Chronic Venous Disease (CVD)
(Leg Vein Problems)
Overview
Venous disease (leg vein problems), such as blood clots and weak or damaged veins, can interfere with the crucial role of veins in the cardiovascular system—to return blood to the heart and lungs. Venous disease of the legs can result in leg swelling, discomfort, color change, and ulcers. Venous disease is a common chronic condition—in fact, it’s estimated that by the age of 50, 40% of women* and 20% of men* will have leg vein problems.1 If you don’t do something about these vein problems, they can hurt and interfere with your daily activities for the rest of your life.
Several common vein problems can develop in the legs. Some are more serious than others, but all are worth discussing with your doctor.
| Type of Vein Problem | Description |
|---|---|
|
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)
|
CVI refers to damage or weakness in the vein wall or vein valve that interferes with blood travelling back up the legs correctly. The backflow of blood accumulates in the veins and causes inflammation and potentially phlebitis. Clotting can block or slow blood flow through the vein, raising venous blood pressure and possibly causing inflammation and more damage. Varicose and spider veins can be caused by the accumulation of blood from venous reflux. |
| Congenital vascular malformation (includes birthmarks) | This catchall term affects very few people (less than 1%) and refers to those born with defective veins. Sometimes a small artery communicates directly with a small vein. This category also includes birthmarks, a cluster of veins close to the skin. |
| Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) | With DVT, blood clots form in the large veins deep within the legs, pelvis, and sometimes in the arms. As many as 900,000 people in the U.S. are affected by DVT each year.2 DVTs can not only lead to acute leg pain and swelling, they may break off and move into the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism (PE). In some cases, PE can be fatal. |
| Phlebitis | This condition refers to inflammation and clotting, usually in the shallow veins. They can become red and very tender. |
| Post-thrombotic syndrome (also known as post-phlebitic syndrome and venous stress disorder) | After a DVT, there may be chronic damage to the veins of the legs as well as chronic leg pain and swelling. Symptoms include pain, heaviness in the leg or foot, cramps, itching, tingling, bluish or brownish flaky skin, sores, and varicose veins. |
| Pulmonary embolism (PE) | This condition occurs when a blood clot breaks free from a deep vein and enters an artery in the lung. PE is a life-threatening condition that can cause heart failure and even cardiac arrest and death, so it’s important to call 911 if you have chest pain, trouble breathing or are coughing up blood as this may be a PE. |
| Thrombophlebitis | This condition causes swelling by a blood clot in the vein. It can mainly occur in the superficial veins including in varicose veins. |
| Thrombosis | This condition refers to a blood clot in the vein. Blood clots can block blood flow, break free, and travel through the bloodstream to the heart and lungs (see pulmonary embolism [PE] above). |
| Venous sores | When there is venous hypertension and inflammation in the legs for a long time, it can cause ulcers or sores. |
*The term “women” in the context of “women’s cardiovascular health” applies to individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) who have a female biological reproductive system, which includes a vagina, uterus, ovaries, Fallopian tubes, accessory glands, and external genital organs.
*The term “men” in the context of “cardiovascular health” applies to individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB) who have a male biological reproductive system, which includes a penis, scrotum, testes, epididymis, vas deferens, prostate, and seminal vesicles.