When your veins are working properly, they transport blood from your extremities to your heart quickly and efficiently. Unfortunately, venous insufficiency can start to break this system down. Damage to your veins’ structure or obstructions caused by clots can prevent blood from moving efficiently, resulting in a number of unpleasant symptoms. At the Chicago Vein Care Center we recommend a number of strategies for dealing with this common problem, many of which you can take advantage of without medical intervention.
What should Illinois residents know about the causes of venous insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency occurs when something impairs a vein’s ability to transport blood effectively. Your veins have a number of tools that help them move blood from your arms and legs back to your heart. One of these tools is a series of tiny one-way valves. These valves allow blood to move towards the heart but keep it from flowing backwards. If these valves are damaged blood can leak backwards, causing swelling and slowing proper blood movement, leading to varicose veins, spider veins and venous insufficiency.
Efficient blood flow can also be stymied by blood clots, also known as deep vein thrombosis. Blood clots can keep blood from flowing freely, obstructing proper circulation and leading to venous insufficiency. You are more likely to experience blood clots if you are obese, smoke, have a family history of the problem, or tend to stand or sit in the same position for extended periods of time.
What vein treatments are available to address venous insufficiency?
There are a number of strategies to help restore proper blood flow and reduce the effects of venous insufficiency. Many leading vein doctors, including Dr. Ramon Castro, recommend the use of compression stockings to help stimulate blood flow and reduce swelling. These stockings provide the leg with graduated pressure, squeezing the ankles the most and gradually lessening further up the leg. This encourages blood to flow upwards, reducing backflow and improving circulation. Prescription strength compression stockings are available at many medical supply stores and can be worn by both men and women.
Addressing the lifestyle factors that led to your venous insufficiency can be an effective way to solve the problem. If you are overweight or obese, taking steps to lose weight can have a positive impact on your veins as well as on your overall health. A regular exercise routine can help you manage your weight as well as build stronger musculature, an important component of proper circulation. Finally, if you work a job that requires you to sit or stand in the same position all day, take regular breaks to walk around or simply move your legs.
If your varicose vein doctor or spider vein doctor determines that your venous insufficiency needs further treatment, a range of minimally invasive vein disease treatments are available, all on an outpatient basis at our center, with no need to visit a hospital.
Whatever the cause, venous insufficiency can have a detrimental effect on your health and wellbeing. Working with a varicose vein center can give you access to the resources and expertise you need to help address the problem. If you have any questions about the causes, symptoms, or treatments for venous insufficiency or any other form of vein disease, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Chicago, IL office. Together we can work towards a healthier vascular system.