Veins not in vain

Understand chronic venous insufficiency, its causes, symptoms, treatments, preventive and management strategies

- Pramita Bose

Are you in a job that requires you to sit for long hours or stand at length? Or a public figure, a political leader or a corporate honcho who needs to make courtesy gestures like shaking hands frequently all through the day, either at events, on public podiums or in official meetings. Chances are high that you might get varicose veins with blood clots or poor circulation. If the problem persists, it can take a severe and deeper turn, aggravating into the condition known as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI).

Eye on CVI

What is Chronic Venous Insufficiency after all? “CVI is a long-term condition wherein the veins (primarily of the legs) can no longer effectively transport blood back to the heart. Under normal circumstances, one-way valves within veins help the blood flow upwards against gravity. But when the same becomes weak or damaged, blood leaks backward and starts to pool in the veins. This causes swelling, pain and noticeable changes in the skin tone and texture over time in the affected parts,” explains Dr Vishalakshi Vishwanath, consultant dermatologist, KIMS Hospitals in Thane.

Dermatologist Dr Prateek Sondhi, director at Derma Circles, adds that “due to malfunctioning of the small valves, blood accumulates in the legs causing heaviness, ulcers and sometimes darkening of the skin colour.”

Human body’s lower limbs have multiple valves, which prevent blood from streaming downward as they are unidirectional. “However, in CVI, these valves become faulty and incompetent as they induce venous reflux, triggering blood deposition and increased venous pressure in the legs,” notes vascular and endovascular surgeon Dr. Simit Vora.

The only proper antidote to this malaise is “movement”, she suggests. “The calf and thigh muscles act as a natural 'second heart,' squeezing the veins and pumping blood upwards,” she enlightens.