Venous Insufficiency

Venous insufficiency is a condition which makes the blood not properly flow back to your heart, and some of the main symptoms you will notice if you have Venous insufficiency is swelling of the legs, cramping of the legs, and tightness in the calves. Many times if you have problems with Venous insufficiency you may also have varicose veins. One of the first things you will notice with Venous insufficiency is it is called Edema, which is a build up of fluids in the lower legs, which can cause swollen legs and discomfort. After a period of time, chronic Edema will cause discoloration of the skin and this is called Venous stasis dermatitis, and the skin will appear blotchy and red and pink. This condition is much more common in women than men and it can be brought on by an accident, vein damage, and it can even be hereditary.

Venous ulcers and venous insufficiency affect over a half of a million people yearly in the United States and can be a serious condition if not properly treated. Venous stasis ulcers can lead to many more serious health concerns such as blood clots, trouble walking properly and this is another problem with the Venous insufficiency, the blood does not flow back up to the heart properly and can cause heart circulation problems. There are many ways to treat Venous leg ulcers and one of the first courses of action many doctors will take is to have a venogram done to see what might be causing the problem. The doctor will also prescribe medications to help and they will order you to get plenty of rest and try to keep your legs elevated. It is best to rest your legs on a pillow while laying down, and many times doctors will give the patient stockings that will compress the legs, which will help with the prevention of blood clots. One thing to make sure of if you have any symptoms of venous stasis ulcers is to get your venous insufficiency treated. Simply go to your family doctor for a consult and plan of action for treatment.