Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a condition where the venous walls in your legs may not be functioning correctly in returning blood to the heart resulting in backward blood flow. Usually, due to ageing, the valves in a person’s leg may get damaged.
Additionally, CVI can also be caused by reduced mobility and long hours of inactivity in the legs. Several symptoms like itching skin on the legs, stasis ulcers, and swelling in the ankles are early signs of a CVI condition. Hence, if you are struggling with an unusual swelling or pain in the legs, you are advised to contact a specialist for wound care in Alexandria who can help with an effective treatment.
How can a person prevent Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)?
- Leg elevation
Since the blood flow back to the heart is stopped abruptly, elevating your legs while lying on a bed or sitting on a chair can help prevent CVI at the early stages. However, medical treatment is recommended to get the condition checked by a doctor.
- Weight loss
Similarly, obesity can impact other health-related conditions in a person, but it can also affect and complicate CVI if there is an early sign of the condition. Hence, a person diagnosed with CVI is advised to prioritise losing weight.
- Regular exercise
As the condition can get severe due to reduced mobility, a person with CVI is expected to do basic exercises regularly. Even casual walking every day can be incredibly beneficial.
- Compression stockings
The stockings indirectly help apply pressure to the legs so that there is a proper movement of blood flow. Although the tightness of the stockings varies, your doctor may be able to suggest which one would be the most appropriate for you based on your condition.
- Prescribed antibiotics
In some cases, a doctor may prescribe medicines to prevent the blood clots in your leg. Additionally, any infection resulting in leg ulcers can also be treated with medication. Hence, consulting a doctor after seeing symptoms of CVI is essential.
Therefore, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) can be treated with adequate care if the patient strictly follows all the doctor’s instructions. If not, the condition can get complicated. Quitting smoking and maintaining a balanced diet is also an effective prevention measure for CVI. It is said that more women get diagnosed with CVI than most men, and some pregnant women can get CVI due to prolonged sitting.