Do you suffer from varicose veins, or from heavy or swollen legs, and don’t know what to do? You might have chronic venous disease. Here is what you need to know.
It’s all about blood circulation.
Chronic venous disease, also called chronic venous insufficiency, is caused by poor blood circulation through the veins in your legs. Our veins have small valves that enable blood to reach our heart without gravity causing it to run backward. They make sure that our blood flows in only one direction. In patients with chronic venous disease, the internal walls of their veins are damaged and the valves are defective. This means that blood flows less efficiently toward their heart. The blood then starts to pool in the affected veins causing them to deteriorate even further. This can cause a progression of the disease.
Signs and symptoms
Most signs and symptoms are felt in the legs and ankles. You may notice the presence of varicose veins, experience discomfort and pain in your lower limbs as well as a feeling of heavy, tired or swollen legs. You may also experience leg cramps at night. According to a recent survey, almost one in every five Canadians suffers from symptoms related to chronic venous disease.
“Why me?”
Several risk factors can make one person more susceptible to chronic venous disease than another. Some factors are out of your control. For example, women are more at risk. A family history of the disease may also increase your chances of getting it. On the other hand, your lifestyle may also be a risk factor because excess weight and a lack of exercise are important risk factors for chronic venous disease. People who stand or sit for long periods of time, such as nurses, teachers or flight attendants, are particularly at risk.
And the solution?
The good news is, although there is no miracle cure there are many ways to improve your condition. You can start by changing a few of your lifestyle habits. Achieving a healthy weight and exercise such as walking or bicycling are excellent ways to improve circulation in your legs. Elevating your legs when they ache is another way to obtain quick relief because this action helps the flow of blood to your heart.
You can also avoid certain factors that make your symptoms worse: prolonged exposure to heat such as saunas or hot baths, standing or sitting too long (take a short walk or stretch your calves) or wearing high heels or socks that are too tight.
Several treatments are available
These habits can help keep symptoms at bay for some people, but not for all. Luckily, there are several treatment options.
Veno-active treatments are excellent ways to relieve symptoms at source without having to think too hard. For example, Venixxa is a natural health product available in pill form and made from immature oranges. It has been used effectively in more than a hundred countries for over 30 years. In fact, clinical studies have shown that this treatment, taken orally, can offer a 50% reduction in feelings of heavy or swollen legs after only 4 weeks. After 8 weeks, up to 63% reduction in pain and 72% reduction in feelings of swelling have been achieved.
Many other alternatives are also available, such as compression socks, which encourage good circulation, or medical procedures such as sclerotherapy or surgery.
Last but not least, act quickly. If you suffer from some of these symptoms, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the best treatment for you. You will also find more information about chronic venous disease and Venixxa in this blog.