varicose veins Archives - Page 3 of 5 - 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.

Venous Insufficiency and When to See a Vascular Specialist

Sep 18, 2018 | Vein Conditions, Venous Insufficiency

If you’ve experienced leg pain that seems to be emanating from a vein but are unsure what it is, it may be venous insufficiency. Pain, swelling, itchiness, leathery skin, or loss of cosmesis are symptoms of venous insufficiency and a warning of when to see a vascular specialist. Allowing any symptom to linger too long, can lead to much more serious conditions.

What Is Venous Insufficiency?

Healthline defines the process of your body’s blood flow as functioning properly when it operates within an intricately simple system. The arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body, and the veins return it back to the heart. Valves act as the stopgap in your veins to keep blood from flowing backward.

If the veins are not able to return blood to your heart for some reason, then it begins to pool where its movement is blocked in your legs. This is known as venous insufficiency. You may be having trouble with a blood clot or varicose veins.

Blood Clot: A blood clot restricts the flow of blood, and as a result, blood pools below the clot.
Varicose Veins: Blood leaks back through damaged valves.
Weakness in the Leg Muscles: May result in squeezing the blood forward.

Is Venous Insufficiency Painful?

While pain is one of the symptoms associated with venous insufficiency, its effects may vary depending on the severity and placement of the vein condition.

Some people experience a feeling of heaviness in the leg, while others may describe their discomfort as achiness. An itching or throbbing sensation may also occur. If the situation has become acute, extreme pain can occur while standing or walking.

Is Venous Insufficiency Life Threatening?

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Institute (NCBI), vein disease is common and manageable if caught during the early stages. A vascular specialist can diagnose the severity of your situation. If your symptoms are not bothersome, you may benefit from exercise, weight loss, wearing compression stockings, or elevating your leg.

If left untreated, however, venous insufficiency can result in loss of cosmesis in addition to serious complications, such as thrombosis, ulcers, or bleeding.

Why Vein Disease Should Never Be Ignored

The circulatory system is essential to the body’s overall health.

Veins and arteries are an integral part of this system, as they are responsible for transporting blood to and from the heart.

Veins bring blood back to the heart and are prone to complications since they must work against gravity.

Left untreated, vein-related complications like vein disease can cause serious health complications.

What Happens When Vein Disease Is Left Untreated

Discolored, Itchy Skin

When the veins do not work properly and the blood flow from your body to your heart is decreased, the skin can become dry and itchy. As the blood is not flowing at its optimal speed, the skin can also become discolored and swollen. When this inflammation becomes chronic, it can be referred to as stasis dermatitis.

Cellulitis

This only occurs when stasis dermatitis has worsened. The symptoms of cellulitis include red and swollen skin, chills and fever, and swollen lymph nodes. This typically happens when vein disease intensifies, and treatment is not sought.

When cellulitis sets in, the risk of a lethal bacterial infection sepsis increases dramatically.

Ulcers and Spontaneous Bleeding

As vein disease progresses, the body’s veins either become enlarged or deteriorate over time. If the vein’s capabilities have decreased dramatically, blood may pool in the varicose veins. This forces them to become more swollen and create painful ulcers.

Ulcers caused by untreated vein disease can itch, burn, cause rashes, and dry out skin. They may be a brown color and ooze or bleed with a foul-smelling substance.

DVT

Deep vein thrombosis happens when a blood clot is formed within the veins of the leg or other body parts. It can happen when veins are no longer able to bring blood back to the heart and create a clot within the leg.

When a clot is created because of untreated vein disease, a pulmonary embolism can occur. This occurs when a blood vessel becomes blocked by a clot that has traveled to the lung.

There are a variety of ways to maintain the health of your circulatory system and many treatment methods for vein disease and other vein-related issues.

When you have concerns about the health of your veins, contact the New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center for diagnosis and treatment of vascular disorders.

Annual Blood Drive and Health Fair

Jul 18, 2018 | News

Emergency Blood Shortage – Blood Drive – Saturday, August 4

On Saturday, August 4, 2018, there will be a Community Blood Drive held at the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club’s Ballroom located at 79 N. Bertrand Road from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please consider a blood donation now to assist with an emergency blood shortage in northern New Jersey.

Community Blood Services, one of the largest independent blood centers in the region, will be offering their services to complete the safe and simple donation process. Participants must be 18 years or older unless signed consent is received from a guardian. Donors are asked to eat prior to donating and must bring identification showing a signature.

Also, Dr. Stuart Miller, Medical Director of The New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center, will be in attendance and participating in the Blood Drive. Dr. Stuart Miller will be offering free screenings at the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club Blood Drive for Varicose Veins & Spider Veins, Peripheral Venous Disease, Thyroid and Carotid Arterial Disease.

He will be offering Free Ultrasound Screenings, including:

Ultrasound for Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
Ultrasound of Leg Arteries (PAD)
Ultrasound of Carotid Artery
Ultrasound of Thyroid
Ultrasound of Abdominal Aorta

“The New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center is pleased be to be a part of a community event that will give people a chance to help others in need and aid in supplying 20 different hospitals throughout the area with blood. Our hope is to combine the advantages of donating blood and giving back with education about the vein and vascular system and the benefits of proper screening”

~ Dr. Stuart Miller

The New Jersey Vein & Vascular Center of Randolph, NJ is proud to partner with the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club and Community Blood Services to raise awareness about the need for blood donation in the area by offering participants in the Blood Drive a free vein and vascular consultation by one of NJ’s leading vein and vascular centers.

For more information call The New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center at: 862-251-7111 or Email: [email protected].

Finding A Vein Care Specialist

Jun 18, 2018 | Vein Care, Vein Treatments

Vein disease is a lifelong complication, but a personalized specialist can make something complicated simple. The New Jersey Vein & Vascular Center is a leading vein center that places emphasis on patient care. Instead of receiving generic care from a clinic that just administers vein treatment, try a specialist who focuses on your health needs and an entire care plan for your specific condition. Here are some things to consider when finding a vein care specialist:

Specialties

The New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center treats varicose vein disease and venous insufficiency. Our scope of care includes the treatment of varicose, spider, pregnancy, and reticular veins. Our objectives in administering care are to relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and improve appearance.

Diagnosis

Examples of Varicose Veins in Legs, Feet, and Ankles

We accurately identify the underlying causes of vein conditions, first, before diagnosing. We’ve seen many patients who have been treated for the symptoms, rather than the disease, at prior clinics. We provide an accurate diagnosis, closely monitor our patients and communicate to ensure condition improvement and patient satisfaction.

Our Clinic

Dr. Stuart MIller - Vein Care Specialist

Our clinic, located in Randolph, NJ, is state-of-the-art, assuring nothing short of the best quality care available anywhere.

One of our famed doctors, Dr. Stuart Miller, holds over 15 medical device patents in our field of care.

We can tackle underlying causes with precision without wasting valuable time on false positives or negatives. We continue to make technological advances in our field.

Procedures & Therapies

We offer ambulatory phlebectomy, sclerotherapy, endovenous laser ablation, and compression therapy. We understand that vein complications may affect patients’ body confidence due to their visibility. Our goal is to fully satisfy our patients, including addressing cosmetic concerns. Additionally, we also provide Botox treatments.

Insurance Coverage

Unless you want to pay out of pocket for your vein treatment, you’re going to want to learn about your insurance coverage. Most vein procedures are covered by insurance, but because plans vary from person to person, you’ll want to double-check. NJVVC accepts most major insurance and Medicare and our staff will be happy to work with you to maximize your insurance benefits.

Read Reviews

Spending some time reading through a specialist’s reviews online will likely shed some light on the quality of the services they offer. But it’s important for finding a vein specialist. It’s important to keep in mind that people only turn to online reviews if their experience was one extreme or the other: really great or really awful. Although, sometimes reviewers provide valuable insight.

We encourage all our patients to share their story regarding the experiences they have had with us. We strive to constantly provide a higher level of care for the people we see. It shows in the reviews we have received over the years.

The Next Step – Schedule a Consultation with a Specialist

Our office staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about our field of practice. To contact us about receiving care, or with general questions, you may call us at 862-251-7111, or inquire online here.

Editor’s Note: This blog has been updated in May 2024

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.

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