous Insufficiency
For many people, varicose veins are more than cosmetic. They’re a sign of vein damage and poor blood flow in the legs and can lead to a condition called CVI.
To understand why some people get varicose veins — and then develop chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) — it’s helpful to know how your veins work.
Your arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body, and your veins carry blood back to your heart. Tiny valves inside your veins keep your blood flowing in the right direction.
Pregnancy, weight gain and aging can damage the valves inside your leg veins. If the valves no longer work well, it’s harder for blood to travel up your legs to your heart. Blood may “pool” (build up) in your veins, giving them a bulging, twisted appearance.
“Not everyone with varicose veins gets CVI,” said Hamza Rana, MD, a vascular medicine and vein disease specialist with the Adventist HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute. “But if you have varicose veins, it means you already have some blood flow problems in your legs. This increases your risk of developing CVI, which can cause serious complications.”
So, how do varicose veins progress to CVI?
Over time, pooling blood increases pressure in your veins. As the pressure builds, smaller blood vessels may burst. Inflammation and tissue damage begin in your legs.
Chronic venous insufficiency symptoms can interfere with your quality of life. They include:
- A full or heavy feeling in your legs
- Burning or tingling sensations
- Itchy or flaky skin
- Leg cramps, especially at night
- Leg pain and achiness
- Skin discoloration
- Swollen calves, ankles or feet
- Venous ulcers (open sores) that are slow to heal, increasing your risk of infection
CVI also increases your risk of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the legs). These blood clots can travel toward your heart and get stuck in one of your lungs. If this happens, you could develop lung damage or even heart failure.
But there is good news. With early treatment, you can keep varicose veins and CVI from reaching an advanced stage.
“If you’ve developed varicose veins, you should get them checked by a vein specialist,” said Dr. Rana. “We can recommend lifestyle changes that improve blood flow and reduce discomfort. We can also keep an eye on your veins and, if necessary, provide treatments that help prevent CVI.”
If you already have CVI, you can keep it from getting worse. Treatment may include minimally invasive procedures that are quick and require very little downtime.
“The sooner you seek treatment, the sooner we can seal or remove your damaged veins,” said Dr. Rana. “And here at Adventist HealthCare, we offer every available treatment option."
