exercising Archives - The New Jersey Vein & Vascular Center

Everything You Need to Know About DVTs: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Oct 18, 2018 | Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Vein Conditions

DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) is a serious condition that can be life threatening. It’s important to be aware of the signs, symptoms, and treatment to detect it quickly and seek help. Here is everything you need to know about DVTs:

What is a DVT?

Though you may not have heard of a DVT, you’ve very likely heard of a blood clot and the dangers associated with blockages in your veins or arteries. Blood clots are classified, in part, based on their locations.

A DVT, short for Deep Vein Thrombosis, is what happens when a blood clot forms in one of the deep veins in your body—most commonly, in your legs. DVTs can be both painful and dangerous.

The most dangerous complication that can arise from a DVT is a pulmonary embolism. This occurs if the blood clot dislodges itself from your deep vein and moves to block your lungs.

A shifted clot could also cause a heart attack or stroke. Because of these serious potential complications, it’s important to seek care immediately if you suspect you or a loved one may have a DVT.

Who is at Risk for a DVT?

Although anyone can get a DVT, certain people are more at risk for a DVT than others. Those most at risk for a DVT include:

Adults over the age of 50
Anyone recovering from a recent surgery
Pregnant women and those taking hormonal birth controls
Anyone with blood clotting disorders such as Factor V Deficiency
People leading a sedentary lifestyle
Individuals with a family history of a DVT
Heavy smokers

How Do You Prevent a DVT?

Staying active is the best way to prevent a DVT. Be sure to get up and move around regularly and avoid sitting for several hours at a time.

Losing weight, giving up smoking, and watching your blood pressure are all great additional ways to lower your odds of having a DVT in your lifetime.

If you are at high risk for a DVT based on previous personal or family history, blood clotting disorders, or surgery, your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner to help prevent a DVT. Taking this medication as prescribed is an important step to avoiding the complication of a DVT.

What Are the Symptoms of a DVT?

Sharp, debilitating pain in the leg, ankle, or foot is usually the first and most pronounced symptom of a DVT. This pain may be accompanied by swelling or cramping.

Sometimes, people ignore the signs of a DVT until the clot moves and they experience signs of pulmonary embolism. These include dizziness, faintness, sweating, and heart palpitations.

How is a DVT Diagnosed?

To diagnose a DVT, your doctor will first take a medical history and assess your pain levels. Once that has been done, they will have to image your leg to locate the DVT. Often, this is done using either an MRI or an ultrasound.

How Do You Treat a DVT?

Depending on the location and severity of the clot, your doctor may choose one or several treatment options. Compression socks may be used to increase circulation in your legs, while blood thinners may be prescribed to break up the clot. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the clot.

Be proactive about DVT complications and schedule and appointment with your Vein Care Specialist to learn about the health of your veins. Knowing more about possible blockages or clogs could end up saving your life.

For more information about DVTs or vein care contact us our staff at NJVVC.

When Pregnancy Veins Won’t Go Away

Mar 18, 2018 | Vein Conditions

One of the many ways pregnancy can affect a woman’s body is through the appearance of varicose veins and spider veins. Although not all women develop them during pregnancy, they are more common after multiple pregnancies and in women with a family history of them. While pregnancy is a beautiful time in a woman’s life, it is also very challenging. Supporting a baby stresses the body and brings about some obvious and uncomfortable changes that leave many women wondering: When pregnancy veins won’t go away, what can be done?

If you develop varicose veins during pregnancy, you shouldn’t worry immediately. It’s very common. It would still be wise to let your doctor know about them.

If you didn’t have spider or varicose veins before pregnancy, your chances are pretty good that they’ll improve and possibly heal on their own. Spider veins are usually temporary and improve a few months after you give birth. If you did not have varicose veins before giving birth, they will likely shrink or disappear in a few months as well. Although, they’re less likely to go away after multiple pregnancies.

What Can You Do in the Meantime?

Get rid of those extra pounds you gained during pregnancy.
Eat a healthy diet.
Get regular exercise.
Don’t cross your legs.
Don’t stand for extended periods.
Wear compression socks.
Be patient.

If three or four months have passed since giving birth, and you still have veins that bother you it’s probably time to seek treatment. Fortunately, there are safe and effective treatments available today that are far less invasive than older approaches.

Compression Therapy

It’s often recommended that women wear compression stockings to improve the circulation in their legs, either to prevent varicose veins during pregnancy or to deal with the symptoms. Compression therapy can be very helpful, but it should be overseen by a vein specialist. The level of compression needs to be correctly evaluated.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that only takes 15 to 60 minutes and requires no downtime. A solution is injected into the problem vein, causing it to collapse and be reabsorbed by the body. Larger veins may require multiple treatments.

Endovenous Laser Ablation

Endovenous Laser Ablation or EVLT remarkably effective treatment is also known as laser vein ablation. A catheter with a laser tip is inserted into the vein, guided by ultrasound. The laser then seals off the vein, diverting the blood flow. It only requires local anesthesia, is done in about an hour, and doesn’t require multiple sessions. 98% of patients experience immediate relief, and there is no interruption to your daily activities.

If you have concerns or questions about pregnancy veins and treatment options, please contact us. We offer care and treatment during and after pregnancy.

Why Winter Is the Best Time for Varicose Vein Treatment

Dec 19, 2017 | News

Varicose vein treatment is on the rise across the United States. New research indicates that this growth is likely to continue at a rate of 6.9% by the year 2021. If you are one of the millions of people who are planning to seek vein treatment, you might be wondering when you should schedule your treatment.

Below are five reasons why winter is the best time for varicose vein treatment.

1) Compression Stockings are Easier to Tolerate in the Winter

Compression stockings play an instrumental role in optimizing vein care treatment. However, some people find them a bit hot and confining – especially in warmer weather.

By scheduling your treatment in the winter, these sensations are not as pronounced because the weather is cooler.

Wearing pants over compression stockings will be much more tolerable in cooler weather than in the summer months.

2) Your Legs Will Have Time to Respond to Treatment Before Spring and Summer

People who receive vein treatments sometimes do not notice positive results for weeks or months.

If you want to show off your treated legs during spring or summer, winter is the best time for varicose vein treatment. This will allow plenty of time for healing.

3) Your Treated Legs Will Likely be Hidden from View

In the days following sclerotherapy, your legs may show signs of bruising and discoloration. Additionally, you will likely be asked to wear compression stockings after treatment.

If treatment is completed during the winter months, people will not even notice that you have undergone a procedure to eliminate spider and varicose veins.

4) Patients are Less likely to Engage in Strenuous Activity

Rigorous exercise and weight lifting are both discouraged in the weeks following sclerotherapy or other vein care procedures. This can prove to be difficult for some people who are accustomed to regularly exerting themselves.

Because most people tend to exercise less in the winter months, it is a bit easier to adjust their exercise routines.

If you love the summer sun and swimming, take note that avoiding sun exposure and public swimming pools for a time after vein treatment is recommended.

5) Varicose Veins are Often at Their Worst During the Winter

A more sedentary lifestyle during the winter months can exacerbate varicose veins and highlight the need for treatment.

Lack of exercise can cause more pooling of blood in the legs.

It’s common for people to put a little weight on in the winter which doesn’t help either.

Failure to seek treatment for your varicose and spider veins can cause pain and other symptoms to worsen.

Winter really is the best time for varicose vein treatment. But if you are suffering and don’t want your condition to get worse, you should seek treatment right away regardless of the time of year.

Winter is the perfect time to visit The New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center to change the look and feel of your legs. Contact us today to find out how we can help you escape the escalated discomfort of varicose veins during the winter and become more confident in the look of your legs for Spring 2018.

Travel and Vascular Health: Exercises and Tips for Vein Care While On-The-Go

Nov 17, 2017 | News

The holidays are fast approaching and for many of us that means cold temperatures and traveling to visit with family and loved ones while spending hours in confined spaces to get there. If you have ever gone on a plane or long car ride and taken your shoes off and found it difficult to put them back on upon arrival, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Being crammed into a tight plane seat for several hours can do more than just cramp your style. Hours of immobility can be extremely dangerous to vascular health.

Economy class syndrome, otherwise called DVT or deep vein thrombosis, is a blood clot that can develop in the legs, especially on flights longer than 8-10 hours.

The best way to prevent DVTs is to stay mobile and active during your journey. Here are some tips for vein care and exercises you can do to maintain vascular health while traveling.

Take a stroll.

The key to vascular health is staying active. One of the easiest ways to keep the blood flowing is by walking.

A quick stroll around the plane every hour or so, especially on flights longer than 4 hours, will go a long way in keeping your leg veins healthy.

If you are stuck in a cramped hotel room, walk around the building or make use of the hotel gym and pool.

Wear comfortable, loose clothing.

The more comfortable you are, the better. Loose-fitting clothing will less likely
impede blood flow in the legs and make it easier to get around and move.

Keep hydrated and avoid alcohol.

Dehydration can slow circulation, contributing to the occurrence of blood clots. Alcohol can be a contributing factor to dehydration, as well as making you
feel sluggish.

Skip that in-flight beer and fill up on water to keep hydrated and motivated to move while traveling.

Do some sitting exercises.

If you find that you cannot get up often enough, there are some exercises you can do while sitting in your plane seat.

While pointing your foot towards the ceiling, squeeze your toes and hold for 3 seconds. You can repeat this exercise 10 times with both feet every half hour.

While in your seat, stretch your feet up and down, rolling your ankles.

These small exercises can be enough to keep your blood flowing.

Wear compression stockings.

If you are at risk for vein issues, compression stockings can aid in preventing DVTs while traveling.

Compression stockings prevent leg swelling and allowing blood to flow properly throughout your feet and legs.

The last thing anyone wants is to end up ill after traveling to be with loved ones for the holidays, so keep these exercises and tips for vein care in mind. For more information about vascular health, contact NJVVC today!

Advantages of Outpatient Care for Venous Disease

Oct 31, 2017 | News

Seeking healthcare treatment at one of New Jersey’s top-level outpatient centers can have several different perks, including the treatment of a wide variety of venous conditions you may have. Complex illnesses and conditions can be treated on site with a family-like health care program that will provide you with many other quality opportunities including the following:

Avoiding the Hospital

The opportunity to get the treatment done without requiring you to go to the hospital, where stays and wait times can oftentimes be much lengthier, is always a major positive.

Not having to go to a hospital to complete a procedure will keep you away from being exposed to unnecessary germs, the possibility of sharing a room and allows you to recuperate in the comfort of your own home.

No Anesthesia

The procedures that are done in an outpatient environment can treat a wide variety of different symptoms, however, none of the procedures require anesthesia which means a quicker recovery time for patients.

No anesthesia also means that you will be able to witness your procedure and be informed immediately about the outcome and aftercare responsibilities.

Quick Recovery & Return to Daily Activities

Procedures that are done at an outpatient care center generally don’t require long recoveries or much downtime from daily activities.

Typically, you can return to your normal routine the very next day which alleviates any stress associated with being out of work, fulfilling household responsibilities or feeling ‘stuck’ in bed.

State-of-the-Art Treatment Plans

Many outpatient medical facilities are where the newest and best technologies are being used. To find quick, precise and non-invasive care look for medical practices that offer “family-like” care and a deep regard for every patient. Finding a facility that focuses on the concerns of each patient and has an open line of communication between patient and staff will allow you and your physician to create a treatment plan that is based upon your specific needs.

The ultimate goal of any treatment should always be better health, freedom from pain and as little interruption to your daily activities as possible. For more information about our outpatient procedures, doctor, and staff, contact us today!