Chronic Venous Hypertension
Chronic Venous Hypertension (CVH) is a condition in which there is constant, high pressure in the indwelling veins of the legs, caused by breakage of the vein valves in the legs. The valves in your veins are how blood travels from your legs to your heart. When we take a step our calf muscle puts pressure on our veins forcing the blood upward through multiple one-way valves. When these valves become broken the blood is then not able to move up the veins in the legs and causes the vein to become under pressure thus causing Varicose Veins.
Causes of CVH
As the valves break, gravity pulls the blood in the veins downward. These broken valves force more pressure on the indwelling veins below. When too many of the valves break, the pressure builds to a high level, and it’s this high pressure that impedes veins from functioning properly. As the veins find themselves under more and more pressure they stretch to try to compensate and, over time, they offload to other veins to try again to compensate eventually showing at the surface of the skin as ropey, engorged, Varicose Veins.
The symptoms associated with Varicose Veins are caused by chronic venous hypertension, as varicose veins are a circulatory issue of high pressure in the venous system that causes them to bulge.
Signs and Symptoms of chronic venous hypertension include:
- The appearance of Varicose Veins
- Spider Veins in the ankle areas
- Pain particularly when walking
- Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
- Heaviness in the legs
- Swelling in the legs and ankles
- Skin discoloration
- Skin changes
- Leg Ulcers
Treatment
A Venous Ultrasound is performed to diagnose CVH. Once diagnosed, the physician will go over the results and recommend the appropriate treatment plan based on the Venous Ultrasound findings. At Illinois Vein Specialists we offer multiple procedures and work with you to find the best options.
The Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) is a procedure for indwelling varicose veins to relieve the high pressure by using heat to force the vein to close down instantly. There are hundreds of veins in the legs and, upon completion of the EVLT, the blood flow is directed through other veins significantly reducing the high pressure and, as a bonus, some patients feel better the second they stand up after the procedure! EVLT procedures only take 30-40 minutes to conduct, are performed right in the office, and there is no downtime post-procedure!
VenaSeal™ is an outpatient procedure that involves using cyanoacrylate adhesives to stop the flow of blood at the site of the vein that has failed. As a result of this procedure, the vein will close, allowing blood to divert to healthy veins in the leg. VenaSeal™ has been proven to be a more effective, less invasive procedure for the treatment of CVH, the main cause of most varicose veins. It is done right in the office, takes about an hour, and you can carry on most normal activities the very same day.
Sclerotherapy is another effective treatment for CVH. Sclerotherapy is a method of eliminating indwelling and surface varicose veins. A solution, called a sclerosing agent, is injected into the veins. Its job is to attach itself to the inner walls of the vein causing irritation and inflammation within the treated vein and, over time, the vein is reabsorbed by the body and disappears. It is done in the office and takes about 45 minutes.
Remember: Vein Disease is a Real Disease!
Varicose Veins are NOT just a cosmetic concern, but also a progressive disease. If left untreated, it can cause multiple issues to the function of not only the veins but the integrity of your skin, pain, heaviness, and swelling, to name a few. The proper time to seek treatment is sooner than later. Make an appointment today!
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