Top 10 Causes of Chronic Venous Disease?

Chronic venous disease (CVD), also known as chronic venous insufficiency, happens when the veins in your legs can’t pump blood back up to your heart effectively. 

Instead, blood pools in the lower limbs, raising pressure inside the veins and leading to problems like swelling, aching, varicose veins, skin changes, and, in severe cases, ulcers. Several factors contribute to this condition:

1. Faulty Vein Valves

Leg veins have one-way valves that keep blood moving upward. When these valves weaken or fail, often because the vein walls stretch, blood can flow backwards, a process called venous reflux. Over time, this backflow damages the veins and worsens CVD.

2. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

A blood clot in a deep leg vein can injure valve leaflets. Even after the clot dissolves, remaining scar tissue may prevent the valve from closing fully. This “post‑thrombotic syndrome” is a common trigger of chronic venous insufficiency.

3. Ageing and Wear‑and‑Tear

As you get older, vein walls and valves naturally lose elasticity. This wear‑and‑tear makes your valves less able to resist the pressure of returning blood, increasing the risk of valve failure.

4. Genetic Predisposition

Family history plays a key role. If your parents or siblings have varicose veins or other venous problems, you’re more likely to develop CVD. Some people are even born with weaker vein walls or malformed valves, setting the stage early.

5. Obesity and Excess Weight

Extra body weight adds pressure to the veins in your legs. This constant strain can stretch vein walls and weaken valves, making it easier for blood to pool.

6. Prolonged Standing or Sitting

Jobs that require long hours on your feet or sitting at a desk reduce the natural “calf‑muscle pump” that helps push blood upward. When calf muscles don’t contract regularly, blood lingers in the legs, raising venous pressure and damaging valves over time.

7. Pregnancy and Hormonal Factors

Pregnancy increases blood volume and places hormonal stress on the vein walls. Higher progesterone levels relax vein walls, and the pressure of a growing uterus can lead to varicose veins and, in some cases, long‑term venous disease. Multiple pregnancies raise the lifetime risk.

8. Smoking and Inactivity

Tobacco use damages blood vessels and can encourage clot formation. A sedentary lifestyle further impairs circulation. Together, these factors speed up valve deterioration and raise the chance of clot‑related damage.

9. Leg Injury or Surgery

Trauma to the leg—whether from an accident or surgery—can scar veins or damage valves. Even minor injuries may create blockages or leaks that trigger chronic insufficiency.

10. Other Medical Conditions

Health issues such as heart failure, kidney disease, and diabetes can worsen venous pressures. While not direct causes, they add strain on leg veins and may accelerate the onset or severity of CVD.