Skip to main content

 

Click HERE to view entire article.

5. Vein disease
Forty percent of people have chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition that occurs when the valves in the leg veins don’t work properly. Since they can’t bring blood from the legs back to the heart, the blood “drips” in the wrong direction and pools in the legs, said Dr. Christopher Pittman, medical director and CEO of Vein911 in Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida.

CVI is primarily hereditary but pregnancy and standing for long periods of time at work, for example, can increase your risk.

Symptoms of CVI can include swelling, heaviness in the legs, night cramps, restless legs, varicose veins and bulging veins. Although restless legs and leg cramps can affect sleep and make you feel tired, the sluggishness in your legs alone can deplete your energy.

An ultrasound is used to diagnose CVI and there are several non-surgical options available to treat it.