The valves in the veins usually channel the flow of blood toward
the heart. When these valves are damaged, blood leaks and pools in
the legs and feet. Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the
veins fail to return blood efficiently to the heart. This condition
usually involves one or more veins. Symptoms include swelling of
the legs and pain in the extremities such as a dull aching,
heaviness, or cramping.
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)
