Alternative Names
Chronic venous insufficiency
Definition of Venous insufficiency
Venous insufficiency is a condition in which the veins have problems sending blood from the legs back to the heart.
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.
Treatment
Take the following steps to help manage venous insufficiency:
Review
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. – 5/13/2010
