Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins have problems sending blood from the legs back to the heart.
See also:
Deep venous thrombosis Stasis dermatitis and ulcers Varicose veins
Alternative Names
Chronic venous insufficiency
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Venous insufficiency is caused by problems in one or more deeper leg veins. Normally, valves in your veins keep your blood flowing back towards the heart so it does not collect in one place. But the valves in varicose veins are either damaged or missing. This causes the veins to remain filled with blood, especially when you are standing.
The condition may also be caused by a blockage in a vein from a clot (deep vein thrombosis).
Chronic venous insufficiency is a long-term condition. It occurs because of partial vein blockage or blood leakage around the valves of the veins.
Risk factors for venous insufficiency include:
- History of
deep vein thrombosis in the legs - Age
- Being female (related to levels of the hormone progesterone)
- Being tall
- Genetic factors
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Prolonged sitting or standing
Review Date: 05/13/2010
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine,
Pediatrics and Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by
David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
