Readers ask: Is Venous Insufficiency Serious?

Chronic venous insufficiency is not a serious health threat. But it can be painful and disabling.

Is venous insufficiency life threatening?

Venous insufficiency is a common condition. It is not life-threatening, but it is usually chronic. Symptoms of venous insufficiency include varicose veins, swelling, and heavy, aching legs.

Can venous insufficiency be fatal?

DVT and Other Dangerous Complications of Venous Insufficiency. Left untreated, these damaged veins can cause serious complications, such as ulcers, bleeding, and a potentially fatal condition called deep vein thrombosis.

Is venous insufficiency a serious problem?

One of the most common vein diseases, chronic venous insufficiency is a serious condition that causes the valves in the leg veins to stop working as they should. Normally, these valves prevent blood from flowing backward. However, when they malfunction, blood can pool in the veins.

Can venous insufficiency be cured?

Like any disease, CVI is most treatable in its earliest stages. Vascular medicine or vascular surgery specialists typically recommend a combination of treatments for people with CVI.

What happens if venous insufficiency goes untreated?

Untreated venous insufficiency results not only in a gradual loss of cosmesis but also in variety of complications, the major ones being persistent pain and discomfort, hemorrhage, superficial thrombophlebitis, and progressive skin changes that may ultimately lead to ulceration.

Is walking good for venous insufficiency?

Exercise is a surprisingly effective treatment for venous insufficiency. Exercising gets your heart pumping, and the extra pumping force of your heart pushes the blood up and out of your lower legs. Walking is particularly beneficial.

Can venous insufficiency lead to amputation?

The risk of amputation primarily comes from two common vascular diseases, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and venous insufficiency. Both conditions are progressive diseases. As they get worse and the disease progresses, you experience different symptoms.

Can venous insufficiency affect the heart?

So, to sum up, venous insufficiency doesn’t affect the heart or cause heart problems to progress. On the other hand, existing heart problems, especially congestive heart failure, can make vein problems in the legs much worse depending on the degree of the heart issue.

Can venous insufficiency happen suddenly?

This usually happens after many years of venous disease but can occur suddenly. Venous ulcers — Open, nonhealing sores caused by chronic venous disease are called venous ulcers or venous stasis ulcers.

How do you fix venous insufficiency?

The most common treatment for venous insufficiency is prescription compression stockings. These special elastic stockings apply pressure at the ankle and lower leg. They help improve blood flow and can reduce leg swelling. Compression stockings come in a range of prescription strengths and different lengths.

What are the complications of venous insufficiency?

Complications of untreated venous insufficiency include the following:

• Recruitment of veins – High venous pressures may cause the recruitment of adjacent normal veins into refluxing circuits.
• DVT.
• Pulmonary embolism (PE)
• Venous ulceration.
• Secondary lymphedema.

Is Lipodermatosclerosis life threatening?

In addition to poor cosmesis, CVI can lead to chronic life-threatening infections of the lower extremities. Pain, especially after ambulation, is a hallmark of the disease. CVI causes characteristic changes, called lipodermatosclerosis, to the skin of the lower extremities, which lead to eventual skin ulceration.

Is there surgery for venous insufficiency?

Though the majority of people with chronic venous insufficiency are successfully treated at NYU Langone with minimally invasive procedures, surgery is sometimes required if the condition of the veins doesn’t improve. Our doctors perform vascular surgeries to repair faulty valves and remove blockages.

How can I increase venous circulation in my legs?

Here are a few helpful tips to improve circulation.

1. Get moving. One of the best things you can do to improve circulation is to exercise regularly.
2. Stop smoking. Smoking harms the walls of your arteries and causes plaque.
3. Healthy Diet.
4. Elevate legs.
5. Compression stockings.
6. Manage Blood Pressure.
7. See a Vascular Surgeon.

Will losing weight help venous?

Weight loss does not resolve venous insufficiency, or leaky veins, but treating those veins can relieve leg pain, fatigue, and swelling, which in turn can help patients lose weight.