Venous Insufficiency: What it is, Causes and Risk Factors

to the heart.

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Causes

• Organic venous insufficiency: caused by pathological changes in the veins (e.g. stasis dermatitis, deep vein thrombosis), mainly due to defects in valve function (e.g. varices).
• Functional venous insufficiency: due to a functional overload of the veins, subjected to overwork (eg lymphedema, reduced mobility of the limbs).

Symptoms and Complications

The severity of symptoms varies from subject to subject according to the severity of the venous insufficiency: swollen ankles, calf cramps, edema of the involved limb, phlebitis, tingling legs, hyperpigmentation of the skin (eg purpura), thickening of the skin, heaviness in the legs, itching, skin ulcers, varicose veins.

Among the most frequent complications associated with venous insufficiency we mention: skin dystrophies / ulcerations, ischemia, risk of bacterial cellulitis, varicophlebitis.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis consists of direct medical observation of the lesions and anamnesis. Sometimes, the patient undergoes an ultrasound Doppler to evaluate the function of the veins.

Therapies and Remedies

• General remedies: correction of eating habits and lifestyle, use of elastic compression stockings, application of capillarotropic / protective creams.
• Drugs: anticoagulants, phlebotonics, profibrinolytics.
• Surgical remedies: valvuloplasty, radiofrequency ablation / laser therapy.

venous to the heart.

Venous insufficiency of the lower limbs triggers an increase in pressure in the capillaries, with subsequent formation of edema, generalized hypoxia and lactacidemia (excessive presence of lactic acid in the blood).

Venous insufficiency requires therapeutic, pharmacological and / or medical intervention: when left untreated or neglected, the condition can degenerate into a progressive syndrome characterized by pain, swelling, skin changes and, in severe cases, varicophlebitis (formation of a thrombus secondary arising on varices).

: persistent inflammation of the skin of the lower limbs, generated by a vascular stasis. Stasis dermatitis is a pathological condition typical of patients suffering from circulatory disorders in the veins of the legs; the disorder presents with chronic edema in the lower limbs, itching, excoriation and exudation.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): Some patients with this syndrome subsequently develop venous insufficiency.

Deep vein thrombosis: pathological condition due to the obstruction of a vein due to a thrombus (blood clot). A similar obstruction of the deep circulation is responsible, in turn, for the difficult venous return, therefore we speak of deep venous insufficiency.

Varicose veins: varicose veins are abnormal and permanent dilations of veins and arteries, the expression of an "alteration in the efficiency of the venous valves".

To understand...

Alteration of valve capacity: this is probably the cause most involved in venous insufficiency of the lower limbs, as well as the main risk factor for venous insufficiency chronic.

In physiological conditions, the valves of the veins - located in large caliber vessels - prevent the reflux of blood favored by gravity, helping to regulate blood dynamics. In addition, the role of the valves is essential to prevent the accumulation of blood in certain sites.

When the system is altered in its balance, the valves do not guarantee proper blood circulation, and the blood tends to accumulate in the veins, creating varicose veins and venous insufficiency.

• Functional venous insufficiency: condition due to a functional overload of the veins which, although in full health, are subjected to excessive work compared to their possibilities.
  • Lymphedema: the stagnation of lymph in the various parts of the body, which characterizes lymphedema, is due to a compromise of the lymphatic system. Lymphedema requires overwork on the part of the veins, therefore it can favor venous insufficiency.
  • Reduced mobility of the limbs (typical of subjects who remain in a static position for a long time - immobilization edema). Postural anomalies (flat foot, alterations in the morphology of the spine, etc.) also force the veins to work, which can lead to venous insufficiency.

Clinical Classification of Venous Insufficiency Class 0 Absence of visible or palpable clinical signs of venous disease Class 1 Presence of telangiectasias or reticular veins Class 2 Presence of varicose veins Class 3 Presence of edema Class 4 Trophic disorders of venous origin: pigmentation, eczema, hypodermatitis Class 5 As a class 4 with healed ulcers Class 6 As a class 4 with active ulcers static for a long time;

Pregnancy;

Hypertension;

Obesity;

Orthostatic work (which requires you to remain standing and still for a long time);

Genetic predisposition;

Tobacco smoke;

Previous history of deep vein thrombosis;

Female sex;

Height: tall people are more at risk of venous insufficiency;

Estrogen hormone therapy.

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