Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Vein disease is incredibly common—and manageable. But if left untreated, what starts as a small issue can lead to potentially dangerous complications. Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a medical condition in which a person’s veins are unable to properly transport blood from the legs back to the heart. The most common symptom associated with CVI is the appearance of varicose or spider veins in the leg area, which doesn’t sound particularly concerning on the surface. However, if left untreated, venous insufficiency can cause far more serious complications like ulcers, bleeding, and a life-threatening condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Who’s At Risk
Between 20-30 million Americans have varicose veins. Contributing factors include heredity, gender, age, weight, pregnancy, history of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) and standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time. By age 50, 41% of women will suffer from varicose veins. Similarly, by the time they reach their 60s, 42% of men will suffer from venous insufficiency.
- Varicose veins are an inherited genetic disorder. The gene is an autosomal dominant with variable penetrance. This means the gene is passed down to every generation, but certain environmental factors are required to activate the gene. That is why vein disease may skip generations in a family.
- Almost 50% of varicose vein patients have a family history of the disease.
- Your chances of developing varicose veins are over 90% if both parents have the disease.
- Daughters have a 60% chance and sons have a 25% chance of developing varicose veins if only one parent has the disease.
- Varicose veins affect both women and men: 55% of women and 45% of men.
- An estimated 41% of women over the age of 50 have varicose veins.
- Pregnancy - mostly due to the hormone progesterone - increases the risk for developing spider and varicose veins.
The following factors may make you more susceptible to vein problems.
- Gender - more women are diagnosed with vein problems than men.
- Family History - vein problems may run in your family.
- Age - risk of vein problems increase with age.
- Lifestyle or Occupation - prolonged standing or sitting may increase your risk of vein problems.
- Smoking - prolonged smoking leads to harmful changes in blood vessels and blood composition.
- Obesity - may increase your risk of vein problems.
- Pregnancy
Treat CVI to Avoid Dangerous Complication
Symptoms of CVI range from the cosmetic to the potentially life-threatening. Some of the most common symptoms include swelling of the feet and ankles, itchy and irritated skin, heaviness, restlessness, cramping, aching legs, skin discoloration, skin sores or ulcers, and varicose or spider veins. If left untreated, varicose veins can pose a significant threat. It is a disease that accelerates and is progressive over time. Painful ulcers may develop, and spontaneous bleeding can occur.
Although the extent of these complications will vary from case to case, leaving CVI untreated at the very least results in the continuation of symptoms like swelling, itching, pain, and fatigue. In more extreme cases, patients can develop DVT—the formation of a blood clot in the leg that can prove fatal if it makes its way to the lungs. So, if you’re exhibiting any symptoms of CVI, it’s crucial that you seek immediate treatment to eliminate the potential for DVT altogether.
Contact our office at (630) 474-2600 to schedule an appointment today.