Venous insufficiency, also called chronic venous disease, is a blood circulation disorder appearing in the veins in the legs. It is a condition where women are most affected, even more likely when they\u2019re over 50 and beyond. In 2020, there were 20% of Canadians who suffered from at least one symptom of venous insufficiency. The problem is that very few people are aware of the link between the symptoms and the disease, believing it to be just an age-related phenomenon. This therefore leads to too few consultations with specialists, and to potential complications.<\/span><\/p>\n Venous insufficiency should be distinguished from arterial insufficiency, which is linked to a problem with blood circulation in an artery. Often, this is a narrowing or even occlusion of the artery, reducing blood flow to the buttock, hip, thighs, calves and more rarely to the feet.<\/span><\/p>\n Do you feel like your legs are heavy at the end of the day or at night? Do you think you have venous insufficiency, and would like to know how to fix it? In this article, we explain all about the symptoms, as well as the remedies available to prevent venous insufficiency and the phenomenon of heavy legs.<\/span><\/p>\n Healthy valves in the veins carry the one-way flow of blood to the organs. They are even more important in the legs, since they must prevent the blood from going down with gravity. When the valves are defective and the venous walls damaged, the blood no longer travels as well to the organs and the heart, and stagnates in the diseased veins. These veins become more and more fragile, which then leads to the progression of the disease.<\/span><\/p>\n Many people often mixed up the symptoms for signs of aging, or as a normal factor in excessive fatigue. There may be visible signs, such as the appearance of varicose veins, spots and redness, as well as internal symptoms characterized by heavy and sore legs. There are several symptoms that can make you think about possible venous insufficiency. First, there are the first functional signs of the disease, that is, localized pain such as numbness, cramps and swelling.<\/span><\/p>\n Then come the physical symptoms of venous insufficiency, which are found in the form of localized swelling:<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, there are the symptoms related to the progression of the disease. Know that it is very important to consult a specialist or your general practitioner, as soon as heavy legs appear.<\/span><\/p>\n Do not worry, venous insufficiency is not inevitable, and it is possible to implement, every day, simple actions that can prevent and relieve this pathology. Healthy living, for example, is an essential component in the treatment of chronic venous disease. It is therefore important to take a close look at our diet, our sedentary lifestyle and our current habits.<\/span><\/p>\n Sport is a very good remedy for heavy legs, since it promotes good blood circulation, especially through the practice of “gentle” activities.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n After all physical activity, it is recommended that you stretch well and drink a lot of water to help your circulation flow more smoothly. You feel your legs are lighter, and the toxins are released much faster.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Know that in addition to physical activity, our everyday positions and postures are also important. We can only advise you to forget the cross-legged position for example. Indeed, in addition to causing long-term rotation of the pelvis, an abnormal inclination of the shoulders and a port of the head moved forward, there is a risk of an increase in blood pressure, in addition to an bigger risk of an accumulation of blood in the lower limbs in people who are more vulnerable. This can lead to inflammation of the veins in the lower legs or, more seriously, the formation of a blood clot.<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, do not hesitate either, if you work most of the time sitting or standing in a static position, to take short breaks of 5 minutes of walking every hour: the movements activate the blood pump which thins the blood.<\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to diet, many foods have many benefits for relieving your symptoms of chronic venous disease:<\/span><\/p>\n There are many treatments for venous insufficiency, ranging from simple orthopedic equipment to surgery. The best way to find out what is best for your symptoms is to have an ultrasound (Doppler ultrasound) from your general practitioner, or from a specialist.<\/span><\/p>\n Compression stockings are offered as the orthopedic solution of choice. It’s even better when they come up to your knees. We also opt for elevation of the legs, when possible. This can be via a footrest at the desk, or with a pillow when sleeping. Self-service creams and gels at drugstores also help relieve symptoms of failure, but do not treat the underlying problem of damaged veins.<\/span><\/p>\n You can also be prescribed venotonic drugs and \/ or carry out regular lymphatic drainage to fight against edema and heavy legs. For cases that require more intensive treatment, certain interventions are then recommended. Indeed, if the vein is too damaged, it will have to be removed.<\/span><\/p>\n Sclerotherapy is an ablative method that involves injecting a sclerosing product into the vein so as to dry it out, then gradually make it disappear. This treatment is used to permanently remove varicose veins and varicose vessels. It is performed in a phlebology or angiology office. Completely non-invasive, it does not require an incision or anesthesia.<\/span><\/p>\n This “thermal” method allows to heat the collagen of the vein, to stick it and thus to close it completely. Entirely performed in the operating room, the operation is fairly rapid and shows remarkable efficiency, with a recurrence rate of less than 5% within 15 years. With laser or radio frequency, you have the advantage of being able to treat all sizes of vein, and to avoid the formation of dark spots that may occur with other types of procedures.<\/span><\/p>\n Observed as one of the best alternatives to surgery, ultrasound therapy is a technique that combines two categories of ultrasound which, with their heat diffusion, burns and destroys the targeted tissues. Completely non-invasive, the procedure only lasts about 20 to 60 minutes, and delivers as many pulses as needed to treat the entire vein. Ultrasound therapy is performed in an office, without anesthesia or incision.<\/span><\/p>\n The world medical profession distinguishes 7 stages in chronic venous disease, which allows it to locate the evolution of the spread. It is called the CEAP classification system (clinical, etiological, anatomical and pathophysiological signs).<\/span><\/p>\nWhat are the causes of venous insufficiency ?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What are the symptoms of venous insufficiency ?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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What sports to practice to prevent heavy legs and venous insufficiency?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Which foods to favor in order to improve blood circulation?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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What are the treatments for venous insufficiency?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Sclerotherapy<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Laser or radiofrequency<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ultrasound therapy<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The 7 stages of venous insufficiency<\/strong><\/h2>\n