What People Are Hearing About Vein Health - The Buzz
Fly Safely
With the recent drop in flight prices worldwide, many people are opting to travel overseas for business or pleasure. But are these cheap flights causing an increase in vein health issues? If you are one of the thousands jumping on board the jet-setting ways of celebrities, be sure to take caution with your leg and vein health. The more often you fly or have prolonged periods of sitting or standing, the more important it is that you use compression stockings to prevent varicose veins or spider veins.
A coach class seat is the last place you want to be for a long flight, so take time to walk the aisles on a regular basis—try for ten minutes walking for every hour sitting—and wear socks to keep the blood flowing through your feet and legs. Keeping blood moving through the lower extremities is a step in the right direction for optimal vein health and prevention of venous disease.
Grapefruit Contributes to Rare Clotting Incident
A diet high in grapefruit consumption mixed with contraceptive pills and a congenital predisposition resulted in a rare blood clot that nearly caused a woman to lose her leg. Though not a common incident, this odd combination made for an unusual but critical situation. Grapefruit juice slows the activity of a liver enzyme that metabolizes some drugs, which can increase the level of those drugs in the blood, sometimes to dangerous levels. Forty million Americans have some form of venous disease, with varicose veins and spider veins among the most common.
A physician interviewed about the incident said, “It was the combination of grapefruit juice, the estrogen in the birth control pills, the genetic clotting mutation and sitting in the car in a position that narrowed the blood vessel that threatened the amputation of the leg.” She went on to say that grapefruit juice does not normally interact with contraceptives and that it poses no threat to society at large. This should not discourage people from eating grapefruit, which is a healthy food in most cases. However, people on medications should read warning labels carefully or ask their physicians if they are concerned.
Although venous disease can be dangerous if untreated, preventative measures, early diagnosis, and treatment can greatly diminish the risk of serious health threats.
DVT Awareness Month Focuses on Prevention
Medicare’s recent decision not to pay for deep vein thrombosis treatments (DVT) after hip or knee surgery has the medical community focused on prevention. March 2009 marked the 6th annual DVT Awareness Month, sponsored by the Coalition to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis. According to the American Heart Association, up to two million Americans are affected annually by deep vein thrombosis. Left untreated, DVT can develop into a potentially fatal complication called pulmonary embolism, in which a blood clot travels from a deep leg or pelvic vein to the lungs and blocks the pulmonary artery. According to www.clotcare.com, more Americans die each year from DVT/PE than from breast cancer and AIDS combined, yet 74% of Americans have little or no awareness of DVT. Tragically, that makes DVT one of the leading causes of preventable hospital death. Studies have shown that only about one-third of at-risk patients receive recommended prevention therapies, such as blood-thinning medication or special post-surgical compression socks to improve circulation in the lower extremities.
Varicose Vein Removal Market to Increase
The US market for varicose and spider vein removal is likely to get a massive boost by 2013. The projected numbers are approximately $215 million higher than where they are today. Tools and devices used over the past few years have experienced a shakeout, but now there are a select few viable options on the market, and they are likely to expand their reach even as they refine their technologies.
Fox Business reported, “Because of price increases, many physicians will take on more paitents for varicose vein treatments in order to maximize device ROI. These conditions, combined with 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.”
Statin and DVT
A cholesterol lowering class of drug called Statin may be linked 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 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.
Compression Therapy for Pregnant Women
In honor 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.”
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.
Endovenous Laser Treatment
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 efficiently and effectively. For the millions of Americans plagued with bulging, ropy and painful varicose veins, endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) 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 disappear.
Varicose Veins: The 411
A Staten Island paper said, “Varicose veins occur when faulty valves allow blood to flow backward (venous reflux) and collect in leg veins causing them to enlarge. You may experience one or more of the following symptoms: pain; aching or cramping; heaviness; tiredness; burning or tingling sensations; swelling; throbbing, or tenderness around the vein(s). Venous reflux interferes with normal venous return of blood and eliminating the faulty vein(s) actually improves venous circulation as blood is diverted to normal veins with functional valves. The resulting improvement in venous circulation significantly relieves symptoms and improves appearance.”
Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic issue. It is important that they be taken seriously, and treated by a vein expert.
For more information visit: www.veindirectory.org/blog/