Varicose Veins and Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Varicose veins are enlarged veins that appear as blue bulging, twisted lumps that can be seen and felt underneath the skin. As many as 25 million Americans have it. If you are among them, you shouldn’t leave your varicose veins untreated. They can also cause chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Seek an effective varicose veins treatment Los Angeles residents rely on, such as Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) or Sclerotherapy.

Similar to varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency occurs when blood pools in the legs or sometimes the arms and other parts of the body, putting increased pressure on the venous walls. CVI affects both the superficial and deep leg veins. It can occur with or without the presence of varicose veins.

Read on to find out more about varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency.

Varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency: symptoms

Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic concern. The affected veins are usually unsightly and painful purple or blue twisted clusters.

Varicose veins can cause redness, itching, burning or tingling, as well as leg tightness, swelling, and pain. Before they get varicose veins treatment, Los Angeles patients often feel heaviness or fatigue in the legs after prolonged sitting or standing.

Common symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency also include tightness in the calves, tiredness and swelling in the legs and/or ankles, pain during walking, itchy and/or weak legs, as well as varicose veins.

Common causes

Both varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency occur due to malfunctioning valves in the veins. These valves are not able to keep the blood from flowing backward so that your veins can carry it back to the heart.

Chronic venous insufficiency can be caused by various vein disorders, most often by Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or varicose veins. In the case of DVT, when the blood flow through the vein is obstructed, blood starts to build up below the clot, which may lead to CVI. In varicose veins, blood leaks back through the impaired valves.

Though varicose veins and CVI are more prevalent in women, they can develop in men, as well. Besides gender, the risk factors include age, overweight or obesity, pregnancy, inactivity, smoking, leg injury or trauma.

However, whether or not you will develop varicose veins and/or CVI usually depends on your genetic predisposition. Valve weakness is usually hereditary and can lead to valvular incompetence and failure.

Complications of varicose veins and chronic veins insufficiency

Patients who don’t seek varicose veins treatment in Los Angeles or other area they live can develop medical complications, such as chronic venous insufficiency, Deep Vein Thrombosis, bleeding, leg ulcers, skin pigmentation, varicose eczema, and phlebitis.

Untreated chronic venous insufficiency can also lead to DVT, venous ulceration, skin pigmentation, varicose eczema, as well as secondary lymphedema. The most serious complication that can occur from CVI is a pulmonary embolism (PE). PE can damage the lungs and is potentially life-threatening.

Get the best chronic venous insufficiency & varicose veins treatment Los Angeles

If you want to get the most effective treatment for your vein condition, you should know that there are reliable varicose vein removal treatments like EVLT, Sclerotherapy and Microphlebectomy.

Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical, minimally invasive and the quickest procedure for both chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins treatment. Los Angeles leading vein doctor Dr. Ivan Brooks, MD will recommend the optimal solution for your particular case. Call us at 1 (310) 853 – 5850 or contact us online to book an appointment and get the best vein removal in Los Angeles!

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