Venous insufficiency is a common condition resulting from decreased blood flow from the leg veins up to the heart, with pooling of blood in the veins. Normally, one-way valves in the veins keep blood flowing toward the heart, against the force of gravity. When the valves become weak and don’t close properly, they allow blood to flow backward, a condition called reflux. Veins that have lost their valve effectiveness become elongated, rope-like, bulged, and thickened.
These enlarged, swollen vessels are known as varicose veins and are a direct result of increased pressure from reflux. A common cause of varicose veins in the legs is reflux in a thigh vein called the great saphenous, which leads to pooling in the visible varicose veins as shown in the video below.
Risk Factors for Varicose Veins
- Family history of varicose veins
- Age (more common as you age)
- Gender (more common in women)
- Obesity or overweight
- Pregnancy
Symptoms of Vein Insufficiency
- Aching leg pain
- Easy leg fatigue
- Leg heaviness, all of which worsen as the day progresses
South Florida Vascular Associates offers minimally invasive vein treatments to treat varicose veins and circulation problems, including endovenous laser ablation (EVLT), sclerotherapy, and phlebectomy.
