"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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Friday, June 05, 2009
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Stroke and DVT
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More reports and discussion has been stirring in the news about Deep Vein
Thrombosis (DVT) and stroke patients. Recent studies had said that
compression socks do not aid in preventing DVT from stroke victims.
Generally post-stroke patients are struggling with blood circulation and
physicians worry about clotting which is why it was assumed compression
stockings which aid in both factors would greatly help. Compression
stockings are quite popular forms of prevention of DVT especially during
long-haul flights.
The ABC said, "Researchers believe the lack of benefit might be due to poor
compliance and fit, as well as stroke patients being older, sicker and
immobile for longer than surgical patients. They noted that two-thirds of
stroke patients cannot walk when hospitalised and 10% to 20% of those
patients will develop a blood clot in their legs, known as deep vein
thrombosis (DVT)."
Vascular surgeons still promote the use of compression stockings, in fact
urge high risk patients (smokers, diabetics and those with family history)
to wear them during flights and even regularly to keep their blood flowing
properly through their veins without clotting.
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Thursday, June 04, 2009
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Will an Aspirin a Day Keep the Surgeon Away?
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Aspirin has long been given to patients for prevention of stroke and heart
attack, but the new trend for Aspirin is lowering the risks of developing
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Physicians say that the stickiness of platelets
which causes blood clots is reduced by taking aspirin which is a blood
thinner and aids in blood flow. However there are a number of side effects
related to aspirin intake especially for patients in the 'grey area of
health' meaning they don't find it necessary, but they are using it for
prevention.
The Times Online said, "The groups below are most prone to side effects.
Heavy drinkers and anyone taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac
or ibuprofen or modern Prozac-type antidepressants (all of which irritate
the lining of the stomach increasing the risk of serious bleeds). Anyone
with a previous history of severe indigestion, stomach ulcers or past
stomach haemorrhages."
Doctors and researchers urge patients to consult their physician before
using aspirin (even in low-doses) daily.
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Monday, June 01, 2009
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Insurance Covered Treatments Increasing in Recession
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With expendable budgets dwindling alongside the Dow, it's no wonder that
people are seeking out insurance covered treatments for varicose veins.
Often, varicose vein removal methods are considered elective cosmetic
procedures and thus not covered by insurance, but if proven that the veins
are in fact a detrimental medical ailment, and certain procedures are used
it will be covered. Vascular surgeons say they are seeing increased numbers
of patients seeking out laser removal as it is covered by health insurance.
PR Newswire said, "Health insurance covers laser vein removal because, aside
from the unsightly appearance that causes sufferers to hide their legs in
shame, varicose veins are a serious health issue. Individuals who have
varicose veins experience constant pain, discomfort and blood clotting risks
due to the faulty valves that cause their leg veins to bulge and twist."
For those of you looking to get healthier legs in time for bathing suit
season, a economically viable option is laser removal. Though it may take a
few sessions as opposed to invasive stripping or radiofrequency it is a
cost-efficient and considerably less painful. Start the summer by saving
some money and getting healthier legs.
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Friday, May 29, 2009
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Summer Lovin'
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As summer peers around the corner, it's time to get your legs healthy and
looking good. For those of you looking to use some prevention methods as
opposed to invasive removal techniques, options do exist. From yoga to
compression socks, you can start the Spring off right before bikini season
rolls in.
Health News Digest said, "Graduated compression hosiery works by applying
pressure at the ankle that systematically decreases up the hosiery length,
and keeps proper venous blood flow in the legs. This prevents back-flow and
stagnation of blood in the lower legs that can cause clotting and swelling.
The support they supply can also help prevent unsightly spider and varicose
veins."
For those of you dealing with actual ropy gnarled varicose veins, you can
get a procedure done now, before summertime. Laser treatments, invasive
stripping and radiofrequency can be done in a timely and cost-effective
fashion.
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
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Compression Stockings
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Compression stockings are great tools for preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis
(DVT) and varicose veins on long-haul flights and in patients with the early
stages of venous disease. However, recent research shows that the stockings
are not in fact aiding much for stroke patients who are at high risk of
developing DVT.
Forbes health said, "Compression stockings are used in the majority of
stroke units. In this study, we have shown conclusively that compression
stockings do not work for stroke patients. National guidelines need to be
revised and we need further research to establish effective treatments in
this important group of patients," study author Martin Dennis, of the
University of Edinburgh in Scotland, said in a news release."
Stroke patients do not have significantly higher chances of developing blood
clots, but many physicians thought that compression stockings would decrease
any risks they had. Many opted for stockings because they did not want more
invasive treatments and prevention methods. The guidelines for the
stockings may be changing after this research.
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
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Ultrasounds to Find Vein Issues
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For better vein health physicians always reccomend preventative measures
like yoga, excercise, not sitting and standing for prolonged periods as well
as limiting long haul flights. But another thing we can take into
consideration for vein health is ultrasounds if we do see problems
emerging. For people with swelling in their ankles, pain, ropy veins and
other discomfort it is a wise choice to get an ultrasound to see what the
vein health issues are.
An ABC news affiliate said, "He used technology relatively new in his field
-- an ultrasound -- to actually see into Linda's legs and find her problem
veins."We're able to image the veins in a way that we've never been able to
see them before," Dr. Gueldner says.Gueldner says targeting the veins with
the ultrasound helps him work more quickly because he knows just where the
problem areas are."
If patients couple the use of ultrasounds with better vein health care, the
chances and risk factors are greatly decreased. However if the varicose
veins do pop up over time, there are a number of available treatments for
invasive and non-invasive removal.
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
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Fly Safer
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If you haven't heard already airlines are cutting back: charging people for
spacious exit row seats and removing first class cabins. Airlines all over
the world are feeling the cost-reduction necessity, but this may be causing
frequent flier health risks. For jet-setters who can't afford the luxuries
of business and first class, or simply can't pay for the extra leg room,
crammed cattle-class seems to be the go. Which has the ability to result in
detrimental side effects to your vein health.
Flying safe is key to preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and other vein
health issues like varicose veins. This means wearing compression
stockings, walking continuously throughout the cabins and perhaps even
avoiding the continuous long-haul flights if possible. Much easier said
that done especially for people traveling for business. So as airlines cut
back our luxuries, don't fall victim to venous disease, instead do your best
to fly safer and avoid the pain of gnarled varicose veins and DVT.
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
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Vanity in Veins
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Varicose veins and spider veins plague millions of Americans, people suffer
from gnarled ropy unattractive veins. These uncomfortable and sometimes
painful veins cause more than just physical pain for the victims, often
times men and women with varicose veins suffer from serious emotional
scarring. Whether or not you flaunted your legs in your twenties, having
gnarled veins at fifty is quite the blow to self-esteem and appearance. Many
women find it a struggle to put on bathing suits while men are cautious
about wearing shorts and swim trunks. There is much vanity to varicose
veins, which is why removal and stripping treatments have gained much
popularity among the baby boomer population.
A personal recount of a women with varicose veins says, "I was very aware
when I was playing tennis" of how her legs looked - this from a woman who's
on the courts a couple of times a week. The final blow came when a friend
(who needs friends like this?) pointed to her leg and said, "Hey, you've got
a worm crawling up your leg!" Katros went off and wept."
She is among the other tens of millions of people dealing with both the
aesthetic and vanity pain coupled with the physicial torment and achiness
that varicose veins induce. For those of you suffering, removal treatments
come in a sundry of options: from laser removal to invasive stripping and
even radiofrequency, the treatments are available and affordable.
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Thursday, May 21, 2009
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Treatment for Perforating Veins
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Perforating veins are said to be one of the primary causes of varicose
veins. Over 20 million Americans suffer from varicose veins, and often
patients opt for invasive stripping removal methods or even radiofrequency
procedures. But a Houston based vascular surgeon is making advances in
treating such problems.
Marketwire said in the press release, "In Dr. Skellenger's experience with
primary varicose veins, he has found incompetent perforating veins to become
significant after endovenous laser treatment of the saphenous vein. The
reduction in the higher saphenous vein pressure following this treatment
allows lower pressure perforators to reflux back to the superficial system.
Incompetent perforators are quite often a major source of venous
hypertension and may cause venous stasis ulceration in addition to varicose
veins."
Depending on the type of venous disease at hand, there are a sundry of
available removal treatments from laser to surgical stripping.
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Thursday, May 21, 2009
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Free Vein Scans
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The new trend in medicine has been to raise awareness for diseases and
treatments. Over the past few months clinics have been offering free scans
for various ailments like heart disease and colon cancer. Now a vein health
(vascular) clinic will be offering free vein scans tonight. Patients
dealing with symptoms of venous disease (gnarled, ropy, swollen, and painful
legs) shoudl consider getting scanned.
My Central Jersey said, "The screening is recommended for those who
experience painful, heavy or achy legs, or have visible leg veins -
including varicose veins and spider veins - and chronic leg swelling."
Physicians and experts say that awareness is key to prevention and
treatment. The sooner you catch varicose veins and treat them the chances of
it spreading to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) are drastically reduced.
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