Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), is a progressive condition that’s gotten lots of attention recently, due to President Trump’s diagnosis. However, in real life, symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency are often dismissed as normal signs of aging, leading to diagnostic and treatment delays. In this post, we highlight the CVI symptoms you need to know in order to receive timely care for this condition.

What is chronic venous insufficiency?

CVI is a form of vein disease that develops when valves in your vein fail, making it difficult for blood to leave your legs and return to your heart. As a result, that blood pools in your legs resulting in a series of progressive symptoms that can often be confused with symptoms of other age-related conditions.

Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency

CVI symptoms include:

• Tired or heavy legs
• Swelling (edema)
• Cramping
• Changes in the appearance of your skin, including the appearance of brown patches
• Textural skin changes, including thickening
• Skin itchiness
• The appearance of varicose veins

Now, CVI risk increases as you age. But many older adults associate their symptoms with conditions such as arthritis. Others believe they’re just an unavoidable part of the aging process. As such, they receive delayed diagnoses. And that’s a problem, because the condition is progressive and delaying treatment can lead to worsening symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency. 

The importance of early intervention

When CVI is detected quickly, we can effectively treat this condition with non-invasive interventions. Wearing compression stockings can help reduce swelling, boost circulation and prevent complications such as ulcer formation. However, when CVI is advanced, additional measures may be necessary.

Procedures to Treat CVI

When symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency persist after non-invasive treatments such as compression therapy and lifestyle measures, it may be time to explore medical interventions. Fortunately, vein treatment does not need to be invasive. At Georgia Endovascular Associates, our interventional radiologists perform minimally-invasive interventions such as sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation that can treat CVI without the need for surgery.  The right treatment for your needs will depend on the severity of your condition, so we encourage you to seek care at the first sign of CVI symptoms. Simply reach out to our team and request a consultation today. Even if you have not exhibited symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, we can provide non-invasive vascularscreenings to help with timely detection of disease.