"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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Wednesday, November 17, 2010
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Sclerotherapy: Not Just For Legs Anymore
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Most of us know sclerotherapy as a procedure to treat problem veins that appear on the legs, which is the area of the body where most cosmetic vein concerns, like spider veins and varicose veins, occur.
But did you know that sclerotherapy can be used to treat spider veins that appear on other parts the body, like the hands, arms, neck and even the face? There's no reason to cover up with makeup or feel embarassed about spider veins that make your hands and arms look older than you are--just a few minutes in the doctor's office and those veins can be permanently erased with sclerotherapy.
Sclerotherapy is a procedure that involves injections of a chemical sclerant that irritates the vessel lining of spider veins. This leads to the collapse, shrinking and eventually disappearance of the problem veins. It's been used to treat individuals with spider veins as well as smaller varicose veins, and is quite popular because of its relaxed recovery period. In fact, most patients return to work and other activities right away.
When used on the face, a milder version of the sclerosing agent should be used and the foam version should not be used. There's also a greater risk of bruising with facial sclerotherapy than when the procedure is performed in the legs. It is very important that you discuss this option with a trained professional prior to undergoing facial sclerotherapy so that you may understand all of the potential risks and benefits, and make a decision for yourself. Many clinics offer laser treatments for facial spider veins as well.
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Friday, July 02, 2010
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Nominations Wanted for Vascular Disease Foundation President's Awards
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The Vascular Disease Foundation (VDF) is seeking nominations for the 2010 President’s Awards. The deadline for nominations is Monday, July 26, 2010.
The President’s Awards are to recognize those individuals who have made a difference in the lives of those living with vascular disease or have assisted the Foundation in accomplishing its mission in various categories. These awards are to show our appreciation for the extraordinary measures individuals have taken to support the Foundation’s efforts to increase awareness of vascular disease and enhance the lives of those living with vascular disease.
There are four President’s award categories:
1) Inspiration: An award to recognize those individuals who provide hope or inspiration to individuals and their families living with vascular disease.
2) Leadership: Recognizing those volunteers who demonstrate leadership, initiative, creativity and dedication to VDF’s mission.
3) Partnership: Recognizing those organizations who work collaboratively with VDF to support our mission of reducing death and disability from vascular disease.
4) Vision: Recognizing those individuals committed to supporting the advancement of vascular disease awareness, research or education.
The nomination criteria for these awards consist of completing a nomination form, which requires a description of 450 words or less of why someone should be considered for a particular award. The nomination committee may select an award different from the one selected.
For more information or to download a nomination form, please visit www.vdf.org or call 888.VDF.4INFO.
The Vascular Disease Foundation is the only national organization with the sole purpose of educating the public about vascular diseases. It is the most trusted source of credible, scientific and non-biased information on vascular diseases. For more information, call 888.VDF.4INFO (888.833.4463) or visit our Web site, www.vdf.org
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Friday, July 02, 2010
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Varicose Vein Treatment: Minimal Downtime, Maximum Results
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Varicose veins are a fact of life for most people once they reach middle age and beyond. These unattractive, bulging, purplish veins can be more than unsightly – they can also cause pain, heaviness and discomfort in the areas where they occur. Varicose veins are caused when tiny blood vessels near the skin’s surface malfunction, usually as the result of age, weight gain, or other underlying conditions. Fortunately, today there is a wide range of treatment options that can make your ugly varicose veins a thing of the past.
Unlike treatments of even just a decade ago, today’s varicose vein treatments are designed to garner maximum results without disrupting your busy schedule. Popular procedures like are performed on an outpatient basis, allowing you to resume your regular routine with little or no downtime.
Endovenous ablation is an especially good option for men and women looking to treat their veins in a simple procedure that doesn’t involve any recovery time. In endovenous ablation, laser or radiofrequency energy is used to treat the tiny blood vessels that have begun to malfunction, closing them off to blood flow and preventing the bulging, unsightly appearance and discomfort that are the hallmarks of varicose veins. Because these tiny veins are superficial, closing them produces no health risks, and blood flow is automatically diverted to nearby vessels with no impact on overall circulation. The procedure itself is quick, usually performed on an outpatient basis, and requires only local anesthetic to help avoid discomfort. Most individuals are able to return to their regular daily activities immediately following the procedure, and results become visible soon after treatment, with complete fading occurring during the days and weeks following the procedure.
Varicose veins will not resolve on their own; they require treatment by an experienced professional. Talk to your clinician today about the simple, easy treatment option available to help make your veins disappear.
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Wednesday, June 30, 2010
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Choose Internet Marketing for Your Practice!
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• Estimates say there were over 200 million websites on the internet in January 2010
• Nearly 74% of North Americans use the internet
The online community is a huge, growing audience. Having an online presence that represents your practice well is becoming a vital part of modern business practices. Don’t lose your patients to other internet-savvy facilities!
Even if you have a website, networking services like VeinDirectory.org are valuable to maximizing your online impact. Enabling prospective patients to find you amid the millions of websites out there is essential for your online marketing to be effective. Joining an online network of physicians on a top ranking website can do wonders for your practice. Consider these facts:
• In April 2009 alone, 14.8 billion online searches were performed in the United States
• A study showed that 81% of internet users used search engines to find new websites
VeinDirectory.org already ranks for many of the top terms in the cosmetic vein treatment industry. When you join the network, your facility benefits from both procedure and location-specific keyword rankings.
Reach out to potential new clients by making your facility’s information easy for them to find. VeinDirectory.org provides an established, identifiable entity for your practice to associate with, and specializes in connecting doctors with patients nationwide.
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Monday, August 24, 2009
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Education With Shoes
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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.
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Friday, August 21, 2009
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Homeopathic Vein Treatment
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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.
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Thursday, August 20, 2009
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Healthy Leg Day
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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.
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
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Safe Birth Control
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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.
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Tuesday, August 18, 2009
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Grape Seed Extract
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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.
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Monday, August 17, 2009
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Skinny Jeans Bad for your Health?
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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.
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