Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) refers to the failure of the veins in the legs to return blood properly to the heart and manifests in symptoms like swelling of the limbs, pain, and skin changes. In the long run, CVI untreated leads to ulcers or deep vein thrombosis. However, there are many useful treatment options, from lifestyle changes to medical targeted therapy.
What is Chronic Venous Insufficiency?
CVI takes place when damage or weakness to the vein valves allows for the pooling of blood in the legs. You might experience heaviness, cramping, and varicose veins. Prolonged sitting/standing, obesity, pregnancy, or having a family history of vein-related issues increases the chances of getting CVI.
Diagnosis and treatment at an appropriate time are indispensable because of the CVI advancement, and this care is critical for achieving an optimal quality of life.
Lifestyle Modifications
Making lifestyle changes is an essential aspect in the management of CVI as it prevents further damage of veins and curtails symptoms.
Movement
Exercise like walking, cycling or swimming enhances blood circulation, for everyone including leg muscles that aid in the pumping of blood back to the heart, specifically. Target a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate exercise, several times within the week.
Leg Elevation
Elevating the legs above the level of the heart for 15 to 20 minutes multiple times a day aids in decreasing the swelling and encouraging blood circulation. This practice can be useful in the relief of discomfort and heaviness.
Weight Management
When an individual is overweight, he or she increases the pressure in the leg veins, aggravating central venous insufficiency (CVI) symptoms. A healthy weight helps relieve stress on the veins and increase blood circulation, which can be achieved with a proper diet and exercising.
Compression Therapy
Compression stockings are an integral part of managing CVI. This specialized garment applies mild pressure that helps draw blood toward the heart through the legs and alleviates swelling.
Compression stockings are available in different strengths. Hence, the degree of compression that the patient requires should be advised by a specialist who is knowledgeable of the conditions.
Medications
Some medications can help with the other CVI treatments as they can aid in relieving some symptoms and repairing damaged veins.
Pain Relievers
CVI related discomfort and inflammation can be alleviated with over-the-counter pain medications such as’ Ibuprofen” or “Acetaminophen”.
Venotonic Drugs
Venotonics are medicines used to treat the weakened venous wall and improve circulation and swelling. Diosmin and horse chestnut extract are both common options. They should be prescribed by qualified professionals.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
When CVI lifestyle changes and medications prove to ineffective, clinically proven minimally invasive procedures may be implemented.
Sclerotherapy
The relux district vascular a portion of geometry and apply sclerotherapeutic substances whenever possible. Read more about sclerotherapy – what it is and what are its advantages in our article! Such treatment is optimal for small superficial veins and the small branches of the veins formed in CVI.
Endovenous Laser Ablation
Endovenously applied through laser, this method is also referred to as EVLA – Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA). It’s however commonly applied locally, making it safe for patients with moderate to severe varicose veins and totally ineffective for small vessels. – Surgery may be necessary to remove to provide assistance to the harming veins in extreme cases of CVI.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency also uses heat radiation but it’s a safer and suitable procedure for most people with moderate to severe CVI. To better assist the public, uncalculated and unprerequisite cervical or hypersensitive rays are becoming increasingly utilized as the months go by.
Surgical Options
For people with advanced cases of CVI, it is imperative to remove or repair the incus lenoids posing problems deep inside their groins manually.
Phlebectomy
The other form of endovenous phlebectomy treats obesity through less sits in removal of bulb surfaces only.
Vein Stripping
The highly advised and suggested method helps treat spots and other veins through external aid.
Managing Complications
If left uncontrolled, CVI can worsen and lead to serious conditions and staining of the skin and veins resulting in tough changes to occur in cases of venous ulcers.
Wound Care
It is imperative to make use of a multidisciplinary approach that integrates therapy based on compression bandages, wound dressings and hygiene while taking care of the venous ulcers. Where the case is more severe, specialized care in the clinics may be needed.
Skin Treatments
Treatment options for CVI related hemosiderin staining may include topical treatment, laser treatment and treatment of venous complaints.
When to Seek Medical Help
If the pain is lasting in the legs with marked swelling or the presence of open wounds which do not heal, the vein treatment should be sought. It is best to have an early intervention to avert complications and improve the long term prognosis.
Combining Treatments for Maximum Effectiveness
The best results for a lot of patients seem to come from a combination of treatments. In this case for instance lifestyle approaches with compression therapy may be combined with percutaneous minimally invasive procedures.
Conclusion
A chronic condition such as chronic venous insufficiency can be managed with diverse clinical treatments in relation to the severity of the condition in question. There are quite a number of methods that one can use in order to relieve symptoms, prevent further complications and improve vein condition including changes in lifestyle as well as more intensive medical procedures. With vein specialists, one is assured of obtaining the most effective treatment to fit the specific condition thus restoring comfort and ability to move around.