Chronic venous insufficiency: Causes, symptoms, and treatment

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is the most common disease of the peripheral vascular system, affecting between 10% and 35% of adults during their lifetime. The condition is particularly prevalent in women due to hormonal factors, pregnancy, and heredity.

According to vascular surgeon Georgios Tzavellas, Director of the 5th Vascular Clinic at Metropolitan General, CVI is an evolving pathology that can impact daily life if not treated promptly, despite often being viewed as a purely aesthetic issue. The condition occurs when valves in the lower limb veins fail to effectively promote blood flow toward the heart, causing blood to pool and leading to venous congestion. This insufficiency in the superficial network results in the appearance of varicose veins.

Risk factors include family history, prolonged standing or sedentary work, pregnancy, smoking, history of venous thrombosis, injury, and obesity. Common symptoms include a feeling of heaviness and fatigue in the legs, particularly at the end of the day, along with edema in the ankles and calves. Other signs include cramps, burning sensations (especially at night), and the visible appearance of varicose veins or small dilated vessels. If left untreated, the condition can progress to skin changes and, in advanced stages, venous ulcers.