It is Never Too Early to Get Your Legs Ready for Summer PDF Print E-mail
Written by Dr. Steven B. Heird   
Friday, 31 October 2008 11:23

Do You Have Varicose Veins?

By Dr. Heird of the Advanced Vein
and Laser Center, Inc.

Dr. Heird of the Advanced Vein and Laser Center, Inc.


Are there bulging, ugly, rope-like veins on your legs?

Do they cause achig, burning, throbbing discomfort?

Do you experience heaviness or a cramping sensation of the legs?

Are you experiencing swelling, darkening discoloration of the skin around your ankles?

Is the darker skin becoming dry and crackling.

Have you been told you have phlebitis or cellulitis?

Are there red or blue spidery superficial veins on your legs?

Do these spider veins itch and burn and feel like a bruise at times?
healthy and happy legs



Chances are you answered yes to one of these questions. Did you know more than 40% of woman and 25% of men will have varicose veins if not more? Most people will tell you they live with these problems. Why? Many have been told they must, because there is no good treatment for varicose veins. Others believe the treatment requires painful surgery and weeks off from work for recovery. Still others have been told insurance will not pay for the treatment and instead they must wear heavy, difficult to handle sup­port hoses as the only treatment available. This is fiction.

The fact is in 2008, varicose veins can easily be treated safely without an operating room, with­out general anesthesia and without painful surgery. The treatment is performed in the office with a laser fiber under local anesthetic with minimal discomfort and the patient usually returns to work the follow­ing day. The fact is there are no sutures or scars, and there is usually imme­diate relief of symptoms.The fact is that untreated, varicose veins have the potential to lead to more serious medical conditions.

So why live with varicose veins in 2008?

Endovenous Laser Treatment

EVLT is safe and effective.
EVLT treatments are successful 98% of the time.
There is minimal risk of complication from the treatment.

Advanced Vein and Laser Center Inc. (AVLC) offers a com­prehensive approach to the care of the venous system meaning that all vein problems can be treated there without exception. “There is no vein we cannot treat”.

The venous system can be described as an upside down tree with the trunk of the tree represent­ing the large vein in the abdomen and the branches of the tree are represented by the many branch­ing veins in the legs. Blood returns to the heart from the feet via the venous system. The blood must flow against gravity in order to return to the heart from the legs and feet. There are single directional valves, or one way valves, present in all of the veins of the legs no mat­ter how large or small the veins. These valves make it possible for the blood to flow back to the heart against gravity.

Varicose veins and many other common vein problems result from the malfunction of these one way vein valves known as reflux. Blood flows in a reverse di­rection across these valves (reflux), resulting in increased pressure in the veins below the malfunctioning valves of the legs. This increased pressure results in distention of the vein wall and separation of the valve leaflets and more malfunc­tioning valves. The cycle is estab­lished and more and more varicose veins will form over time.


In 2008, the primary goal of varicose vein treatment is to treat the underlying cause of the varicose veins, that being venous reflux. Advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of venous reflux have resulted in the ability to perform these tests and treatments in the doctor’s office.
The treatment of venous reflux can now be accomplished in the physician’s office under local anesthetic without surgery, sutures or prolonged recovery periods.


The greater saphenous vein (gsv) is the most common source of reflux causing varicose veins in the leg sin the legs. Old treatments of reflux of the greater saphenous vein required a trip to the operat­ing room for painful surgery with a painful post operative course, re­moval of many stitches and several weeks or more off from work.


Today, reflux of the greater saphenous vein is best treated in an office specializing in endovenous procedures. Following treatment the patient walks out of the office with a smile on their face. How is this possible? Through the application of advanced tech­nologies that are only available to practices committed to modern treatments of venous reflux. The combination of ultrasound technol­ogy with percutaneous techniques allows the safe placement of a small laser treatment catheter into the refluxing vein. With confirmation of proper positioning of the catheter by ultrasound guidance the treat­ment can be safely completed. A compression garment is applied to the treated leg and the patient is then allowed to go home. Most treatment of venous reflux can now be accomplished in the physician’s office under local anesthetic without surgery, sutures or prolonged recovery periods. In many cases patients even return to work the following day.

Advanced Vein and Laser Cen­ter Inc. on Leaders Heights Road in York, Pennsylvania offers a com­plete spectrum of treatments for all types of vein problems.

Advanced Vein and Laser Center, Inc. York County, Pennsylvania



Put Your Best Foot Forward:
Tips to Walk Safely in Style

Health advice columnists and exercise gurus often advise Americans to walk, and for good reason. Walking is the most popular form of exercise and has proven health benefits. Walking can strengthen the heart and improve circulation, lessening heart attack and stroke risk. Low-impact aerobic activity such as walking also im­proves muscle tone, reduces arthrit­ic pain, lowers bad cholesterol and eases stress. Choosing the right walking shoes can be crucial to avoid injury. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has these tips for Americans in need of a foot-friendly walking shoe:

  • Choose a light-weight shoe. Look for breathable material, like leather or nylon mesh, on the uppers. Shoes should be supportive, yet flexible.
  • Low-impact aerobic activity such as walking also improves muscle tone, reduces arthritic pain, lowers bad cholesterol and eases stress.
  • Choose a firm heel. You want less heel cushioning in walking shoes, so that the heel comes closer to the ground with each step, improving stability.
  • Have your feet measured late in the afternoon to accommodate normal foot-swelling, and wear the type of socks that you plan to walk in. The shoe should be snug but not too tight over the sock. You should be able to wiggle your toes.
  • Look for the APMA Seal of Acceptance, which indicates that a shoe has been approved for a particular activity, like walking.

When beginning a walking pro­gram, confine your walks to level stretches of flat surfaces, and avoid steep hills and embanked roadways. If you are unaccustomed to physi­cal activity, it’s important to pace yourself and to stretch before and after your walk. If possible, start off walking for 20 uninterrupted minutes three times a week. If that’s too much, try walking 10 to 15 minutes until you can gradually increase your distance.

To increase your distance, you can either pre-measure a route us­ing your car’s odometer or by using Web sites such as WalkJogRun.net and MapMyRun.com. Time your­self with a wrist watch or count the number of steps you take in a 15­second period to keep a consistent pace. If you take 15 steps, you’re walking about two miles an hour.

At 30, your pace nears four miles an hour.

For more information about how to incorporate walking safely into your daily routine, visit the APMA Web site at www.apma.org. Courtesy of NewsUSA





Tell them you read it here! York County Women's Journal November/December 2008
Last Updated on Sunday, 02 November 2008 15:15
 

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