VeinDirectory - "The Know"

CBS4.com did a report last week for their Health section about an innovative vein treatment procedure that is beginning to be used by doctors across the nation. The "closure fast" procedure is considered to be a breakthrough for the vein treatment industry because it is as efficient as laser vein treatment but is much less painful. Of course, the news report didn't just rely on hype to learn about the treatment. It went to a professional.

The professional quoted throughout the "closure fast" report is Dr. Jose Almeida, a Miami doctor who is part of our network of recommended physicians. Dr. Almeida is quoted as saying that the new procedure combines the best of two older technologies to give patients a terrific new option. You can learn more about Dr. Almeida here on our site.

If you're interested in this type of procedure but don't live in Miami, you can check our network for other recommended professionals throughout the nation. Even if they aren't doing "closure fast", they can help you to determine what solutions can get rid of your varicose veins. As noted in the report, this is often covered by medical insurance because it's considered to be a necessary procedure (even though it can be done for cosmetic reasons) so money shouldn't be the reason stopping you from finding a doctor.

Question of the Day: Would you prefer to use a new vein treatment technology like this one or a more established one like sclerotherapy?

Vascular biologists study the blood vessels in the body to offer medical professionals new tools for understanding vein disease. However, sometimes researchers in one area of medicine make discoveries that benefit other related areas of research. That was the case recently when a group of vascular biologists made research discoveries that benefit the medical community interested in neurobiology.

These vascular biologists made discoveries related to JAM-C, a cell adhesion molecule located in the body's peripheral nerves. JAM-C was previously correlated primarily with inflammatory disorders but has now been found to link directly to improving the health of the peripheral nerves. A lack of JAM-C has been correlated with an increase in nerve damage and muscle weakness. This gives neurobiolgists a new area of study that might have gone overlooked if it hadn't been for the work of these vascular biologists. (Read more about the study here.)

If you're interested in the ongoing work being done by vascular biologists, you might consider learning more about the field through the National Association of Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO). You can also ask your vein treatment doctor where he/she obtains their updated information about the field.

Question of the Day: What is the benefit of cross-discipline research such as this?

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There was an article online recently which talked about the importance of making workstations more ergonomic. The article was specific to call center workstations but the information can be applied to any office - or even home office. Essentially, it reported on the fact that a poorly designed workstation environment leads to a number of significant health risks. For example, prolonged sitting can lead to the development of varicose veins.

The simple foot rest was recommended as a varicose vein prevention tool for the office. By resting your legs on a foot rest rather than leaving them dangling towards the floor, you decrease the risk of developing varicose veins. You can further decrease your risk by engaging in other basic varicose vein prevention techniques such as regularly getting up from the desk to walk around and stretch your legs.

By engaging in these techniques, you limit the likelihood that you will develop varicose veins. However, they may still develop as you age. If that happens, you can look into options like laser light treatment or EVLT for removing the veins. But it's better to postpone those treatments if you can so rely on prevention first and treatment second.

Question of the Day: What health problems have you noticed as a result of the design of your work space?

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We've noted here before that varicose veins may be simply unsightly or they may be a symptom of a bigger problem: Peripheral Arterial Disease. (See the previous post on PAD here.) What we also noted in passing in that post was that PAD has serious problems associated with it including that it frequently requires limb amputation.

A recent news report suggests that people who are suffering from PAD have an option that's much more pleasant that amputation of the leg. They can use an artificial artery to bypass the existing arteries and create a newly flowing blood system. This allows the symptoms of PAD to be minimized and the leg to remain healthy (and attached to the body!)

"Doctors sew the artificial artery right onto an open artery in the leg. It's essentially a bypass procedure where blood re-routes and travels through the new artery to get to the patient's lower leg." (source)

The article notes that the surgery is specifically designed for people whose bodies don't have a vein available to do a non-artificial blood re-route. Someone with varicose veins would fall into this category. And since varicose veins are themselves a symptom of PAD, this means that PAD patients are likely to consider this option.

Question of the Day: How concerned are you that your varicose veins are a symptom of a bigger problem?

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At the beginning of this week, we reported on the fact that one of the doctors in our network (Miami's Dr. Almeida) had been quoted in the news for his expert opinion on ClosureFast vein treatment procedures. What we failed to note at the time was that another of our doctors was also mentioned in the news earlier that week for the same recognition.

Dr. Steven Kaufman from Fort Collins, Colorado was noted as the surgeon who treated patient Beth Mizer for her unsightly (and quite painful) varicose veins. "Before being treated by Kaufman, Mizer's legs were covered with protruding varicosities and her right ankle was discolored from ulcers," reports the article. Using the ClosureFast procedure, Dr. Kaufman was able to do what two of Mizer's previous doctors could not: close the veins.

The patient reports only good things about the procedure which was done quickly in an outpatient treatment. And the newspaper is just one of many that's reporting positively on the doctors in our network. You can learn more about Dr. Kaufman here or find other doctors in our network here. Read the complete article (quoted above) here.

Question of the Day: Have you spotted any of our doctors in the news lately?

Last week, we mentioned that two of our doctors (Dr. Almeida in Miami and Dr. Kaufman in Colorado) had gotten media attention for the work that they're doing using an innovative new approach to vein treatment. Those articles gave you a brief look at the VNUS Closure FAST treatment that they're being recognized for using. Now let's look more in-depth at the details of this new method of treating patients suffering from vein problems such as varicose veins.

VNUS Closure FAST is an improvement on the previously used technology called simply VNUS Closure. Both technologies make use of heat to seal off the problematic veins. The new method of treatment does so much more quickly and efficiently.

"In both of these different types of procedures, the treatment catheter or fibre is passed up the vein, usually under local anaesthetic, through a 2 mm or 3 mm nick in the skin, usually just above or below the knee. The fibre, or catheter, can then be positioned inside the vein at the groin using ultrasound. Anaesthesia is injected around the vein and then the catheter is switched on, heating the vein and permanently destroying it. This means the whole of the major part of the operation can now be performed through this 2 mm or 3 mm incision and under local anaesthetic." (source)

This means that the vein treatment is now a much less invasive procedure. This reduces the healing time required for patients, the pain that would be experienced in surgery and the scarring or other effects of treatment. If you're interested in learning more, take a look at this post that we did back in 2006 of a video produced by VNUS Closure. Then take a look at the detailed description of VNUS Closure Fast here on our site.

Question of the Day: We've pointed out plenty of reports of our doctors using this treatment. Have you heard about it anywhere else?

Twenty California doctors combined their efforts on a recent trip to Guatemala. They weren't there to soak up the sun. Instead, they were donating their time and energy to bringing the innvoative technologies that we have in the United States to people living in another country. Among the treatments that the people of Guatemala received during the week that the doctors were there was a significant number of varicose vein repair treatments.

The volunteer clinicians from the Bay Area saw over one thousand patients in the time that they were in Guatemala. Of those, over two hundred received treatments for various ailments. Those treatments included plastic surgery for reconstructive purposes such as cleft lips. Treatment for varicose veins was high on the list of procedures done by the plastic surgery part of the team. (The team also included doctors specializing in gynecology, eye surgery and general surgery).

The United States has an innovative approach to medicine. We are regularly updating the tools that we use to bring new and improved treatments to patients of all kinds. For example, vein treatment recently became much more efficient and effective as the result of new technology called the VNUS Closure Fast (see yesterday's post for additional details). When volunteers take the time to bring that advanced technology to other countries, they help individuals and communities across the globe.

Question of the Day: What procedures do you think are most important to the patients accepting assistance from a program such as this one?

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One of the most well-known methods of treating problem veins such as varicose veins is to use sclerotherapy. This is a non-invasive injection which shrinks the veins and reduces their appearance while minimizing other problems that the veins may cause (such as leg pain). However, this tried-and-true method of treating varicose veins is getting some competition in the modern medical market. A new procedure, VNUS Closure Fast, is rapidly becoming the preferred treatment method by both doctors and patients concerned about varicose veins.

The main reason that the VNUS Closure Fast is gaining popularity so quickly is because of how rapidly it works. "Fast" is in the name of this product because it's quick at what it does. And what is that? It uses heat to seal off the varicose veins. The veins seal off and the effect is similar to that achieved by sclerotherapy. However, the time that it takes to perform the procedure is significantly reduced in comparison with the older method of treatment.

In addition to rapidly replacing sclerotherapy, VNUS Closure Fast provides an excellent alternative to other methods of vein treatment which are far more invasive. For example, stripping of the vein may not be necessary for most people if they can instead make use of the newer technologies to remove the veins.

VNUS Closure Fast is a great new technology but it might not be the right choice for everyone. You should find a doctor who is knowledgeable about both the new and old procedures. Then you can work together with your doctor to identify the proper treatment for your own varicose veins.

Question of the Day: Are you more likely to prefer a newer treatment or a more established one for treating problems such as varicose veins?

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VNUS Medical Technologies Inc. has been getting a lot of attention in the media lately because of their recent launch of a new product called Closure Fast. This new treatment method has helped to make varicose vein eradication more efficient. However, it's not the first time that we've seen VNUS in the offices of our vein treatment doctors. The original VNUS Closure procedure was used by doctors until this new faster method of treatment was developed. The company is just getting a significant amount of attention for the newer treatment because of how innovative it is.

That innovation is what helps drive any company forward. VNUS hopes to continue to see innovation like this as the company's new Vice President of Research and Development takes his position this month. In a recent press release, the company announced the appointment of Kirti Kamdar to the position of Research and Development Senior Vice President. Mr. Kamdar comes to the position with over twenty years of medical research behind him.

By appointing a new leader in this area of the company, VNUS may be able to move forward even more with its innovative medical technology for vein treatment. For now, doctors are happy to be adopting the VNUS Closure Fast system in their own practices. (You can see information about our doctors using this procedure here and here.) With the right people in place, this company could continue to make headlines.

Question of the Day: Were you aware of VNUS before the recent Closure Fast announcements?

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VNUS Closure Fast is something that we've been talking about a lot over the last two weeks. That's because this new method of vein treatment is making waves all over the place for its efficiency and effectiveness. You can learn more about it from our previous posts on the topic if you haven't already gotten the basic information about it down pat. But what we haven't mentioned is what you need to do to prepare for a treatment such as this one. After all, it sure sounds like an easy thing to do but if you're going to a doctor, there's got to be some considerations to take in mind, right?

Here are the things that you need to do before getting VNUS Closure Fast for your varicose veins:

1. Find a doctor that is knowledgeable about using this new procedure. Many of our doctors have started using it and are seeing success and satisfaction among their patients.

2. Discuss the pros and cons of using VNUS Closure Fast in comparison with other varicose vein treament methods.

3. Let your doctor know if you are taking any medications that thin your blood. Ask for specific recommendations about safety regarding this issue. You may still be able to get the procedure done but might have to stop the medication briefly before the treatment.

4. Double-check your body to see that it's ready for treatment. Are you feeling well? Do you have any skin rashes? Your doctor will check these things for you but it doesn't hurt to do a once-over on yourself.

If you work closely with your doctor you should be able to take advantage of the opportunity to use this new technology to get rid of your varicose veins.

Question of the Day: What other questions do you want to have answered before a VNUS Closure Fast procedure?

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You've been hearing a lot about VNUS Closure Fast, the new vein treatment method that doctors are using to efficiently heal varicose veins. The media is giving quite a bit of attention to the treatment (which is being used by many of the doctors in our network) because of how well it seems to be working for patients interested in treating their vein problems quickly and easily. One recent report of this nature comes from ABC News.

The news station reported on the case of one woman who has gotten VNUS Closure Fast from doctors at the University of San Francisco California hospital. The report (which you can read in full here) does a great job of explaining why VNUS Closure Fast has so rapidly gained popularity. It also effectively describes the difference between this system and the system that was used before this one became available.

More importantly, this news report points to the real live success that is experienced by patients who are suffering from varicose veins. The woman reported on in the story says that she was happy to say that she was up and walking around by the night of the first surgery. She was also pleased with the appearance of her legs after the surgery was complete.

Related links:

- Before you Get VNUS Closure Fast
- A Closer Look at VNUS Closure Fast

Question of the Day: Do you know of anyone who has a VNUS Closure Fast success story?

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Most people only pay attention to lawsuits in the news when they're impressively interesting or when they have a direct effect on the individual. For that reason, you may have missed learning about the vein treatment litigation that is pending in the courts after a series of delays. The news isn't great for gossip and may not have a direct effect on what's going on with you these days but it's interesting nonetheless.

The litigation is a result of a patent infringement lawsuit which was filed earlier this year. VNUS technologies (makers of the much-touted new VNUS Closure Fast technology) believe that they hold a patent which is being infringed upon by another vein treatment technology maker. The defendant in the litigation is Diomed (maker of EVLT) and co-defendants AngioDynamics and Vascular Solutions.

The status of the litigation is currently pending. A status conference was recently held but no date for the trial was set at that time. The end of the year will come and go before the next status conference on the issue is set to take place. For the meantime, that means that vein treatment will continue without change. However, we may see changes in the future if the litigation is successful.

Question of the Day: Does legal news about your medical interests concern you?

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AngioDynamics is a maker of vein treatment technologies which has steadily gained attention over the last year. The company received a vein treatment patent earlier this year which allowed it to move ahead with its NeverTouch VenaCure vein treatment technology. Shortly after that, the company gained attention in the financial world by impressing investors with its growth. Now AngioDynamics is in the news again after securing an exclusive contract for obtaining certain vein treatment equipment.

AngioDynamics will be the exclusive recipient of a private-label diode laser system created by PhotoMedex for the purpose of peripheral vascular treatments. The laser will be used with the NeverTouch VenaCure system to improve the system and make varicose vein treatment more efficient. The exclusive sale of the product required AngioDynamics to commit to a large purchase of the product. The company did so in the belief that this technology is the right one for treating varicose veins.

Despite AngioDynamics' growth in popularity over the last year, the company can't rest on its laurels if it wants to succeed in the vein treatment industry. The vast popularity of the new VNUS Closure Fast method provides direct competition to the technology developed by AngioDynamics. The company will need to work hard to stay in this competition.

Question of the Day: What are your predictions for the growth of AngioDynamics in the face of VNUS Closure Fast technology?

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Graduated compression stockings are generally recommended for people who are lying in a hospital bed and not exercising their legs. The other group of people who commonly get advice from their doctors to wear compression stockings is pregnant women who are concerned about the increased likelihood of varicose veins resulting from the pregnancy. A third group of people that you'll see talking about the importance of wearing compression stockings is travelers who are concerned about deep vein thrombosis resulting from airline flights.

But did you know that triathlon runners are gathering at the water jug to talk about the importance of wearing compression stockings?

Earlier this month a report was made by Inside Triathlon which broke down the importance of compression stocking use by runners. The article explained that the benefits of using compression stockings included reduced muscle soreness, increased performance and quicker recovery time. Tongue-in-cheek, the author also suggested that compression stockings could be a runner's fashion statement.

It's always recommended that compression stockings be discussed with a doctor who is familiar with vein treatment. There are some minimal risks when wearing compression stockings, especially during an activity such as running. However, there may also be significant benefits to the use of compression stockings. A doctor can help you sort out the bad from the good and decide if these are something you should add to your wardrobe.

Question of the Day: Have you heard of any other sports making use of compression stockings?

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Do you know someone who suffers from unsightly varicose veins? If the issue isn't too touchy, you might be able to get a gift for him or her this season that can help resolve that problem. Here are some Christmas gift ideas that might be appropriate for someone with either varicose veins or spider veins:

- Consultation with a doctor for sclerotherapy. It never hurts to find out what your options are. Giving a gift certificate to cover the cost of initial consultation with a vein doctor could be a great way to give the gift of vein treatment to someone who needs it this year. Find one located near your loved one here.

- Information about vein treatment options including sclerotherapy, laser treatment and the new VNUS Closure Fast. Compile some information for your loved one so that they don't have to try and sort through it all themselves.

- Compression stockings. These are most effective if you get them in the right size so it might be better to get a gift certificate for a fitting instead of trying to buy them yourself.

- Walking shoes. Varicose vein prevention includes regular exercise so walking shoes or a gym membership might make a good gift. This is also one that's more subtle for the person who might feel uncomfortable getting a gift that directly draws attention to their problem.

If you know someone who is suffering from varicose veins, you can help them out this holiday season. You'll see them wearing shorts this summer and be surprised at the change!

Question of the Day: Who in your life would be happy to receive a vein treatment gift this year?

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You made your list. You checked it twice. Okay, you checked it half a dozen times. You thought that you had taken care of everyone that you wanted to make sure to remember this holiday season. But you're a busy person and it's a busy time and it's really no surprise that you forgot someone. Chances are that you didn't forget the major people who make up your daily life or the relatives who have been in your life so long that you couldn't forget them. Instead, those forgotten at the holiday season are the people who are around on the fringes of your life; people like your vein treatment doctor.

No, you don't have to get a gift for your doctors (or anyone else who provides your life with a service, for that matter). But if you're thankful for the good work that your doctors have done for you in the past, it's nice to let them know that they're appreciated. The holidays are a great time to recognize the small ways that people have affected your life. When you wear that knee-high dress to your New Year's Eve parties this year and don't have to concern yourself with trying to hide your varicose veins, you'll be grateful that your doctor was around this year. Why not let him or her know that she offered this to you and that you appreciate it?

Of course, if you bought a gift for every person like this in your life, you'd be broke. But you can make a small gesture this week that doesn't cost much and still infuses your doctor's office with the holiday spirit. Call him and leave a personal Merry Christmas message on Christmas morning so that he has something nice to return to when the office re-opens again. Or order a bouquet of flowers to be delivered later this week so that the Christmas spirit can linger a little longer in the doctor's office this year.

Question of the Day: Which service-providers and health professionals did you get gifts for this Christmas?

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It's Christmas and in the spirit of the holiday many people are thinking about giving to a local charity. There are charities for all sorts of different causes, including health causes that range from reconstructive surgery to infertility treatment assistance. But what if your medical area of concern is vein treatment? Where would you donate your money this year?

In a general search through the standard databases, you will find no hint of a non-profit organizaton devoted to vein treatment. Is this because there aren't any out there? And if so, why is that? Although some would argue that vein treatment is a cosmetic procedure and therefore not worthy of charity, we know that vein treatment can help relieve pain and discomfort for people who are suffering from it. Since so many people are afflicted with vein problems, it would seem that there would be a strong interest in raising awareness about varicose vein prevention and raising funds for additional research into medical treatments for the problem.

Despite the fact that there doesn't appear to be an organized charity that you can give to in order to support this cause, there are certainly people out there who are donating their time and efforts to vein treatment. Just recently, a group of doctors from the Bay Area volunteered their efforts in Guatemala to treat a number of medical problems including varicose veins. (Learn more here.)

If you're concerned about the issue of vein treatment and want to do more for your community this year, spend some time seeking out some good-deed-doers who are working in this area. Better yet, why not take it upon yourself to form a local non-profit organization devoted to this cause. Everything starts because someone decided to begin!

Question of the Day: What do you believe is the reason that there are no high-profile vein treatment charities around today?

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Browsing through the news, one comes across the most interesting things. If you're lucky, these things lead you to think about other things and get your creative juices flowing. The more connections that you can make in your mind, the more interconnected all of life feels.

Here's an example of this vein of thought:

The Winston County Journal recently ran a first-person article by a person who was suffering from a varicose vein infection. The news report wasn't about the infection, but it mentioned in passing that the reporter's normal ability to report the news was hindered because of the need to stay in bed with an elevated leg.

Reading this, one could easily just browse past it. The content wasn't particularly attention-catching. However, it's interesting to think about. After all, you would expect that a triathloner or a delivery person might have to stop working because of leg vein problems. But a writer? Writers just sit in front of their computers every day, right?

Wrong. Sure, some writers probably operate that way. But real reporters get out there and engage with the world around them. To write about life, they must experience it. You can't experience much when you're stuck in bed needing vein treatment.

And that's something that writers should think about. Because really, they do spend a lot of time just sitting in front of their computers. And if they don't take the breaks they need, this can cause poor circulation which leads to varicose veins. And that could lead to a decrease in the size of their paychecks!

Question of the Day: How would your job be affected by painful varicose veins?

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Christmas is over and it won't be too long before you start taking down the Christmas tree. You'll put the ornaments back in their box until next year. You'll trash the tinsel. And you'll try to figure out where you've got to go to dump the tree off to be recycled.

Before you do that, did you know that the tree bark could actually be good for you? If your Christmas tree was a pine tree, it's bark has properties that could help to heal your varicose veins. A small study that was done showed that pycnogenol, an ingredient found in the bark of pine trees, was one hundred percent successful in reducing the problems that a group of forty patients were having as a result of their varicose veins. Learn more about this here.

Of course, you can't actually take your Christmas tree to your vein treatment doctor and ask him to cure you. If you tried, he'd probably tell you that a treatment like VNUS Closure Fast or sclerotherapy would provide better results for your veins. But it's nice to know that even though it's time to take down the tree, it might be doing someone some good later on.

Question of the Day: What other natural remedies have you heard of being obtained from Christmas trees?

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2008 is almost here. Have you made your New Year's Resolutions yet? If so, they probably include a number of personal goals ranging from taking more time for yourself to spending more time with loved ones. There are probably also a few goals in there about health or fitness. But what probably didn't make the list was a goal related to dealing with your varicose veins.

Sure, they bother you but not enough to be worthy of your focused goal-setting attention, right? Wrong. When you're thinking about making changes to your life, you should be thinking about the big picture as well as the small details. Taking care of things that seem minor (like your varicose veins) can lead to bigger changes. Just the process of setting goals and achieving them can be life-changing.

So here are some possible New Year's Resolutions that you might want to add to your list if you're someone who has varicose veins:

- Find a doctor that specializes in vein treatment and make an appointment.
- Research the options that you have for treating your varicose veins so that you're more informed about what can be done. You can't get sclerotherapy or VNUS Closure Fast if you don't even know what those are.
- Start walking. Walking and other leg-moving exercises will help you naturally improve those veins until you get them taken care of.
- Buy compression stockings and learn the do's and don'ts of using them.

Most importantly, commit to taking your varicose veins seriously. They may be unsightly or they may be a symptom of a bigger health problem. Knowing where you stand can make a huge difference in your daily life. And there are 366 days in the upcoming year so that's something worth improving!

Question of the Day: Have you ever made a New Year's Resolution about your varicose veins before?

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It's the last day of 2007 and what better way to wind it up than to take a look at the top stories covered here on this blog throughout the year? Here are some of the favorites that we want to go back to again and again. Leave your comments at the end to tell us what you liked learning about.

- VNUS Closure Fast. By far, the most interesting achievement in vein treatment this year was the development of the VNUS Closure Fast system. It's only been in the news recently but we've seen our doctors making headlines for its use again and again. Favorite stories in this area included tips on preparing yourself for the treatment and one individual's story of success.

- Celebrity Vein Stories. We like news but we also like gossip. Varicose vein gossip that we saw in 2007 included stories about Angelina Jolie, Natalie Portman and Britney Spears. We still want to know who you think needs vein treatment for spider veins?

- Compression stockings - news and information. 2007 was a year when consumers began to realize the benefits of using compression stockings. We saw them recommended for triathloners and pregnant women. The majority of the stories, though, were about the use of compression stockings during travel flights.

There was plenty of other vein treatment news in 2007; those were just the areas of most interest. Our archives can catch you up on anything that you missed out on. And now we kick off 2008!

Question of the Day: Which vein treatment stories from 2007 interested you most?

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