"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, July 29, 2009
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Armstrong Stockings
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Compression stockings have been known to help patients with lowering the risk of DVT. One member who is also utilizing these stockings is the world renowned athlete Lance Armstrong. He is using the stockings for recovery after his workouts. The stockings help regulate blood flow to his fatigued muscles.
These stockings are normally worn by those of high risk for varicose veins or DVT, but this new media exposure may bring others into the market. Tests have not been completed to determine if compression stockings really help athletes in performance and recovery. Armstrong also wore the stockings on a plane ride overseas to regulate for the same purposes. The use of these stockings continues to grow, and Armstrong may be the leader in bringing compression stockings into the media. Perhaps more people will consider their use for their own issues, especially those with venous issues.
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009
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Tips for your Veins
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Patients looking to diminish the look of spider and varicose veins may confused with the mass amount of information available. ABC 7 recently released some basic tips on venous disease prevention.
Listening to your body is very important when assessing the need to see a physician. Spider veins may seem like just a cosmetic concern, but a much more serious condition may develop if patients are not aware of the risks. It is important to stay active and to use your legs as much as possible to keep your venous system healthy. Exercise will also help patients maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight leads to unneeded pressure on your leg veins.
Lastly, patients should be aware of pressure exerted on their legs. Compression stockings help maintain equal pressure throughout the leg. This keeps blood flowing and does not limit blood flow to one area. Although not needed every day, compression stockings are helpful on long trips where you may be standing or sitting for a long period of time
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Sunday, July 05, 2009
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Compression Stocking Contest
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SIGVARIS, a large manufacturer of compression therapy equipment, has chosen a winner from their Life for Legs Compression Therapy Contest. The contest was held through the month of March and the winner was recently chosen from the entries. The goal of the contest was to promoted educational awareness for DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis).
"Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism affect an estimated 350,000 to 600,000 Americans each year. Together, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism contribute to at least 100,000 deaths each year. More people die from DVT complications in the US each year than breast cancer, motor vehicle accidents and AIDS combined" stated the article by PR Inside.
Companies, such as SIGVARIS, are taking the steps to educate the public about DVT through contests, videos, websites, and brochures. The winner was a man from the Bronx, New York, who has been wearing compression stockings for years and showed the most support for the SIGVARIS product lines.
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009
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Flight Safety
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In preparation for my big flight on Friday (Sydney to Los Angeles), I went
to reserve my seats online and print my ticket confirmation. In doing so, I
noticed a note at the bottom of the email about flying safety. Something I
have never seen on any other flight itinerary in all my travels. The
airline actually wrote out the possibility of developing Deep Vein
Thrombosis (DVT) while on long flights. They also include a few tips for
how to increase blood flow during the flight and prevent DVT. This included
walking around the cabin when possible, wearing compression stockings,
stretching your legs and keeping hydrated.
Varicose veins and DVT plague millions of people in the US alone. Many of
which may lead to serious blood clots which can cause significant pain,
discomfort and in some cases death. Flying safely is key to vein health and
from preventing DVT from striking during your holidays.
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009
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Air Pollution and DVT
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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) which has generally been linked to prolonged
hours of immobility, sitting, standing, long-haul flights and genetics may
now have a new cause. Recent research suggests that air pollution may
adversely impact your vein health. For years studies have shown the
negative effects of pollution (diesel, gas and carbon gases) in the air to
heart problems.
Mens News Daily said, "The researchers noted a 47 percent greater risk of
DVT among the patient volunteers who lived closer to high-traffic highways
and streets. Therefore, the findings of this study strongly suggest that
chronic exposure to particulate air pollution from vehicle exhaust
significantly increases the risk of developing DVT."
DVT is actually considered a highly preventable health issue, maintaining
blood flow and circulation is key: this includes exercising regularly,
walking during flights, or wearing compression stockings. And now according
to such new research, avoid living near traffic ridden highways.
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Friday, June 19, 2009
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Make a Change
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This summer tis the season to make a change in your skim imperfections and ailments. Venous disease is both an aesthetic issue and a medical problem. There are speculations that nearly 80% of women suffer from some variation of spider veins and 40 million Americans are plagued with varicose veins. Both problems have the potential to turn into a more serious health issue like Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
One viable and effective option for removal is sclerotherapy, "Sclerotherapy: Using a tiny needle, a doctor injects the spider veins with a medicated solution that "causes them to collapse and permanently disappear," says Fredric Brandt, a dermatologist in Miami and New York. You'll probably need two to three sessions to eradicate a spider vein fully. Cost: $200 and up per treatment."
So this summer try to make some lifestyle changes as well. Limit the number of hours you spend crossing your legs ladies, travel safer with compression stockings and start taking up healthy exercise classes like yoga.
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Thursday, June 11, 2009
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411 on DVT
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For those of you unfamiliar with the risks associated with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), tune in to get some helpful facts. As travel season rapidly approaches, it means lots of flights and bathing suit weather. It's time to take care of your legs and veins. DVT generally has adverse affects on people over the age of 60, but there have been cases where younger people are facing the dangerous blood clots. According to the American Medical Associated over 600,000 people are plagued with DVT and even more alarming it is said that nearly 60,000 will die from a pulmonary embolism caused by DVT.
The Examiner reported on DVT saying, "The symptoms might include leg pain or tenderness in one leg, swelling, increased warmth in one leg, or even changes in the skin color of one leg. Symptoms might not occur right away and might even take hours – or even days – before showing up."
Some of the best ways to prevent DVT is to wear loose clothing, actively exercise and limit the amount of time you spend in immobile and confined spaces (ie. Airplanes). Likewise, it is a wise decision to also wear compression stockings while traveling and keeping mobile whilst on a long-haul flight by moving around the cabin.
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Monday, June 08, 2009
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Summer Jet-Setting
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This holiday season start to protect your vein health by traveling safer and
guarding against Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). During those long haul flights
sitting in cattle class, it will be very beneficial to your health to wear
compression stockings, stretch out and walk around as much as you can in the
cabin.
The Jewish Times of South Jersey said of DVT, "There are simple steps people
can take to help prevent blood clots from forming while flying. The American
Society of Hematology (ASH) offers the following tips: Walk around the plane
every few hours. • Drink lots of fluids. • Wear loose clothing. • Avoid
drinking alcohol before and during travel. Store carry-on luggage overhead
to give yourself leg room. Women taking oral contraceptives have a higher
risk of developing clots, as do pregnant women, smokers, seniors and obese
individuals."
For you jet-setters young and old, take active control over your leg and
vein health especially with bathing suit season approaching rapidly, you
don't want your travel to adversely affect your aesthetics and health.
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Friday, June 05, 2009
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Vein Health Staying Strong
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This summer don't fall victim to gimmicks about vein health. As businesses
begin to struggle, marketing techniques about medical treatments for venous
disease may be slightly dodgy. If your leg and vein health is a top
priority for you and you want to bare all this summer, then be sure to visit
vascular surgeons and vein health clinics that are not accredited and have
credible sources recommending them to you. Varicose and spider vein removal
may seem cosmetic, but in fact there is a serious medical side involved. As
many patients with varicose veins go untreated and result in Deep Vein
Thrombosis (DVT) which is a dangerous disease especially for high-risk or
elderly patients.
For some of you seeking out prevention and maintenance it is a wise choice
to take yoga classes and wear compression stockings as home remedies are
generally safe and economically viable in the current climate. Yoga and
compression socks both promote blood circulation and flow which dramatically
aid in prevention of venous disease. So enroll in your nearest yoga studio
and during your holiday jet setting flight be sure to wear compression
stockings.
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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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