VeinDirectory - "The Know"

Education With Shoes

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:10:04 pm

A local doctor in Boca Raton, Florida, is judging a "sexy shoe contest" as publicity for a local shoe store. The winner gets a free pair of shoes! It may seem strange to have a doctor be a judge for a shoe contest. However, part of the event will be a question and answer forum for concerns about spider and varicose veins. Wearing "sexy shoes" may make you look good, but it could be dangerous for your vein health. Wearing a heel higher than 1.5 inches may restrict proper circulation in the leg. Spider or varicose veins can develop and could even progress into Deep Vein Thrombosis. The contest is lighthearted and meant to be fun for contestants. Any forum to distribute information to the public on vein health is beneficial. For many it is a win-win situation. Girls get to learn about their veins and check out some sexy shoes.

Homeopathic Vein Treatment

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:08:57 pm

The formation of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) can lead to painful symptoms including swelling, redness, and pain of the leg. Medicine can be prescribed for those with DVT to attempt to reduce the symptoms. For some, homeopathic remedies are a different option to cute their disease. According to Newswire, one DVT patient was placed on an allopathic medication regiment but had no dramatic results. He then turned to homeopathic medicines. A homeopathic physician prescribed him Arnica, an herbal medication used in ointment form. The man claims that the pain and swelling in his legs diminished within months and the DVT disappeared. Homeopathic medicine can be used at any stage of DVT development. It is important for those interested in homeopathic medicine to utilize an expert in the field. Homeopathic medicine should not be used in conjunction with allopathic medication in order to decrease the risk of side effects.

Healthy Leg Day

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:08:10 pm

A clinic in Michigan is promoted Healthy Leg Day on August 26th. The clinic is offering a variety of free services on this day to patients, including a leg vein screening. Healthy Leg Day will check for circulatory problems that may cause pain or swelling in the legs. "During the Healthy Leg Day event, we will also be offering other free services such as, blood pressure checks, balance testing, hearing aide cleaning, and ear check for wax build up" explains the clinic. This is one fun way to get potential patients to the clinic for screening. Patients who can have their vein issues diagnosed early may save themselves from painful and expensive procedures in later years.

Safe Birth Control

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:08:25 pm

Birth control pills can be very effective at preventing pregnancy. However, the hormones in some birth control pills may increase the risk of blood clots. Women using certain types of pills may also be putting themselves at risk for venous thrombosis, dangerous blood clots in the veins. "Currently available oral contraceptives still have a major impact on thrombosis occurrence and many women do not use the safest brands with regard to risk of venous thrombosis," explains BBC News. Birth control pills using the combination of hormones oestrogen and progestogen seem to carry the highest risk. Other hormones noted were desogestrel, gestodene or drospirenone. Blood clots while on the birth control pill are rare. If a patient is very concerned about venous thrombosis, she should discontinue use and consult a physician.

Grape Seed Extract

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:08:58 pm

Grape Seed Extract may be a useful tool in keeping up the health of your body. The antioxidant qualities in grade seed extracts help with anti-aging, joint health, and skin care. It may even help with prevention of varicose veins. "Grape seed extract is antioxidant and prevents the body from problems associated with oxidative damage. Studies indicate that phenolic compounds such as resveratrol from Grape seed also exhibits potent antioxidative properties for scavenging free radicals and also regulate inflammatory reactions" explains Biz News. The extract helps prevent hardening of the blood vessels, the body from bruising, and the fragility of capillaries. The use of this extract may help the body fight against varicose veins as well. Grape seed extracts may be taken orally or as liquid drops to be added to beverages.

Skinny Jeans Bad for your Health?

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:08:27 pm

Fashion trends don't always correlate with healthy trends. Those who are worried about development of spider or varicose veins are suggested to wear loose fitting clothing. Skinny jeans do not fall into that category. This type of jean may be very fashionable, but is not necessarily very healthy. Tighter fabrics can constrict the legs down to the ankle and prevent proper blood flow. In addition to cutting off proper circulation, skinny jeans may also lead to meralgia paresthetica or "tingling thigh syndrome." Continuous pressure cuts off the nerve in the thigh leading to a numbing sensation through the leg. Once these tight jeans are removed, the condition is relieved. This numbing feeling could be a sign of improper blood flow in the legs. A combination of high heels and skinny jeans can lead to the highest risk of meralgia paresthetica and the development of varicose veins. This is due to the extra pressure put on the legs. Women should be aware that skinny jeans could have these side effects and be cautious if they start to feel numbing in the lower extremities.

Washing Your Bad Veins

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:08:14 pm

Foam sclerotherapy is a new technique used to treat varicose veins. A carbon dioxide foam detergent is injected directly into the veins and tracked by an ultrasound scanner. The foam pushes blood out of the varicose vein and causes the vein to close. "It is a chemical, toxic agent to the wall of the vein, so basically what you're doing is you're irritating the inner lining of the vein" explains Dr. Rajagopalan Ravi to CBS News. This is a much less invasive procedure and has a very quick recovery time. The foam washes all the blood from the problem vein and seals the vein shut. The entirety of the procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes. This is a newer form of sclerotherapy which is still being tested by physicians across the nation.

Taking A Walk After Surgery

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:08:28 pm

Recent reports from a Sydney hospital show that the rate of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) in patients recovering from total knee replacement surgery dramatically drops if patients are mobile early. The risk of post-operative DVT dropped from 32 percent to 14 percent in the study. "Early mobilization in the first 24 hours after total knee replacement is a cheap and effective way to reduce the incidence of DVT" reports the author of the study to 6 Minutes. The greatest reduction in risk occurred in patients who walked more than 16 feet soon after surgery. DVT occurs when blood clots form in the leg veins. Joint surgery has a high risk of patients developing DVT. Walking helps increase the blood flow through the veins and assures that blood clots have a low risk of formation.

Removing Hemorrhoids

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:08:38 pm

Hemorrhoids, swollen and painful veins around the anus, are often relieved with a change in diet and lifestyle. These veins can be formed externally or internally. External veins are easier to remove without invasive surgery. A surgery called hemorrhoidalectomy is used to remove the internal hemorrhoids, but can be a painful procedure. A transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) is a new minimally invasive procedure for internal hemorrhoids. A suture is used to tie off the blood flow to the anal veins. Recovery time is quick and patients can leave for home the same day. "The stitch is run from inside toward the outside and then tied back inside and that kind of pulls also those external hemorrhoids a little bit inside, so it does help them a little bit as well," says one doctor to WFTV. Patients dealing with recurring hemorrhoids should investigate the procedure as an option for permanent removal.

Hand Veins

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:08:38 pm

Veins in the hands tend to develop as a person ages. Although some are born with noticeable veins on their hands, the majority of the population develops these veins as the elasticity in their skin decreases with age. These veins are typically not varicose veins and can be treated as a cosmetic issue. Removing these veins will not affect the body's ability to pump blood to the hands. These veins are superficial and can be treated. In a sclerotherapy procedure, an injection is used into the veins. The injection solution is said to have a higher concentration than the injection used in leg veins. Recovery is very quick and there is little bruising after the procedure.

Board Certified Honoree

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:08:42 pm

Sarat K. Dash, M.D of the The Vein & Laser Center of New Jersey has recently been awarded a board certification in phlebology from the American Board of Phlebology. There are only a total of 412 diplomates nationwide, according to NJ.com. "Certification periods are 10 years and maintenance depends on the diplomate's ability to display competency in four areas of assessment: evidence of professional standing, evidence of commitment to lifelong learning and periodic self-assessment, evidence of cognitive expertise, and evaluation of performance in practice" explains NJ.com. This certification is an honor bestowed to less than 1% of practicing phlebologists in North America. Dr. Dash is skilled in laser therapy, diagnosis of venous disease, and venous surgery to name a few of his accomplishments.

New Drug for Blood Clots

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:08:26 pm

There is a high risk of blood clot formation in the lower extremities after major joint surgery. To reduce the risk, patients are often given blood thinners. A drug called Apixaban is a new oral medication that reduces the risk of blood clots while also reducing the risk of excess bleeding after surgery. NewsOK reports that "the drug is still undergoing trials but could benefit the millions of baby boomers expected to have hip or knee replacement surgeries in coming years who are at risk of blood clots, also known as deep-vein thrombosis." Blood clots that begin in the leg after hip or knee surgery can break off and travel to the lung, causing a pulmonary embolism. Traditional blood thinners can lead to excess bleeding if complications occur. Drugs like Apixaban have been created to lower this risk. Apixaban is still in the trial phase.

Web Chat With Your Vein Doctor

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:08:43 pm

Many doctors give free consultations to patients who have questions in regards to their vein health. One clinic has opened their office to a new type of patient: the patient on the web. The Decatur Vein Clinic is hosting a free live web chat forum to answer questions from potential patients. Doctors are beginning to utilize the web as a powerful tool to reach their patients. The web is full of information on procedures, risks, statistics, and general information. However, it can be difficult to verify what information is correct and what facts apply directly to the individual. In addition, those dealing with venous issues may not always have the time to come into the office for a consultation. This web chat session allows for questions to be answered without taking too much time out of a person's day.

Your Old Veins

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:08:38 pm

As you age, so do your veins. The years of pressure from high heels, being overweight, and lack of exercise takes a toll on your leg veins. Many people believe that the pain in their legs is just a side effect of growing old. However, this may not always be the case. Varicose veins may have developed in the legs which can become very painful and require treatment. "A varicose vein is kind of like a gallbladder. It has a function, but when it's not functioning, its removal helps your whole body work better" says radiologist Dr. Goertzen to NewsOK. Newer treatments are available to make varicose vein removal more efficient than ever. Endovenous ablation uses lasers to heat up the blood around the veins, causing the vein itself to shut down. Recovery time is quick, usually within days of the procedure. These veins are shut down in order to relieve symptoms and to protect from more serious complications.

Technology Goes Global

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:08:02 pm

A hand-held vein illuminator device has officially passed safety and design standards in order to be marketed internationally. The AccuVein AV300 has already had a successful launch in the United States and is now going to be available for physicians in Europe. "Receiving approval to ship the AV300 to Europe is an important step in bringing this beneficial device to health care practitioners around the globe," said the President of AccuVein. The AV300 helps locate hard-to-find veins with ease, allowing physicians to improve their care without the trouble of searching for viable veins. The technology is lightweight and can be used as a hand-held device or hands-free if the physician needs to perform a procedure. AccuVein hopes that this technology will make venous treatment easier and more efficient for physicians.