Venous insufficiency - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Venous insufficiency is a disorder of the venous function, which is usually caused by difficult blood circulation, in which the leg veins are usually affected. The technical term is venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency is a "widespread disease". It occurs in different degrees of severity, develops slowly and is often recognized late by those affected.

contents

• What are veins?
• When the venous valves fail
• Risk: Chronic venous insufficiency
• How does venous insufficiency develop??
• The symptoms
• Weak veins - risk factors
• diagnosis
• treatment
• How can you prevent venous insufficiency??
• Course and prognosis
• Compression stockings for thrombosis

What are veins?

Veins are, in short, all the blood vessels that bring the blood back to the heart. In contrast, arteries are those that carry the fresh blood from the heart to the body parts. The blood releases the oxygen and nutrients into the tissue, then flows through tiny blood vessels, the capillaries, into the venules. These blood vessels are also still small and unite to the larger veins. Smaller veins closer to the surface carry the blood in deeper veins of large diameter.

The two largest veins are called lower and upper vena cava. They pump the blood to the heart without oxygen, then the heart pumps it into the lungs. There it fills with oxygen and flows back to the heart. The arteries then transport it into the organs.

Very often, symptoms such as pain or swelling are associated with other diseases and not with venous insufficiency. (Image: perfectlab / fotolia.com)

When the venous valves fail

How can the blood even flow towards the heart? This is ensured by the venous valves. These act like a valve. When they are closed, the blood can not flow in the wrong direction.

A venous insufficiency begins when these venous valves weaken. They do not close properly anymore and sometimes they do not close anymore. The blood now flows only partially up to the heart and accumulates instead on the upstream portions of the veins. Then the vein on the vein wall expands due to the pressure of the stagnant blood. On the skin, such dilated veins manifest as small spider veins or as larger bluish varicose veins.

Risk: Chronic venous insufficiency

Advanced venous insufficiency may develop into chronic venous insufficiency, CVI for short. In a chronic weakness, the skin changes and the tissue swells as strong as painful. With a CVI in the legs walking is difficult and those affected are slightly exhausted.

How does venous insufficiency develop??

A malfunction of the veins is treacherous, because it progresses slowly and causes no symptoms for a long time. Early symptoms include leg pain, heaviness or swelling, called "thick calves". But these symptoms are rather nonspecific, they can also have many other triggers, for example over-stressed muscles.

The schematic diagram shows the differences between well-functioning and altered venous valves. (Image: teguhjatipras / fotolia.com)

The symptoms

So what are the symptoms of insufficiency of the veins? The swollen, tired and aching legs have the following symptoms:

• Small, reddish-bluish vein pattern in the form of spider webs. Doctors call them spider veins.
• Clearly visible veins, especially calf, popliteal fossa and thighs.
• varicose veins; while spider veins form in small veins, varicose veins are an expression of larger veins. These are clearly visible on the lower leg and calf - they bulge, thicken and "meander".
• The skin color changes to brownish in the area of ​​the ankles, on the legs the skin dries out, shivers and itches, eczema and / or open skin spots form. This usually happens only when the weakness has become chronic.

Weak veins - risk factors

Venous insufficiency is often genetic. This is reflected in the fact that often several people in a family suffer from it. Age also matters. Thus, a weakening of the veins rarely occurs before the age of 30 years. Women are significantly more likely to suffer from weak veins as well as visible spider veins and varicose veins than men. Here, the structures of the female connective tissue as well as the female sex hormones, especially the estrogen. The connective tissue of women is generally more relaxed than that of men and thus increases the risk of venous insufficiency. Especially pregnant women with estrogen levels often develop venous insufficiency. This is in addition to the fact that the belly of the pregnant woman presses on the pelvic veins and takes the leg veins.

Exercises of the feet can do a lot for the blood circulation in the legs. (Image: fizkes / fotolia.com)

Generally, being overweight is a risk factor for these complaints. Even earlier thromboses in the veins promote venous insufficiency. Coming to overweight and past clots Activities associated with prolonged standing or sitting increase the risk of venous insufficiency enormously.

diagnosis

A general practitioner may suspect a venous insufficiency, they can certainly diagnose phlebologists, ie specialists in vascular and venous diseases. It must first be determined if there have been cases of venous insufficiency in her family, or if she has suffered from thrombosis in the past. Then the doctors look at the leg skin and pay attention to swelling, skin lesions, spider veins or varicose veins. Ultrasound images make it easy to see if venous valves are damaged. Doppler sonography shows how the blood flows in the vein, where the flow is disturbed, and whether blood clots have formed.

treatment

The one treatment for venous insufficiency does not exist. Rather, different therapies come into consideration, depending on how far the weakness has progressed. First of all, it's about supporting or restoring blood flow. This works with external aids, ie compression stockings or compressive bandages. The pressure, which the vein itself can no longer afford, now comes from the outside, and it prevents the blood from backlogging.

On foot instead of by car: Time is well invested in health. (Image: WoGi / fotolia.com)

If the venous symptoms have aggravated, for example with water retention, dehydrating medications help. The eczema on the skin is treated with creams or ointments that moisturize and relieve inflammation. Spider veins are medically not a problem, but many people perceive them as unaesthetic. They can simply be sclerosed - by spraying a chemical substance. This also works for superficial varicose veins. Deep-seated varicose veins, however, require surgery. The vein is removed and the blood is diverted to a healthy vein or the vessel closed with a laser.

How can you prevent venous insufficiency??

If their weak veins are genetically engineered, the problems can be badly prevented. After all, the course of the weakness can be slowed down by strengthening the connective tissue, the veins and the blood flow:

• It helps above all movement. It does not have to be a competitive sport, but hiking, swimming, cycling. Ride your bike to work instead of the car, climb stairs instead of standing in the elevator. Swimming is best, the cold water presses on the veins and also ensures that they cool down.
• Use foot-gymnastics if you often have to sit at work or have a standing job. You move the tiptoes alternately to the tibia and the floor or let them circle, shift the weight from the heels to the tiptoe. You can also dig your toes or "shake out" your foot.
• Eat low calorie and reduce weight because excessive weight promotes and enhances venous insufficiency.
• As beautiful as you find them, avoid high heels, because they weaken the veins. Ideal are flip-flops or sandals. The flatter, more open and comfortable shoes are, the better.
• Especially in summer you should drink a lot if you have venous insufficiency. This compensates for fluid loss through sweating, because the more fluid the blood, the better it can flow.

To prevent venous insufficiency choose comfortable shoes if possible. (Image: artursfoto / fotolia.com)

Course and prognosis

An incipient weakness of the veins can usually be stopped. If it progresses and already develop varicose veins, the risk of secondary diseases such as venous thrombosis increases.

Compression stockings for thrombosis

Compression stockings help even with advanced venous insufficiency and reduce the risk of thrombosis. Today, medical compression stockings are also antibacterial and breathable, making them ideal for use on a hot summer day. The medical supply customizes such stockings individually in the morning with swollen legs. They are available as knee socks, thigh stockings or tights. (Dr. Utz Anhalt)