Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
(Part 2)
How does chronic venous insufficiency affect my body?
Chronic venous insufficiency slows down blood flow from your legs back up to your heart.
Without treatment, CVI raises the pressure in your leg veins so much that your tiniest blood vessels (capillaries) burst.
When this happens, the skin in that area takes on a reddish-brown color and can easily break open if bumped or scratched.
These burst capillaries can cause:
* Tissue inflammation in that area
* Tissue damage
* Venous stasis ulcers (these are open sores on your skin’s surface)
Venous stasis ulcers don’t heal easily, and they can become infected.
The infection could spread to nearby tissue. This condition is known as cellulitis, which is dangerous if not treated right away.
Symptoms and Causes
What are the signs and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency?
Chronic venous insufficiency signs and symptoms include:
* Achy or tired legs.
* Burning, tingling or “pins and needles” sensation in your legs.
* Cramping in your legs at night.
* Discolored skin that looks reddish-brown.
* Edema (swelling) in your lower legs and ankles, especially after standing a while or at the end of the day.
* Flaking or itching skin on your legs or feet.
* Full or heavy feeling in your legs.
* Leathery-looking skin on your legs.
* Ulcers (open sores), usually near your ankles. If they’re very painful, they may be infected.
* Varicose veins.
Severe edema in your lower leg can cause scar tissue to develop. This scar tissue traps fluid in your tissues. Your calf may feel large and hard to the touch. When this happens, your skin is more vulnerable to persistent ulcers.
You may not have all of these issues at once. Instead, you may only have one or two. Your signs and symptoms depend on how far your condition has progressed. (To be continued)