You know the signs, a few gray hairs here and there, little wrinkles around your mouth that you insist are smile lines or the twinge you feel when get up from the couch. It’s happening to all of us. We’re getting older. While these are familiar symptoms of aging we try to ignore, some of us may experience other changes that shouldn’t be ignored. If you notice a feeling of heaviness in your legs, fatigue or aching in your leg muscles, swelling, skin discoloration, tenderness or soreness, wounds that don’t heal, or leg cramps at night, you may have Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). A common sign is varicose veins. But just because you don’t see varicose veins doesn’t mean you don’t have CVI. It is a progressive problem that can lead to serious complications if left untreated.
“After you live with these symptoms for a while, you just accept that this is the way your legs feel. But that shouldn’t be the case,” said CiC Vein Center Venous Intervention Director Dr. Jeffrey Braxton. “These symptoms can have an impact on the quality of your life. I want you know, you shouldn’t have to make subtle adjustments like not going out as often or spending less time doing the things you enjoy.” Symptoms like varicose veins or heavy legs are easily treatable and a warning that your circulatory system is not working properly and needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
So, how does it all work? Your heart pumps blood throughout your body. The arteries carry blood away from the heart and the veins carry it back. CVI develops when excessive pressure builds up in your leg veins. This happens when your leg veins are unable to bring the blood back to the heart. Braxton explains, “The veins in your legs must work against the force of gravity when sitting or standing to get the blood up to your heart. Your calf muscles act as a pump and one-way valves inside the veins work to keep the blood flowing.”
CVI can develop when there is a breakdown of this system and results in blood backing up in the legs. This is called reflux. As the pressure builds, veins near the surface can bulge, which are called varicose veins, and excessive fluid can accumulate in the legs. This can cause symptoms such as pain, aching and leg heaviness. Left untreated over time the skin can darken, thicken and even break down into leg ulcers.
“Vein disease is surprisingly common, affecting about a third of us, but the good news is, it’s manageable,” said Braxton, who is board certified in venous and lymphatic medicine. “Vein treatments have really advanced. They are less invasive and more effective than in the past,” continued Braxton. “Now, it’s all about improving quality of life.”
Diagnosis involves a painless ultrasound exam that can show if the valve in the vein is allowing blood to leak, or flow back into the veins or blocking it all together instead of letting it flow up to the heart. If the valves are weak or damaged, one of several minimally invasive treatments can be done in the office.
Innovative techniques can improve the condition, and as a result, the appearance improves, too. Treatments involve closing or sealing the diseased vein. There are a variety of options available and your doctor will guide you as to which one is best for your condition. You are awake and alert during the procedure, with minimal discomfort. There is a short recovery period in the office, and you are able to walk out afterward.
Each type of treatment results with the vein shutting down and disappearing. “The body eventually absorbs the closed vein,” explained Braxton. “Your body has plenty of veins and there is no cause for concern when unhealthy veins are eliminated.” After the vein disappears, your body reroutes the blood to healthier veins, improving flow in the leg. Most people notice a significant improvement within days.
“You don’t want to dismiss the symptoms of CVI as signs of aging. It’s important to pay attention to the subtle signs of this condition,” explained Braxton. “The sooner you’re seen, the better your chances are for reducing or avoiding serious complications.” FBN
By Reisha Zang