About venous insufficiency

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) has been in the news lately. It’s a condition in which veins‚ especially in the lower legs, have difficulty returning blood to the heart.

Arteries carry blood to our cells, which is rich in oxygen and nutrients that our cells need. The cells use the nutrients they need and dump their waste into nearby veins, which carry the used blood to the kidneys and lungs to filter out toxins and remove waste products.

However, with venous insufficiency, blood struggles to overcome gravity. It pools in the lower legs, allowing toxins to accumulate, which can cause achiness, swelling, skin discoloration, and—if left untreated—skin changes, like ulcers that do not heal well.

Often, when our ankles overflow our shoes due to swelling, we blame it on something else—eating salt, excessive standing, excessive sitting, or just “getting older.” But ankle swelling and other symptoms should not be happening. Even occasional swelling can indicate an underlying problem.

You don’t have to see bulging, ropy veins or purple veins or spider veins to have CVI. Damaged veins can be deeper. So it’s essential to be proactive and not wait for occasional symptoms to become more serious, visible and long-lasting.

Give our office a call and let’s explore ways to reduce your risks, especially if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

• leg pain or swelling
• heaviness or fatigue
• itching, tingling or burning
• inflammation
• skin discoloration
• restless legs syndrome.

Dr. Sonja Stiller is a diplomat of both the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and the UIP 2023 Lead Chair for Scientific Abstracts. She is the founder of the Center for Advanced Vein Care, a Tier 1 provider with Lake Health Hospital System. The center’s offices are at 7200 Mentor Avenue, in Mentor. For an appointment, call 440-710-1140. Visit YourHealthyVeins.com.