VeinDirectory - "The Know"

Veindirectory.org interviewed and videotaped numerous physicians and companies in the field of venous disease at the Annual American College of Phlebology Congress in November 8-11th 2007 in Tucson, Arizona. These videos provide a significant amount of information about the people who are working in vein treatment today and the progress that they are making in the field.

The above video is one example of such work, highlighting that which has been done. It profiles the work of Vein Advisory Group which is a "full scale practice management firm" providing services that range from health planning to implementing those plans within large businesses. They serve the medical practitioners that are working in vein treatment today, providing a service which streamlines the health business and allows those practitioners to provide better organized care to their patients.

Stay tuned to this blog all week for additional videos and information about the achievements that are being made in vein treatment today.

Question of the Day: What vein treatment professional or vein treatment business would you particularly like to see profiled on this blog?

As noted yesterday, VeinDirectory.org did interviews recently with variuos professionals who provide assistance to the vein treatment community. One important aspect of vein treatment that sometimes gets overlooked because of its simplicity is the use of compression stockings. Some people find that the use of these stockings may prevent them from needing further vein treatment such as VNUS Closure Fast or sclerotherapy.

Below you will find three videos profiling the work of three different businesses that specialize in providing compression stockings to vein treatment professionals and their patients.

VIDEO #1: This video profiles a product called Jobst which is created by BSN Medical. BSN Medical is the largest manufacturer of compression garments in the entire world and is also reported to be the number one physician recommended brand in the industry.

VIDEO #2: This video profiles a different type of compression stockings provider. The company provides what is called a "value product" which means that the prices on their products are generally lower than the competition although they retain the same type of quality. It is believed that Ames Walker Hosiery, the company profiled here, has the broadest range of graduated compression stockings in the value market.

VIDEO #3: There are compression stockings manufacturers all around the world. This one, Juzo, manufactures compression stockings for both the German and U.S. markets.

Question of the Day: Where would you go to get your compression stockings and why?

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There are many different aspects of the vein treatment industry which are important to take a look at if you are going to have a thorough understanding of what the entire field is all about. You'll want to know about the medical treatments that are available for problems such as varicose veins. You will want to learn about doctors who stand out in the field of vein treatment. You'll want to learn about resources for gaining ongoing information about vein treatment. And you'll want to learn about the companies that are making technological advances in treating vein treament problems.

One of the businesses that falls into the latter category is Syris Scientific. As you will learn from the video below, this business creates products that are designed to allow vein treatment doctors to do their jobs more efficiently and mroe effectively. For example, they have a hands-free headset which lets doctors look one mm below the skin while removing the reflective glare off of the skin. This lets doctors better target the vascular structures under the skin using cross-colorization, magnification and illumination technology. As a result, doctors using this product are more likely to quickly and efficiently do their work and get patients the vein treatment results they want.

Question of the Day: What aspect of vein treatment information interests you most?

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If you've been following the blog this week, you know that VeinDirectory.org had the opportunity to interview a number of professionals in the vein treatment industry when they attended the American College of Phlebology Congress in November 8-11th in Tucson, Arizona late last year.

Following you will find two videos in which you can see different vein treatment doctors who work in the field today discuss the kinds of services that they provide to their patients. If you want to find a doctor in your own area, check our network here.

First, there is a video profiling the work of Dr. John P. Federbusch. He works specifically in the specialty area of varicose vein treatment. He treats both spider veins and varicose veins using non-surgical injection therapies.

Next, take a look at a video profiling the work of Dr. Mark McQuaid who does both general surgery and venous surgery in the state of Texas. He specializes in endovenous ablations, phlebectomy, injection sclerotherapy and the aesthetics of the lower extremeties.

In addition to these vein treatment doctors, VeinDirectory.org interviewed a series of doctors who not only do work in vein treatment but who also work in cosmetic surgery. See some of those videos here.

Question of the Day: What is the most important question you would ask a vein treatment doctor if you could talk with one today?

Here we are at the end of the first week of March already. Time sure flies, doesn't it? Before we get too much further along in the month, it's important to note that March is an awareness month of great importance to the vein treatment community.

March has been declared Deep Vein Thrombosis Month (or DVT Awareness Month).

Deep Vein Thrombosis is a serious medical condition that affects people who have problematic veins. A clot forms deep in the vein and there is the risk that it will embolize. Varicose veins, although normally only repaired for cosmetic reasons, may be a symtpom of a deeper problems such as DVT.

One of the things that you can during DVT Awareness Month is to education yourself and those around you about the risks of this problem. More importantly, you can start to engage in varicose vein prevention habits that will help you to decrease your own chances of developing DVT.

The purpose of this awareness month is to let you and people like you know what the risks are for developing DVT. Pay attention to the development of varicose veins, swelling in the legs or general leg pain that doesn't have an identifiable cause. Work with a doctor to make sure that you prevent problems related to DVT.

Question of the Day: What can you do to support DVT Awareness Month?

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There was a recent "ask the doctor" article published in South Coast Today which touched an important issue. That issue is the fact that many people don't really understand what causes varicose veins and what they can do to prevent them. In the article, the question asked included concern that years of dancing had led to varicose veins. As the doctor assured the person who wrote in, this kind of exercises not only doesn't cause varicose veins but can actually be a way to prevent them.

Because many people are confused about what varicose veins are and how they can be prevented from developing, it's always important to get back to the basics and learn (or re-learn) varicose vein prevention techniques. Some of the basic techniques that you should be implementing in your own life include:

- Getting that exercise. As the article pointed out, it's inactivity - not activity like dancing - that is going to cause problems with circulation in the body. Regular exercise, particularly walking and activities that get your legs moving - will help protect your from developing varicose veins

- Put your feet up. When you're not exercising and you are just sitting at home doing nothing much, put your feet up - literally. You should elevate your legs so that they're up higher than your heart which eases circulation and prevents this problem.

- Lose weight. There's just no nice way to say it. If you're excessively overweight then you increase your chance of developing varicose veins. Get healthy and reduce overall health problems including this one.

There are other things that you can do to prevent varicose vein problems but it's really the basic things that matter most. Stay healthy and active in order to be in tip top shape all around.

Question of the Day: What myths have you heard about varicose veins?

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Imagine for a moment that you are booked into a wonderful hotel for a few days. Your legs are aching and you don't feel like you can walk around and see the tourist sights in your destination. However, there's a spa inside of your hotel that offers massage therapy treatments. Does the idea of getting a full body massage to ease those aching muscles sound like a good plan? You might want to think twice if the pain in your legs is caused by varicose veins.

As described in a recent article profiling the work of a massage therapist (which you can read here), there is some increased risk to the massage therapy patient if he or she has varicose veins. Although the risk is minimal, there is some chance that rubbing the veins could release clots that could then cause damage in the body. It is important to discuss this with your massage therapist before getting any sort of intense massage.

More importantly, you might want to make an appointment with a vascular surgeon so that you can check whether your varicose veins are merely a cosmetic problem or rather a symptom of a bigger health issue. By treating your varicose veins, you can protect yourself from some serious problems. And you can also more safely enjoy those massages!

Question of the Day: Would you get a massage treatment even with your varicose veins?

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It was really no surprise that VNUS Closure Fast began to make headlines when it first emerged in the offices of vein treatment doctors. After all, it was a brand new procedure that seemed to be pretty good so it made sense that people were talking about it. The media got a hold of the information and started profiling the work of doctors who were using the new treatment, including some of the doctors here in our own network.

However, the true test of a new treatment such as this one is whether or not the buzz continues after the initial news releases have been made. If something isn't that great, people are going to stop talking about it (or start talking about it negatively). But if it's a good treatment, people are going to continue to spread the news through word of mouth even after the first wave of media hype is complete.

That seems to be the case with VNUS Closure Fast which is still making headlines today. There have been news reports this week that tout the value of this new treatment. This points to the fact that people are still happy with the procedure and want others to know about it.

It makes sense that people are still interested in VNUS Closure Fast. It's a more efficient procedure than other vein treatment options. It requires less recovery time and is easier on the patient. And it has at least the same results if not better. But it's still good to note that people are recognizing these benefits even though the hype has passed.

Question of the Day: Are you still seeing other news reports about VNUS Closure Fast?

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There are many different varicose vein prevention methods that you can add to your life to prevent problems associated with this unsightly issue. You can eat right, exercise more and make sure that you keep your legs elevated above your heart when sitting for long periods of time. But the best thing that you can do to protect yourself from developing varicose veins is to make sure that you're on top of the latest varicose vein information. The more you know, the easier it is to prevent problems.

To help with that, consider reading some of the following books which provide information about varicose veins:

- Get Rid of the Blues: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Varicose & "Spider" Veins but Didn't Know Who to Ask. The name of this one pretty much says it all; it's your basic FAQ kind of book for varicose vein and spider vein information.

- Varicose Veins and Spider Veins: Myths and Realities. Separate truth from fact when it comes to dealing with varicose veins by reading about the common myths and the real truths behing these problematic veins.

- Perfect Legs: Varicose Veins and Spider Veins Evolution in Treatment. This book provides informatino about varicose vein treatment in a straightforward way that you can easily understand.

- Varicose Veins: A Guide to Prevention and Treatment. You want to learn about varicose vein prevention but even your best efforts might not prevent them completely. This book also tells you how to treat them in case the worst case happens.

- Understanding Varicose Veins (Family Doctor). Just some plain and simple information about the issue.

Read as much information about this medical issue as you can get your hands on so that you know all that you need to know to prevent and treat the problems it can cause in your own life.

Question of the Day: What other reading material would you recommend for varicose vein information?

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We don't hear a whole lot about celebrities getting treatment for varicose veins. Is that because they lead such active liefstyles that they naturally prevent varicose veins? Or is it because they quietly get these unsightly veins taken care of without ever showing them off to the world?

There's a good chance that we're going to see an increase in varicose vein treatment, including celebrity varicose vein treatment, as a direct result of the developments in technology that have been hitting the market recently. With VNUS Closure Fast making it easier than ever before to get varicose veins taken care of, there's just no reason not to get the work done anymore. Perhaps that means we should be keeping an eye on the celebrity gossip news for word that some of Hollywood's stars are getting this type of procedure done.

In the meantime, we're just going to have to leave celebrity varicose vein treatment up to speculation. Actress Julie Christie has been targeted as a person who probably needs this kind of treatment. And Zooey Deschanel recently dispelled myths that she might have such veins. But who else out there is pondering this treatment and hiding their legs in the meantime?

Question of the Day: Which celebrity varicose veins do you want to know more about?

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A recent five-year study of cosmetic surgery treatments has listed sclerotherapy in the top three for invasive treatments being performed today. This is interesting to note because sclerotherapy has been on the decline as the result of new and improved options for treating varicose veins. Despite this, enough people are getting it done that it ranks up there with liposuction and eyelid procedures as a cosmetic treatment that the average person wants to get done.

It will be interesting to see if future studies reveal that the interest in sclerotherapy is as high as these other procedures. With non-invasive procedures like VNUS Closure Fast offering just as much effectiveness as invasive procedures, it's possible that there will be a sharp decline in the patients' interest in sclerotherapy. Part of the rise could be due to the fact that a large number of men became interested in this treatment in recent years.

Incidentally, the study also revealed that the average age of the sclerotherapy patient has gone up over time. However, the increase is slight - just two years. It is believed that the increase is due to the fact that it is the aging baby boomer generation which is most likely to seek out all cosmetic treatments including assistance with treating varicose veins. It is unknown whether this population is more or less likely than younger counterparts to consider less invasive procedures in place of plastic surgery.

Question of the Day: What do you think will happen to the interest in sclerotherapy as non-invasive vein treatment procedures become more readily available?

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Varisolve is a new injectable varicose vein foam that you may eventually see on the market. It has moved forward in the process of getting approved for use after completing (and passing) a recent safety test.

As with any other vein foam that you might have heard of in the past, Varisolve is injected into the varicose veins. It's chemicals break down the vein walls and ultimately cause the veins to disappear.

The concern with this kind of treatment is that it can cause bubbles to enter the blood stream. The safety test so far shows that the risk to the patient is minimal. However, additional patients will be studied to determine the true safety of this product.

In the meantime, you can continue to use other methods of vein treatment that have been found to be safe as well as effective. VNUS Closure Fast is the current preferred method for treating varicose veins.

Question of the Day: What would be your fears about using a varicose vein foam in comparison to using a laser treatment?

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The growth of business for VNUS Medical Technologies has been significant since their VNUS Closure Fast technology hit the market. The technology provides a much more efficient and effective treatment for varicose veins than has ever been seen in the past. This has caused doctors and patients across the nation to take an interest in using this product.

As a result, the stocks for this company have been on the rise. Although smart investors got in on the product months ago, investment analysts are continuing to recommend that this is a stock worth investing in now.

The main reason for this is that this is a good product which serves the need of a growing community. VNUS believes that "72% of women and 42% of men in the United States will experience varicose veins by the time they hit 60". Because the baby boomer generation is currently aging into that bracket, this means that there are millions of people who are going to have an interest in removing varicose veins. That's a market that VNUS can serve.

VNUS Closure Fast is being used around the nation now. If you're considering getting vein treatment, you might want to make sure that this is what you're doctor has invested in.

Question of the Day: Would you agree that it's a good time to buy stock in VNUS?

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Spring is officially here. Some parts of the nation are already starting to feel some of the warmth of the new season while other cities remain in cold weather. Despite this, we're all going to be feeling the heat soon because summer always creeps up faster than we think it will.

You probably have lots of things to do before summer gets here. You need to plan summer vacations. You need to do a little bit of spring cleaning. And you should book an appointment now to get your varicose veins taken care of.

As the weather gets warmer, you're going to want to wear skirts and other clothing that will show off your legs. Varicose veins can cause you to hesitate about baring it all. As it gets hot out, your refusal to show off those legs can cause you quite a bit of discomfort.

Taking care of the problem now will leave you free to enjoy your summer in comfort. Check our network for a treatment provider near you.

Question of the Day: When is the ideal season for varicose vein treatment?

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When you think of the cause of varicose veins, what comes to mind? Many people think about frequent airplane travel since that's been cited as a concern for developing varicose veins. Others think about the varicose veins that are associated with pregnancy. But most people think of varicose veins and they think about getting old.

Take, for example, a recent article that was written by someone who has just turned 31. She was discussing the idea of being "old" and what it feels like to be enmeshed in your thirties. As a part of this, she was discussing the signs that she looks for which indicate that she's not too old yet. Grey hair and wrinkles topped the list but varicose veins were also there.

Of course, many people these days engage in anti-aging techniques (whether through diet or cosmetic surgery) in order to counter the signs of aging. For grey hair, there is hair dye. For wrinkles, there are dermal fillers. And for varicose veins there is VNUS Closure Fast.

The average person out there in the world sees your varicose veins and thinks "old". If you're looking for quick ways to reduce the signs of aging that your body is betraying you with, you might want to think about making an appointment to discuss your varicose vein treatment options with a doctor in your area.

Question of the Day: Are varicose veins in the top five lists of signs of aging for you?

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Leg ulcers are a nasty thing. According to Wikipedia, venous leg ulcers are wounds that occur in the body as a result of the fact that the leg veins are not functioning correctly. They result in chronic wounds that can be painful and which are highly susceptible to infection. Obviously someone who has this problem wants to get it treated. The answer, of course, is to go to a vein treatment doctor.

Recent research indicates that it is psosible to use EVLT treatment to properly repair the vein problem and heal the leg ulcers. This form of treatment had not been studied extensively in the past insofar as it applies to this health problem.

"This study shows that endovenous laser treatment is a safe and efficacious alternative to surgical venous stripping and/or 4-layer bandaging for the treatment of lower-limb venous ulcers."

Follow-up to this study took place over the course of one year and revealed that the treatment could prevent the development of new leg ulcers in most patients.

Question of the Day: What alternative treatments would you consider for venous leg ulcers?

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Perhaps you thought that we were joking last year when we asked which celebrity you think would be best at pulling off compression stockings as a fashion trend. If so, you'd be surprised to know that these varicose vein treatment tights have made a recent top ten list for fashion items that the every day woman needs to have.

That's right, they're right up there with the push-up bra and stiletto heels as a must-have fashion accessory for the sexy gal's closet. Not thinking that they're the sexiest thing you've ever seen? Take a look at their explanation for why it's on the list:

"Originally worn to treat the pain of achey legs and prevent varicose veins, they are also a great way to cheat the look of toned legs."

If you're going to be wearing the stillettos and mini-skirts that also made the list then you're going to want to make sure that you've got toned legs to show off, right? Makes sense. Of course, you should make sure that you know what kind of compression stockings are safe to wear, especially if you've got varicose veins. A vein treatment doctor can point you in the right direction.

Question of the Day: So, now that you know it's a trend, which celebrity do you think can pull off compression stockings?

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When you first think about a patient wearing compression stockings, you probably picture an elderly person recovering in a hospital bed. However, if you know anything about the risks of deep vein thrombosis during long airline flights, you can probably guess that compression stockings are worn by everyone from college students to business men. And you can add Red Sox team players to that list.

The Red Sox players have recently made their way to Japan (although there was some controversy about whether or not they were going to go). When they got on the plane, one of their team doctors suggested that it might be wise to protect themselves from DVT and varicose veins by wearing compression stockings during the long flight. They were offered for free to anyone that was interested in wearing them and some of the players did indeed take advantage of the offer.

Learn more about this here.

Question of the Day: Would you be surprised to learn that many athletes wear compression stockings to protect their legs during both exercise and travel?

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People know that it's probably a good idea to wear compression stockings on long airplane flights. That's because there are risks associated with the combination of high altitude and prolonged lack of activity. Compression stockings help to reduce these risks.

But people are also vain. They want to protect their legs from varicose veins but not at the immediate expense of having to wear unattractive support hose on the flight. After all, you don't want to travel to see a lover or family member only to get there and be uncomfortable in your unattractive tights.

That's why there are companies like TravelSox. They make compression stockings that are designed to provide the support that you want while offering you a more attractive alternative to the typical support hose. They tout themselves as a company that provides support hose that looks like business socks.

You'll want to make sure to consult your doctor before wearing compression stockings as they are considered to be a medical device.

Question of the Day: Would you pay extra money for support hose that wasn't unattractive?

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When VNUS Closure Fast first hit the vein treatment market, it gained a lot of immediate attention in the media. That's because this new method of varicose vein treatment turned out to be surprisingly efficient and effective. Everyone wants medical procedures that are easier and better than they were anticipated to be so the news paid a lot of attention to stories of this treatment's success.

Although there continue to be some full-length news reports about VNUS Closure Fast published now and then, the full media hype seems to have hit a lull. But that doesn't mean that newspapers are failing to attend to the issue altogether. They're just starting to mention the procedure more in passing rather than putting it in the spotlight.

For example, The Providence Journal has this "in brief" report on VNUS Closure Fast which quickly sums up what the procedure is all about and who can benefit from it. It then points to the VNUS website for people seeking additional information. This indicates that the media hype may be coming to a close but the interest in VNUS Closure Fast as a treatment for varicose veins is only on the rise.

Question of the Day: Would you be interested in seeing additional full-length news reports on VNUS Closure Fast?

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