Venous Reflux Disease (VRD), also known as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) probably isn’t a topic you discuss over the dinner table. The fact is, it’s more common than you might realize. Women are the largest targets for Venous Reflux Disease. 40% of women will develop it, usually between 40 and 49 years of age. 

What is venous pooling?

Venous pooling is also known as chronic venous insufficiency or venous reflux occurs when the small valves in our leg veins become damaged and no longer function properly. The purpose of our veins is to pump blood back to the heart. Our veins often have to work against gravity to accomplish this goal.

Here’s the classic story: I wake up in the mornings and my legs feel pretty good, but as the day goes on, they start to drag. After a few hours on my feet, or behind my desk, my legs start to feel heavy, achy, and tired. Sometimes I even notice swelling in my feet and ankles, especially after a long car trip or a flight. How can I stop these symptoms from interfering with my life and activities?

If this sounds like you, you may be suffering from a common condition called venous insufficiency, also known as venous reflux disease.

Veins transport blood back to the heart after being delivered to different parts of the body, so it’s important to keep these vital pathways healthy. While a lot of focus is on arterial diseases such as carotid artery disease and renal vascular disease, veins can have problems of their own. The Center for Vascular Medicine’s team of experienced doctors and clinical staff are here to help with all forms of vascular disease. Vein disease is very common: 70 percent of women and 40 percent of men are affected by at least one of the several types.