Health Report 2/24/13
February 24th, 2013
For many, they're a cosmetic concern. For others, they can lead to dangerous health issues like circulatory problems, blood clots, and ulcers. Caused by faulty valves that lead to blood pooling in the legs, varicose veins affect up to 25-percent of women and up to 10-percent of men.
There's a newer procedure that's getting rid of the veins with a lot less pain.
Varicose veins, they can be ugly, painful, or both.
Linda Grim, varicose vein patient, said: "It does run in my family."
For twelve years, Linda Grim had persistent swelling and was on her way to inheriting the unwanted heirlooms.
Grim: "At one point, my right foot was at least a full shoe size difference than my left foot."
Methodist Hospital's doctor Eric Peden says this minimally invasive ablation procedure is becoming the new standard for many doctors.
Grim: "For me this is my preferred treatment."
It's the Vena-cure 1470. Linda's having it done right now.
Doctor Eric Peden, vascular surgeon, said: "That white we see is basically treating the vein and burning the vein wall."
Causing varicose veins to collapse on themselves and vanish. Doctor Peden says there are similar catheter procedures, but with vena-cure: "The tip is covered so it doesn't stick to the vein wall. It should lead to less damage to the surrounding tissues, which means less discomfort for her afterwards and less bruising."
Linda hopes the 25-minute treatment cures her constant swelling. In the meantime, she's walking out of the doctor's office pain-free.
Grim: "I don't really feel any pain right now."
And she's varicose vein free.
For many, they're a cosmetic concern. For others, they can lead to dangerous health issues like circulatory problems, blood clots, and ulcers. Caused by faulty valves that lead to blood pooling in the legs, varicose veins affect up to 25-percent of women and up to 10-percent of men.
There's a newer procedure that's getting rid of the veins with a lot less pain.
Varicose veins, they can be ugly, painful, or both.
Linda Grim, varicose vein patient, said: "It does run in my family."
For twelve years, Linda Grim had persistent swelling and was on her way to inheriting the unwanted heirlooms.
Grim: "At one point, my right foot was at least a full shoe size difference than my left foot."
Methodist Hospital's doctor Eric Peden says this minimally invasive ablation procedure is becoming the new standard for many doctors.
Grim: "For me this is my preferred treatment."
It's the Vena-cure 1470. Linda's having it done right now.
Doctor Eric Peden, vascular surgeon, said: "That white we see is basically treating the vein and burning the vein wall."
Causing varicose veins to collapse on themselves and vanish. Doctor Peden says there are similar catheter procedures, but with vena-cure: "The tip is covered so it doesn't stick to the vein wall. It should lead to less damage to the surrounding tissues, which means less discomfort for her afterwards and less bruising."
Linda hopes the 25-minute treatment cures her constant swelling. In the meantime, she's walking out of the doctor's office pain-free.
Grim: "I don't really feel any pain right now."
And she's varicose vein free.
