Epidemic of Varicose and Spider Veins Sweeping U.S.
Some 80 million Americans suffer from varicose veins or spider veins, according to leading U.S. medical organizations. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that half of women over age 21 in America have spider veins. And the National Women's Health Information Center says varicose veins affect half of those age 50 and older.
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Insurer Takes Step That Could Restrict Vein Surgery
In a controversial move that critics say could eventually have implications for the entire United States, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBS) has instituted a new policy that imposes a lengthy certification process on providers of treatments for varicose and spider veins.
The policy also allows only three types of doctor to perform the revolutionary new techniques of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endovenous laser treatment (EVLT), which are rapidly replacing the older and more painful vein-stripping method. (Ablation is removal of diseased or poorly functioning tissue.) The physicians the insurer would let be paid specialize just in the areas of interventional radiology, vascular surgery and general surgery. Their facilities must be approved by the American College of Radiology or the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories. Read more about Insurer Takes Step That Could Restrict Vein Surgery
Expert Commentary: Steven D. Bines M.D. 12/04/2009
There has been a revolution in the treatment of painful varicose veins. Once a procedure done under general anesthetic in a hospital, utilizing multiple large and painful incisions, today it can be performed under local anesthesia in a doctor's office. Part of this revolution has been a change in the type of doctor treating varicose veins. There are two new procedures. The first is called Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) - where a laser is inserted into the diseased vein. The second Evdovenous Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) uses a radio frequency catheter. Both techniques destroy the diseased vein, and blood flow is naturally rerouted. The varicose vein is absorbed back into the body and disappears from view.
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Why Women Live Longer
Across the globe, women still live 5 to 10 years longer than men. Founder of the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University explains why 85% of people over 100 years old are women. One large reason is the large advantage women have over men in terms of cardiovascular disease. Women develop symptoms like heart attacks and strokes usually in their 70s and 80s, compared to men who develop them in their 50s and 60s. Doctors long believed the difference was due to estrogen, but studies show that this may not be the case. Read more about Why Women Live Longer
What is an Aneurysm?
WHAT IS AN AORTIC ANEURYSM? With Dr.Sateesh Babu Vascular Associates of Westchester Read more about What is an Aneurysm?
What is the Polypill?
Dr. Valentin Fuster discusses the Polypill. The Polypill is being developed in response to an important reality surrounding cardiovascular disease. There are three important drugs that can help prevent heart disease (statins, ACE inhibitors, and aspirin). These drugs are not taken for two major reasons. First, the drugs are simply too expensive for much of the world, including countries as developed as Russia. And secondly, in developed nations where the drugs are affordable patients too often fail to comply - after three years 70% of patients do not take the medications as prescribed. Read more about What is the Polypill?
What Are the Risk Factors of Coronary Artery Disease?
Dr. Valentin Fuster discusses the 6 causes or risk factors behind coronary artery disease. There are two physical risk factors: high blood pressure and size of the waist (or abdominal obesity). There are two chemical risk factors: cholesterol levels in the blood and blood glucose (diabetes). And finally, there are two lifestyle risk factors: smoking and exercise. Read more about What Are the Risk Factors of Coronary Artery Disease?
What is Coronary Artery Disease?
Dr. Valentin Fuster, one of the world's leading cardiologists, discusses the basics of coronary heart disease. Dr. Fuster than describes the symptoms of a heart attack and how to differentiate these symptoms from other conditions. Most importantly, he urges viewers to pay attention to these symptoms and the importance of getting medical treatment as soon as possible, even if one has the least suspicion of a coronary incident. Getting treatment in the first hour or two can minimize damage to heart muscle. Read more about What is Coronary Artery Disease?
What Is The Impact of Smoking on Vascular Disease?
Smoking is one of the very strong risk factors for developing vascular disease. We have seen very young people who smoke develop vascular disease. Normally as our arteries become blocked, it is a part of aging. Most of the patients with vascular disease are in the 60's, 70s and beyond. But one who smokes very heavily, someone who started smoking very early in their teens, one who smokes one or two packs a day regularly... we see that they get vascular disease 10 to 20 years earlier. Some people in their 40s have severe vascular disease. So there is no question that smoking is a strong risk factor. Read more about What Is The Impact of Smoking on Vascular Disease?
What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?
Dr. Sattesh Babu of Vascular Associates of Westchester discusses Peripheral Arterial Disease, who is at risk, why it is important to be screened and current treatments. Pad is essentially a blockage of the arteries in the lower extremities. That is what we mean by peripheral arteries -- leg arteries blocked by hardening of the arteries, buildup of cholesterol, plaque and calcium. This in part is a process of aging, but certainly also brought on by smoking. Diabetes is another risk factor, as is hypertension. Read more about What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?
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Dr. Pravin M. Shah
Atrium Laser Vein Center
83 South Bedford Road Suite 100
Mount Kisco,
NY
10549
Call: (888) 547-1437
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