Often undervalued and, therefore, diagnosed late, the Chronic Venous Disease It can affect patients' quality of life, and appropriate and timely treatment is essential. A significant number of people underestimate Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) and its symptoms at an early stage. It is pathology affects the walls and valves of the veins of the legs and makes it difficult to blood circulation to the heart.
The first signs of CVD are the feeling of heavy, tired and painful legs, which worsen with heat and standing. These are complaints that limit simple day-to-day tasks, which are seen aggravated with the arrival of warmer months .
In Portugal, DVC affects 35% of the adult population , with a higher incidence in women from the age of 30, and it is worrying that a large majority of those affected do not seek medical help. It is often diagnosed late, which can affect patients' quality of life, with a significant social and economic impact.
Margarida Santos, General and Family Medicine doctor, highlights that “ it is essential to know how to recognize how chronic venous disease manifests itself. Initial complaints are often discounted assuming that it is normal with age or the arrival of warm weather. But it may not be and that is why I recommend, at the slightest suspicion, to seek out a healthcare professional .”
Get to know here 7 symptoms of Chronic Venous Disease that cannot be ignored:
1. Tired legs;
2. Pain in the legs;
3. Swollen legs and ankles;
4. Itching;
5. Numbness in the legs;
6. nocturnal cramps ;
7. Feeling of heavy legs.
Patients should seek medical or pharmaceutical help whenever they suspect they are experiencing CVD. The sooner the diagnosis is made and sooner if you start treating the disease, better will be your prognosis of evolution. The diagnosis is simple and aspects related to the disease can be investigated in a medical consultation.
O treatment depends on the presence and severity of symptoms and must be adapted case by case, and may include venoactive medications , elastic compression as well as interventions surgical .