Tired, Aching Legs or Leg Swelling? It Could Be Venous Insufficiency

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) affects the vascular health of millions of adults. If your legs feel heavy, or frequent aching or swelling bothers you, it may be due to CVI.

Parkview Cardiology in New York City offers comprehensive diagnostic tests in the office to evaluate your vein health and confirm or rule out venous insufficiency.

Our board-certified cardiologist, Kedar Sankholkar, MD, MS, FACC, specializes in vascular studies, using the latest technologies to monitor the flow of blood through the veins in your lower limbs.

Dr. Sankholkar also provides custom care plans to improve circulation and reduce risk factors for varicose veins and other complications of venous insufficiency.

Understanding chronic venous insufficiency

Chronic venous insufficiency develops when the valves in the veins of your legs don’t function as they should.

In a healthy vein, blood flows from your lower extremities back to your heart. A faulty valve (and gravity) causes blood to flow backward, and it can pool inside the vein and enlarge the vessel (varicose veins).

Varicose veins are often visible through the skin, appearing blue or purple in color. The veins may twist and bulge outward. Significant pressure inside the damaged vein can lead to persistent swelling and the formation of ulcers (open) sores on the surface of the skin.

Without treatment, CVI can lead to symptoms that progressively worsen, including:

Pain
Itching
Swelling
Discoloration
Skin thickening

If skin ulcers form, they can be slow to heal and increase your risk of infection. The severity of CVI symptoms can ultimately impede your mobility and reduce your quality of life.

In some cases, people with untreated CVI develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a pulmonary embolism, blood-clotting conditions that can potentially damage the heart.

Diagnosing chronic venous insufficiency

Parkview Cardiology offers vascular ultrasounds to assess the health of your leg veins. This noninvasive test uses sound waves to create images of the veins, helping us identify damaged valves.

Dr. Sankholkar also completes a physical exam and reviews your personal and family medical histories to identify your risk factors for other cardiovascular conditions.

If leg pain and other CVI symptoms interfere with your mobility or quality of life, Dr. Sankholkar creates a treatment plan to improve blood flow through your veins and reduce your risk factors for blood clots and other complications.

Exploring treatment options for CVI

Many people with chronic venous insufficiency can find symptom relief through lifestyle changes and home care strategies, such as:

Elevating legs above the heart several times a day
Engaging in daily cardio exercises
Maintaining a healthy weight
Wearing compression socks
Eating a heart-healthy diet

Dr. Sankholkar also provides prescription medicines such as blood thinners to enhance circulation and prevent blood clots. He discusses your options for sclerotherapy or other treatments to address painful and unsightly varicose veins.

At follow-up visits, he monitors your circulatory health and ensures your CVI symptoms are under control.

Call Parkview Cardiology in Manhattan’s Midtown West neighborhood today to schedule vascular studies for painful varicose veins, or request a diagnostic evaluation for CVI online.