Venous insufficiency can occur in men or women of any age. However, it typically occurs more frequently in those over 50, and women are at a higher risk.
What Is Venous Insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency is a condition where the leg veins have difficulty returning blood to the heart. This can occur when the valves in the veins that help blood flow back up to the heart become damaged or weakened, causing blood to pool in the legs. Venous insufficiency can lead to the following symptoms:
- Achy, painful legs
- Tired, heavy, fatigued legs
- Swelling of ankles and legs
- Skin discoloration, redness, or inflammation
- Bulging veins (varicose veins)
- Itching, irritation, dryness, tingling, or burning sensation of the skin
- Spider veins