What is Venous Insufficiency

Have you ever heard the term venous insufficiency? If not, you might be able to guess, to some degree, what it means. Venous: (adjective) of, relation to, or of the nature of a vein. Insufficiency: (noun) inability to function normally. But what is venous insufficiency specifically and what role do varicose veins play in venous insufficiency?

Your circulatory system is designed to keep your blood flowing from your heart, throughout your body and then back to your heart where the cycle starts over. But sometimes, your blood might be stopped from making its way back to your heart.

When blood reaches your legs, it needs extra help to push it back up against gravity, through your veins, to your heart. This help comes from valves in your leg veins. When the valves are healthy, they function to maintain unidirectional flow back to your heart. When valves are not functioning properly, they allow blood flow to reverse in your legs, leading to venous reflux and pooling in your legs. This reversed blood flow in your veins can then lead to symptomatic varicose veins.

Symptoms of venous insufficiency include:

• tightness in your legs or calves
• discoloration in your legs
• edema (swelling of your legs and ankles)
• aching, throbbing legs
• leg cramps
• leg ulcers
• a feeling of weakness and or heaviness in your legs
• itchy legs

Treatment for this vascular condition may include:

• compression stockings
• exercise
• weight loss

If you have varicose veins, your treatment may include an outpatient procedure such as sclerotherapy, microphlebectomy, endovenous ablation, or venaseal closure. These procedures are minimally invasive and are highly effective and are all offered by Vein Specialist Dr. Eston Wenger in Cleveland.

It’s important to find the treatment that is the right fit for your specific vein issues. If you are suffering from varicose veins, or any of the symptoms listed above, set up an appointment with Dr. Eston Wenger. Call Dr. Eston Wenger of Premier Surgical Associates of Cleveland, TN, at (423) 472-5423 or click here to request an appointment online.