A venous insufficiency test can help alert you to any distress your veins may be experiencing. Find out now if these 5 common symptoms apply to you.
Chronic venous disease affects as many as 30 million people in the United States.
Now, that may seem like incomparable to the 92.1 million U.S. adults with some type of heart disease. But it’s not a condition you should brush off.
CVD is 10 times more prevalent than peripheral arterial disease. There’s also the fact that these vein diseases cost the U.S. a yearly $3 billion in health care. That should already tell you how vein problems can affect the quality of your life.
Which brings us to the importance of getting a venous insufficiency test. VI is a common vein condition that you’d want to address before it gets worse.
Note that it’s more than a painful condition marked by unsightly varicose veins. It can also signal much more serious underlying conditions.
We’ve rounded up what you need to know about venous insufficiency, so make sure you keep reading!
What Venous Insufficiency Is
Venous insufficiency occurs when your veins can’t send blood from the limbs to the heart. If you have this condition, your blood doesn’t flow back or reach the heart. Instead, it goes back to the legs, resulting in blood pooling in your leg veins.
If left untreated, VI can progress into chronic venous insufficiency. CVI is a progressive syndrome that can lead to pain, inflammation, and changes to the skin in your legs. Worse, it can cause ulcers – open sores – to develop on your legs.
How Can You Get It?
There are many factors that can contribute to the development of venous insufficiency. In most cases though, it has something to do with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Take note that an estimated 900,000 Americans suffer from DVT every year, making it a likely VI culprit.
Aside from DVT-caused blood clots, varicose veins can also result in venous insufficiency. If you have varicose veins, your veins’ valves have already become damaged. This then leads to the blood going back through the impaired valves.
The fact alone that this condition can cause pain should be enough for you to keep an eye on yourself for its signs. In case you notice any of the following venous insufficiency symptoms, get a VI test ASAP.
1. Swollen Legs or Ankles
Swelling of the legs or ankles is often brought about by edema. Edema is an inflammatory condition resulting from fluid retention. It’s often caused by blood clots, like those arising from DVT.
Edema is a common symptom experienced by people with venous insufficiency. However, swollen legs or ankles can also be a sign of many other illnesses, such as heart and kidney diseases. Having yourself tested for VI is a good way to isolate the cause of your leg or ankle swelling.
2. Bulging Veins (AKA Varicose Veins)
As many as 20% of the U.S. adult population have varicose veins. To many of those who have it, they’re nothing but mere cosmetic issues.
The thing is, these visible, blood-filled, bulging veins can actually signal venous insufficiency. Keep in mind that VI occurs when there is incorrect blood flow and pooling of the blood.
Now, varicose veins develop when the veins become filled with blood. That, in itself, is already a sign of improper blood circulation.
While you don’t have to panic when you see these bulging veins, it’s best you have yourself checked for VI. Especially if you also experience unusual leg or limb tiredness and aches.
Leaving severe varicose veins unchecked can lead to them rupturing. This can then result in the above-mentioned open wounds or skin ulcers.
3. Open Wounds on Your Legs that Don’t Seem to Heal
Leg ulcers are some of the most visible and painful vein disease symptoms. These are sores that seem to never heal. Even if they did, they’d only disappear for a short period of time and keep recurring.
Note that poor circulation isn’t the only cause of these open wounds. In diabetic patients, minor wounds can turn into ulcers even without venous insufficiency.
If you notice any open wound on your leg that becomes bigger and has pus, take that as a sign of possible VI. Seek medical help ASAP if leg swelling and pain accompany these signs.
Fortunately, early treatment can improve leg ulcers before they cause more serious issues. But you need to find out what’s causing them in the first place. A vein test can help can help determine if the culprit is venous insufficiency.
4. Changes to the Color and Appearance of the Skin on Your Legs
Venous insufficiency leads to fluid and pressure building up in your lower leg veins. The greater the buildup is, the higher the chance of blood bursting out of the affected veins. If this happens, the blood can then leak out into the skin.
The blood leak can then result in changes to the color, looks, and appearance of the skin on your legs. But the first symptom you’ll notice is swelling of your ankles. This condition, known as venous eczema (sometimes stasis dermatitis) can also cause pain.
The swelling and pain may go away at night, as you sleep or as you rest. But it’ll persist during the day, when you’re active. You may also feel heaviness in your legs as you walk or even just stand.
If the skin area above or surrounding your ankles have turned yellowish or brownish, take that as a sign of VI. Sometimes, the change in color also takes the form of reddish skin. In terms of feel and appearance, thickened skin on the ankles is also a sign of venous eczema.
5. Other Telling Signs You Need a Venous Insufficiency Test
As soon as you notice any of the above signs, get yourself tested for VI. Especially if they’re accompanied by itching, pain, varicose veins, or weak legs.
Even if you don’t develop leg ulcers yet, if the other symptoms are present, it’s best to undergo VI testing. This way, you can start your venous insufficiency treatment ASAP.
Don’t Take Venous Insufficiency Lightly
A venous insufficiency test can help determine if your veins are to blame for your symptoms. For instance, a venous ultrasound can tell you if your veins are causing your swollen legs. It can also help you find out if the skin problems you’re experiencing are due to vein problems.
Remember, vein diseases can lead to all sorts of complications. These unwanted side effects can then bring the quality of your life down. As such, get yourself tested before your veins cause you more pain and suffering.
If you’re ready to undergo painless testing, please feel free to connect with us. We’ll guide you through all your VI testing options so you can choose the best one for your needs.