SFVA Physicians Participate In Education Series on Advanced Endovascular Procedures in an Outpatient Setting

South Florida Vascular Associates physicians William Julien, MD and Curtis Anderson, MD in collaboration with the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL) is pleased to announce that we are participating in a new educational series titled Advanced Endovascular Procedures in an Outpatient Setting, supported by an educational grant from Boston Scientific Corporation. The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

This program has been developed to promote the development of necessary cognitive and technical skills required for interventions that will emphasize imaging, angioplasty, atherectomy, thrombectomy and stenting for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and uterine embolization for uterine fibroids. This continuing education course is offered to vascular surgeons who look to expand their experience in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease so that they can offer their patients the most current treatment options for the most optimal results.

South Florida Vascular Associates is a fully clinical office-based vascular practice that is focused on providing outstanding patient care. Our physicians have extensive training in minimally invasive endovascular techniques which have largely replaced open surgery for most vascular disorders. Our doctors bring their unique expertise to the practice offering the highest level of endovascular technologies within a clinical office-based practice setting. We are nationally recognized as a center of excellence because we are committed to running an outstanding clinical practice, participating in ongoing education and research in vascular disease. Our commitment to excellence is ultimately reflected by our well regarded patient outcomes and patient satisfaction.

We welcome patients suffering from vascular diseases to contact our office for a consultation with one of our board certified endovascular surgeons at 1 one 3 convenient locations in Coconut Creek, Boynton Beach and Plantation, Florida. Call us today at 954-725-4141.

November is Men’s Health Awareness Month: Get Educated, Stay Healthy and Spread the Word

Did you know that according to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average life expectancy for men in the US is almost 5 years less than women?  

The reason for the poor state of men’s health are numerous and include:

• Lack of awareness and understanding of the health issues men face
• Men not openly discussing their health and how they’re feeling
• Reluctance to take action when men don’t feel physically or mentally well
• Men engaging in risky activities that threaten their health  
• Stigmas surrounding mental health or other medical issues
• Men are 24 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year

How many of you men avoid going to the doctor? How many of you ignore symptoms and say, “Oh, it’s nothing, I’ll be fine”.  November is a time for men to think about their health, don’t be embarrassed to talk about your bodies and anything that ails you.  Self-education and body awareness are key to early detection and early detection is key to having a proper diagnosis positive outcome.

At South Florida Vascular Associates, it is our goal to increase your understanding of some of the vascular disease health risks that men face;  encourage you to take action to remain healthy, and help to ensure that you take proper medical action if or when you do become sick.

 Below are some vascular conditions that are prevalent in men that you should be educated about. These conditions are successfully treated, especially when diagnosed in the early stages.
 
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)- Peripheral artery disease is a common disorder that mostly affects men over age 50, but women can have it as well. PAD is caused by arteriosclerosis and occurs when fatty material (plaque) builds up on the walls of your arteries and makes them narrower. As a result, the muscles of your legs cannot get enough blood and oxygen when they are working harder (such as during exercise or walking). If PAD becomes severe, there may not be enough blood and oxygen, even when the muscles are resting. The main symptoms of PAD are pain, achiness, fatigue, burning, or discomfort in the muscles of your feet, calves, or thighs. These symptoms usually appear during walking or exercise, and go away after several minutes of rest.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) -Abdominal aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulging of the main artery that leads from the heart to the rest of his body. Without repair, the aorta can leak or rupture, potentially causing sudden death. AAA tends to occur in white males over the age of 60. In the United States, these aneurysms occur in up to 3.0% of the population. Aneurysms start to form at about age 50 and peak at age 80. Usually, aortic aneurysms are found in older people and are associated with hypertension or high blood pressure. AAA often does not cause any symptoms, however If they do, they may cause deep dull pain in the lower back or flank. Prominent abdominal pulsations may be also present.

Varicoceles- Varicoceles are a tangled network of blood vessels or swelling of the veins on the testicles similar to varicose veins in the legs but in this condition a vein called the gonadal vein. It has weak defective valves resulting in the blood pooling in varicose veins in the scrotum. It is a relatively common condition (affecting approximately 10 percent of men) that tends to occur in young men, usually in their 20’s or 30’s. Sometimes, varicoceles cause no symptoms and are harmless. But sometimes a varicocele causes pain, testicular atrophy (shrinkage), or fertility problems. 

Venus Insufficiency- Venous insufficiency is a common cause of leg pain and swelling, and is commonly associated with varicose veins. It occurs when the valves of the veins do not function properly, and the circulation of blood in the leg veins is impaired.  It may affect up to 20 percent of adults. By the age of 50, nearly 40 percent of women and 20 percent of men have significant leg vein problems. Symptoms include aching leg pain, leg fatigue and leg heaviness.

 As part of Men’s Health Awareness Month we urge you to be proactive with your health and to encourage other men to do the same. To help increase men’s health awareness, during the month of November many men are growing moustaches or beards to help support the cause, promote awareness of the health issues men may face and to empower men to be more proactive about their medical choices.
 
 If you suffer from any of the vascular conditions listed above call our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our board certified physicians. We are here to help you and make sure that you stay healthy.

Start growing your moustache today and send us a picture for our Facebook page to  info@southfloridavascular.com

Do You Have Varicose Veins? A New Study Shows: When Treating Varicose Veins, Laser Therapy (EVLT) Remains the Best Option

When treating varicose veins, laser therapy remains the best option, a new study says. Laser is preferred over surgery or foam due to higher success rates with the least amount of complications.

Researchers in the study examined 798 participants who had varicose veins and were treated at 11 vascular surgery centers in the United Kingdom, between November 2008 and October 2012. The participants underwent one of three types of treatments: closing off the veins with a laser, injecting a drug "foam" into the vein or surgically removing the vein.

After six months, the researchers compared the outcomes, looking at how well the treatments worked and at their complication rates, as well as how the participants rated the change in their quality of life since their treatments.

The main findings indicated that laser therapy, endovenous laser treatment was the preferred treatment for varicose veins. It was determined that all three treatments reduced symptoms associated with varicose veins, but there were fewer complications after laser treatment.

What causes varicose veins?

Varicose veins are blood vessels that have become swollen, enlarged and twisted. Improperly working valves in the veins cause the disorder. In people who have this condition, blood returns up to the heart from the veins in the legs because of the contraction of the calf muscles. Normally, valves in these veins prevent blood from flowing backwards, down towards the feet.

People with varicose veins have leaky valves, which means that some blood flows backward and pools in the veins, causing them to become enlarged.

The procedure called endovenous laser ablation (EVLT), uses heat generated by laser energy to seal off faulty blood vessels, diverting blood flow to nearby healthy veins.

Foam or saline treatment, sclerotherapy, involves injecting drugs into a blood vessel. The medicines, when mixed with air, cause the vessel wall to thicken and helps to seal off blood flow. The recent study showed that foam was less likely than the other treatments to completely close a vein that had leaky valves, which may increase the likelihood that a patient will need future treatment.

In the study, about 1 percent of patients who underwent treatment with a laser experienced complications such as lumpiness, skin staining and numbness. About 6 percent of those who received the foam treatment, and 7 percent of those who underwent surgery experienced such complications, according to the study.

The researchers of the study also found that successful ablation of the great saphenous vein occurred in 83 percent of those who received the laser treatment and 84.4 percent of the participants who underwent surgery.  These numbers were significantly higher than the 54.6 percent who had such successful ablation after the foam treatment. The great saphenous vein, the longest in the body, runs along the length of the leg.

Can varicose veins be prevented?

Varicose vein treatment is not only done for cosmetic reasons, it is done because people with who have them often suffer from pain and discomfort. Varicose veins can also cause swelling of the ankles, skin changes and sometimes even ulcers. Some people with severe varicose veins have difficulty walking.

Both men and women get varicose veins and the condition is very common in pregnant women, older patients, overweight people and those who stand for long periods of time. It is also more prevalent in people who have a family history of varicose veins.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people cannot prevent varicose veins from forming, but may be able to delay their formation or prevent existing varicose veins from getting worse. The NIH recommends that people avoid standing or sitting for a long time without taking breaks; avoid crossing their legs when sitting; and keep their legs raised when sitting, resting or sleeping.

Losing weight and doing exercise that works the leg muscles can also help, the NIH said.

South Florida Vascular Associates offers endovenous laser treatments and they are done right in our office. The treatment takes less than 1 hour, provides immediate relief, there is no use of anesthesia, quick recovery period, no scarring and provides a much less rate of complication compared to surgery. If you have unsightly or painful varicose veins call our office today to make an appointment for a consultation at one of our 3 convenient office locations, Coconut Creek, Plantation or Boynton Beach. We can help you to feel better and look better. Call 954-724-4141.