Article Provided by: Life Extension Magazine, Ariel Soffer, MD
Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic issue but can indicate more serious circulation problems such as chronic venous insufficiency.
Q: What causes most vein symptoms?
A: Venous Reflux Disease, also known as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), affects the circulation of your blood. The main role of your veins is to return blood to the heart, but if the valves inside the veins fail, they will give way to the forces of gravity and not return blood to the heart. This backward flow is called reflux. This blood can become acidic from accumulation of metabolic waste, causing an intense inflammatory reaction resulting in symptoms such as pain and swelling.1 Venous reflux disease can lead to spider veins or thick, bulging varicose veins. Typically, varicose veins are an indicator of venous reflux, which can cause serious circulatory problems if not treated properly.
Q: What are the most common symptoms of Venous Insufficiency (VI)?
A: According to most reports, these are the five most common symptoms:
Leg pain
Leg heaviness
Leg throbbing
Leg, ankle, or foot swelling
Leg itching
Q: Can Restless Leg Syndrome be related to veins?
A: Restless Leg Syndrome causes a person to always feel the urge to move his or her legs. Restless Leg Syndrome can make it uncomfortable to do normal activities, such as sleeping through the night or traveling long distances in the car or on a plane. While there are other causes of Restless Leg Syndrome, it is a common complaint by people who have vein disease. Legs often tend to feel achy, cramped, and tired because of broken vein valves. Treatment of venous insufficiency is often very helpful in dealing with Restless Leg Syndrome.