What is Chronic Venous Disease?
While there are many potential causes for this problem, the most common is a history of blood clots having formed in the veins usually in years past and many times without the knowledge of the patient or physician involved. The net result is an elevated pressure within the veins due to faulty valve function. The function of the veins is to carry blood back to the heart. Since man walks in a vertical position, the flow of blood in returning to the heart has to proceed against the forces of gravity. The forward direction is maintained by forces of the muscle pump in the extremities squeezing the blood vessels, and forcing the blood to proceed upwards toward the heart. This is aided by the presence of valves within the veins which act as one way doors allowing the blood to proceed upward, but then closing with any backward movement of blood and preventing blood from going back into the distal veins again. When veins dilate the valves can no longer oppose properly, or when blood clots or p
