What Are Damaged Vein Valves?

1. What Are Damaged Vein Valves?

2. Incompetent Valves Leg veins carry blood back to the heart. The veins have one-way valves that prevent the blood from flowing backward. When these valves are damaged it causes blood to collect in the leg veins; also referred to as venous insufficiency. Damaged valves can also cause long-term swelling and blood pooling in the legs. When the condition becomes long term, it’s known as chronic venous insufficiency or CVI. Without proper treatment, the damaged valves may cause the fluid to leak in the feet and ankle tissues. This leakage can cause ulcers and chronic wounds to develop and even cause the skin itself to break down.

3. What Causes Damaged Valves? Vein valves may be damaged due to aging, from extended periods of sitting or standing, or due to reduced activity or mobility. If the vein valves are damaged, it cause interfere with the flow of blood back to the heart. This can cause blood to collect in the leg veins and lead to varicose veins and chronic ulcers over time if not treated properly.

4. A few other factors that raise the risk of damaged valves include: • Varicose veins • Obesity • Blood clots • Smoking • Pregnancy • Cancer • Phlebitis or swelling of superficial veins • Venous insufficiency is hereditary • Leg injury, muscle weakness, or trauma • Standing or sitting for long periods without moving

5. Symptoms Caused by Damaged Valves • Some of the most common symptoms of damaged valves or CVI include: • Throbbing, dull, aching pain in legs • Legs feeling heavy • Swelling in ankles and legs • Itching or cramping in legs • Dark, brownish patches on the skin • Harder or thicker skin on ankles and legs • The formation of blood clots and open sores • The presence of varicosities

6. Treating Damaged Vein Valves Damaged vein valves in the legs can increase your risk for health complications like Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), which is why we encourage you to consult with a vein specialist as soon as possible. There are a variety of treatment options available for venous insufficiency, most of which do not require any intense surgery or hospital stay. At USA Vein Clinics, we offer the following treatment for venous insufficiency, varicose veins, and spider veins.

7. Preventing Venous Insufficiency Although venous insufficiency or damaged vein valves cannot be prevented directly, there are some lifestyle changes you can adapt that can help decrease your risk. However, if you are someone with direct relatives diagnosed with vein disease, your risk is much higher. • Exercising Regularly • Managing Weight • Staying Hydrated

8. Making Some Significant Lifestyle Changes In order to effectively reduce your risk for venous insufficiency, you may need to make some lifestyle changes. This can include quitting smoking, adopting an exercise regimen, losing weight, or even changing careers to avoid periods of inactivity. Another simple and effective way to benefit your health and maintain healthy blood flow is to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables. This can help you reduce your risk for serious complications associated with vein disease like DVT and chronic ulcers.

9. Contact Us It’s always better to treat venous insufficiency whenever you see its first signs and remember that any lifestyle changes made won’t help in treating this health condition; these changes can only be used for helping to reduce your risk. If you think you already have vein disease or varicose veins, give us a call 888.768.3467 today to set up a consultation. We can help you find lasting relief from your painful vein symptoms through the use of minimally-invasive treatment technologies.