Pooling of blood is medically termed as ‘Chronic Venous Insufficiency’. Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a skin condition that involves reduced extremity edema, vital skin changes, and discomfort complemented with venous hypertension. In simple words, it is a condition where blood is not efficiently draining from the legs back to the heart. It happens when the valves inside the veins get damaged. This damage can occur with age or can be a cause of immobility, obesity, prolonged standing, or deep vein thrombosis. Thus, it results in skin changes. The Gaiter Area in the legs is the most affected in which the skin is discolored as brown or red, medically conditioned as Hemosiderin staining. The skin becomes dry, flaky, itchy, scaly, red, and cracked too which leads to chronic inflammation. It is not a serious condition but if ignored and left for abrasion, it can result in major issues like pulmonary embolism, secondary lymphedema, and ulcers.
Symptoms of Pooling of Blood
- Pain in calf and area
- Varicosities
- Skin discoloration
- Itchy skin
- Open sores
- Ulcers
- Heaviness in legs
- Tired legs
- Burning and tingling sensation
- Swelling (ankles and legs)
Causes of Bloof Pooling or CVI
- Improper physical lifestyle
- Aging
- Family lineage
- Pregnancy
- High blood pressure
- Blood clotting
- Prolonged sitting or the same posture
Treating Blood Pooling in legs
There are a few questions taken into account to understand the reason behind blood pooling in one’s body. Chronic Venous Insufficiency is inefficient drainage of blood from the legs to the heart because of the contraction of veins. Though it sounds difficult it is not as typical to cure. The primary step is to ensure blood flow in veins properly leaving no clots. Thus, there are a lot of ways through which blood pooling can be treated. Some of them are listed below-Compression Stockings - The most popular and initiated treatment is compression stockings. The stockings softly press the legs with mild pressure and help prevent blood clots, swelling, and the pooling of blood. Wearing compression stockings can enhance the blood flow in the legs thereby boosting cardiovascular health.
Medicines - one of the primary treatments of any disease is medication. The pooling of blood in the legs can also be treated with medicines. Patients can consult neurologists and follow their prescriptions accordingly. With regular exercise and proper medication follow-up routine, the condition of blood pooling can be cured.
Sclerotherapy – it is an advanced form of the treatment. In this, the damaged nerve is injected with a medicative liquid to cease the flow of blood through the damaged veins. The blood is not transmitted from the vein instead the other veins carry blood from the legs to the heart. The damaged veins are eliminated and thereby absorbed by the body. Therefore, sclerotherapy is the elimination of affected and damaged veins.
Laser therapy or Catheter procedures – In this procedure, a thin tube, or catheter, is inserted into the damaged vein, and a laser is used to burn or seal it. This procedure is usually performed on larger veins to disfunction them. After that, the blood flow is redirected to other veins in the legs.
Venaseal – To cure varicosities, the doctor uses a catheter in the treatment to seal the damaged vein with glue. The catheter is inserted in the vein with a glue on its top and seals the vein preventing further blood flow through it. The blood flow of the vein is taken up by the other veins.
Phlebectomy – It is used to treat small damaged veins. In this, the doctor numbs the patient’s legs and makes small holes into the skin or pricks the skin and then removes the vein from the body. The blood flow is redirected to the other veins.
Make changes to the lifestyle – lifestyle today is extremely unbalanced and unhealthy. Making small changes to the lifestyle can save an individual not only from the pooling of blood in the legs but many more complications and diseases for example, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, stress, and mental health issues.
Maintain healthy eating habits – ‘our body is what we eat’. Food is the major source of energy in the human body. Eating habits affect our body functioning for example high sugar food leads to diabetes, fatty food can induce cholesterol, similarly, blood pressure in the body is also affected. By keeping a balanced nutrient diet, one can prevent the pooling of blood and many other diseases.
Seizure of smoke practices – smoking causes serious illnesses namely cancer, asthma, respiratory problems, pulmonary diseases, blood clots, etc. Therefore, quitting smoking or minimizing the habit is essential for a healthy body and a healthy lifestyle.
Exercise regularly – it is one of the extremely demanded habits for our body. Today’s corporate and private life has eliminated all types of physical work out of people. Hence it is important to spare time for exercise daily. It’ll help in maintaining a healthy mind and body and will increase productivity.
Avoid stagnant postures for too long (standing, sitting)– to prevent the pooling of blood in the legs and other problems, one should avoid the same positions for too long and try to make physical mobility. Siting or standing for long hours can cause blood pooling, nerve clusters, improper posture, etc. Thus, immobility of the body is as harmful as unhealthy eating and both of them should be avoided.
Avoiding underweight and overweight – maintenance of healthy body weight is equally necessary. Junk and oily food, no exercise routine, and no physical activity involving entertainment options have raised obesity levels around the globe. Therefore, keeping yourself in shape and weight parameters is essential for a healthy body and the prevention of blood pooling and other diseases.
To conclude, the pooling of blood in the legs can be prevented by improving venous drainage. Keeping the body active, and legs elevated, physical exercise, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can cure blood pooling and vein damage.