"The Know" is an informational resource concerning vein treatment options. It contains valuable information for prospective patients, physicians as well as those in the vein treatment industry. We will be regularly posting educational articles, video logs and other pertinent information. We encourage your feedback and welcome any suggestions that you feel may improve the blog.
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Thursday, April 09, 2009
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Doing More to Prevent DVT
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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a common ailment that plagues thousands of
people yearly. DVT can stem from varicose veins and has the potential to
turn into a serious disease. It can actually become fatal if the blood clot
dislodges and goes into the blood vessels of the lungs. The idea of
preventing DVT has become popular in recent months, more people are becoming
aware of the dangers and symptoms. Some good prevention methods to take
note of are to keep your legs and feet moving. Whether it is wiggling them
around, walking on long flights, or simply keeping up physical and sport
activity, keeping the blood flow going is essential to prevention and
maintaining vein and leg health.
Although there are so many cases of DVT and venous disease, education and
awareness has been lagging significantly. We must do more to make sure
people know how to take care of their legs, whether it's wearing compression
socks or keeping active, there are plenty of ways to prevent DVT.
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Tuesday, April 07, 2009
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Venous Disease Positive Findings
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Over the last few weeks there have been a flurry of headlines in the news and medical journals about progress in venous disease and vein health. From vascular surgeons highlighting the new found importance of Statin a cholesterol drug that may aid in reducing the instances of Deep Vein Thrombosis cases (DVT). Or whether it is talks about DVT awareness month, venous disease is making headlines and drawing the attention of some head hanchos.
Whether you prefer yoga as your form of prevention or you would like to investigate the various removal methods (radiofrequency occlusion, stripping or laser etc.) there is a lot of infeormation out in the market at the moment about venous disease.
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Monday, April 06, 2009
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Fly Safely
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With the recent drop in flight prices worldwide, many more people are opting
to take time and travel overseas for a holiday. But are these cheap flights
causing us to have more vein health issues? If you are one of the thousands
jumping on board the jet-setting ways of many celebrities, be sure you take
caution in your leg and vein health. The more often you fly and have
prolonged periods of time sitting or standing, it is vital to use
compression stockings to prevent from varicose veins and Deep Vein
Thrombosis (DVT).
Cattle class is the last place you want to be during a 12-hour flight, so
take time to walk down the aisles and wear socks to keep the blood flowing
through your legs and veins. Taking such preventative measures will greatly
aid in better vein health and venous disease prevention.
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Friday, April 03, 2009
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Grapefruit Diet may Cause Vein Health Problems
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A diet high in grapefruit consumption mixed with contraceptive pills and coupled with a family history nearly caused a women to lose her leg after a rare blood clot. Though not the most common of incidences, a odd combination made for an almost dangerous situation. Venous disease is a readily acknowledged and widespread problem worldwide, in fact 40 million Americans have some variation of varicose veins, DVT or spider veins (some form of venous disease). However, many cases go untreated and even disregarded.
Forbes report said, "So it was the combination of grapefruit juice, the estrogen in the birth control pill, the clot-inducing mutation and just sitting in the car in a position that narrowed the blood vessel, that threatened amputation of the leg, Grande said. This means there is no great lesson for people in general from the episode, she said. "Grapefruit juice is not a threat to society at large," she said. "It is very healthy in most cases. I believe this was a unique situation, and it should not discourage people from eating grapefruit."
Although venous disease and vein health issues can be quite dangerous, education, awareness and treatment are readily accessible and vital to better health.
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Thursday, April 02, 2009
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Hospitals Looking to Increase DVT Coverage
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With the recent decision by Medicare to not pay for treatments regarding deep vein thrombosis (DVT) post hip or knee surgery. In lieu of DVT awareness month, this initiative may increase education and funding for DVT prevention. One key to alleviating such ailments is to prevent them all together, and in order to do so Kaiser and other hospitals are helping patients and the program out significantly.
The Kaiser hospital reported on their press release, "Pulmonary embolisms can occur when a blot clot forms in a deep leg or pelvis vein, known as DVT, and moves up to the lung blocking the pulmonary artery. According to the Journal, pulmonary embolisms are the leading cause of preventable hospital deaths. Studies have shown that about one-third of patients receive recommended prevention therapies, such as giving certain patients blood-thinning medication and using special compression socks after surgery to improve circulation in the legs.
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Wednesday, April 01, 2009
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Varicose Vein Removal Market to Boost
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The US market for varicose and spider vein removal is likely to get a massive boost by 2013. The projected numbers are set at around $215 million rise from where they are today. The report says that the tools and devices used over the past few years have gone through some turmoil, but now that there are only a few viable options on the market they are likely to take over and vastly expand their company and technologies.
Fox Business reported, "Because of these price increases, many physicians will take on more patients for varicose vein treatments in order to maximize device return-on-investment. These conditions, combined with the growing patient awareness of minimally invasive treatment alternatives to varicose vein surgery, will fuel significant growth in the endovenous ablation market over the next several years."
This would hopefully raise awareness and make treating varicose veins and venous disease readily available and much more widespread and affordable for patients.
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Tuesday, March 31, 2009
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Sclerotherapy Holds Strong
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Although there are a number of very efficient and effective varicose and spider vein removal treatments on the market, patients still consider sclerotherapy the gold standard for removal. In recent years a sundry of viable treatments have entered the industry, dermatologists and surgeons alike have grown an affinity for them, but often times patients rely on sclerotherapy because it has been around for years as a good alternative to invasive stripping methods.
MedIndia a health site says, "Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical procedure that permanently removes unwanted veins and is considered by dermatologists to be the gold standard for the treatment of spider veins. The procedure involves injecting a special sclerosing solution with a very fine needle into the blood vessel, which irreversibly alters the vessel wall and causes it to be absorbed by the body, so that it fully disappears over time."
Regardless of the removal treatment you choose, removing gnarled and ropy varicose and spider veins is essential to maintaining vein health, because sadly they often go untreated and may result in Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
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Monday, March 30, 2009
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Statin and DVT
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A cholesterol lowering drug called Statin may be linked to to significantly lower risks of developing blood clots. The study which was reported on in the BBC, said that tens of thousands of patients in hospitals are at risk of contracting and developing Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Alongside the many patients in hospital rooms, there are perfectly healthy at risk candidates. These are people who are often on long haul airplane travel.
The BBC reported, "In trials rosuvastatin cut the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in healthy people by 43%. Forms of VTE include deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism, the most common cause of preventable death in hospital patients. The study appears in the New England Journal of Medicine"
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Thursday, March 26, 2009
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Compression Therapy for Pregnant Women
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In lieu of Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month (DVT) SIGVARIS and Healthy Advice Networks have teamed up to raise awareness for pregnant women and venous disease. The two organizations will be airing an educational video on the Women's Health Network alongside edema and DVT education brochures.
PR-Inside reported on the press release, "Targeting pregnant women who often suffer from swollen legs and ankles and who may not be aware of the health risks involved, SIGVARIS wants to educate them about the benefits of compression therapy garments to help reduce these risks while relieving discomfort. This educational program was launched in March to support DVT Awareness Month, the time of year."
Half the battle with DVT and venous disease is raising awareness among the population with hopes of instilling the importance of prevention, treatments and early diagnosis.
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
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Endovenous Laser Treatment
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Often times when we hear about varicose veins and spider veins we think of traditional vein stripping methods or radiofrequency removal methods. However other forms of removal do exist and work quite efficiently and effectively. For the millions of Americans plagued with bulging and ropy painful varicose veins, Ednovenous laser treatment is a viable removal option.
ABC in Florida reported on this procedure, "It involves a laser fiber inserted into a tiny incision in the leg. Energy emitted from the tip of the fiber causes the varicose vein to close. The vein reroutes the blood to another vein and the bluish bulges disappears. She says, "There's a very small risk, less than one percent, of causing a clot with in the deep veins. That's one thing we check for and make sure we are doing the procedure correctly."
Regardless of the removal method, it is important to treat varicose veins before they turn into more serious problems like Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
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