Chronic Venous Disease
Understanding Chronic Venous Disease
What is Chronic Venous Disease? Chronic venous disease (CVD) refers to a range of conditions affecting the veins in your legs. It occurs when the valves in your leg veins don't work properly, causing blood to pool in the veins instead of flowing back to the heart.
What Can CVD Look Like?
CVD can appear as:
• Spider veins - small, red or blue veins visible on the skin surface
• Reticular veins - slightly larger, blue veins under the skin
• Varicose veins - swollen, twisted veins that bulge above the skin surface
• Skin changes like darkening, thickening, or ulcers in severe cases
Common Symptoms
People with CVD often experience:
• Heaviness or aching in the legs, especially later in the day
• Swelling in the legs and ankles
• Itching or burning sensation
• Leg cramps, especially at night
• Restless legs
• Pain that worsens with standing and improves with elevation
Potential Complications
If left untreated, CVD can lead to:
• Skin changes like eczema, darkening, or thickening
• Ulcers (open sores) on the legs
• Blood clots
• Bleeding from varicose veins
• Chronic symptoms including pain and swelling
Causes and Risk Factors
Several factors can increase your risk of developing CVD:
• Family history - CVD tends to run in families
• Age - risk increases as you get older
• Gender - women are more likely to develop CVD
• Pregnancy - hormonal changes and increased blood volume put stress on veins
• Obesity - excess weight puts pressure on leg veins
• Prolonged standing or sitting
• Hormonal therapies like birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy
Remember, every case is unique. Your doctor will recommend the best treatment plan for your specific situation.
Treatment Options
There are several treatment options available for CVD, depending on the severity:
1. Lifestyle changes:
• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Elevate legs when resting
• Avoid prolonged standing or sitting
2. Compression stockings: These help improve blood flow and reduce swelling. They're often the first line of treatment.
3. Medications: Certain drugs called phlebotonics can help relieve symptoms. Success rates vary, but some studies show improvement in leg swelling and other symptoms in 60-80% of patients.
4. Minimally invasive procedures:
• Sclerotherapy (Click for more information)
• Endovenous laser or radiofrequency ablation (Click for more information)