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woman holding ankle showing spider veins in calf

How to Recognize and Treat Early Onset Vein Disease in Illinois

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Corona phlebectatica is much more common than most think. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, venous disease affects approximately 15% of the United States population. Fortunately, treating vein disease has never been easier. When you choose Gilvydis Vein Clinic, you’re choosing passionate vein specialists who care about your health, comfort, and well-being. 

Let’s take a look at how you can detect early-onset vein disease and how Gilvydis Vein Clinic can help get you back on your feet.

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Types of Vein Disease

Vein disease is a type of medical condition that causes a person’s veins to improperly return blood to the heart. This disease can stem from numerous types of serious venous issues, like:

Stages of Vein Disease & Corona Phlebectatica

No two individuals will experience the progression of vein disease the same. However, there are seven stages of vein disease that can typically be predicted among patients as a whole. If you believe you are in the beginning stages of vein disease, schedule a free screening at Gilvydis Vein Clinic. 

Stage 1

The first stage of vein disease is most likely invisible to you—however, you may be experiencing painful leg aches and cramps despite not being able to see any visible varicose veins. Your legs may also throb, itch, burn, swell, and feel heavy or restless. 

Stage 2

Have you been noticing blue, purple, or red veins branching out on your legs? These web-like spider veins appear on the surface of your legs and can cause painful itching, aching, or burning sensations.

Stage 3

Enlarged varicose veins are often dark blue or purple. These swollen veins will become much more prominent to the eye as they swell and bulge at the surface of your skin. These painful veins can feel heavy and may bleed or form ulcers.

Stage 4

If you have swelling in your legs and ankles, you may be experiencing edema. This is caused by the blood of leaky valves pooling underneath the surface of your skin. Swelling can become more severe the longer you are on your feet.

Stage 5

Do you have abnormally visible blood vessels around your ankles? You may have corona phlebectatica. Corona phlebectatica is a complex medical term used to describe signs of chronic venous insufficiency. Common symptoms include painful itching, swelling, and burning sensations.

Stage 6

Skin changes are a sign of a damaged vein. When a vein is damaged, it can cause fluid and blood to build up under the surface of your skin. These progressive skin changes can lead to leg ulcers. Symptoms include skin color changes and painful hardening of the skin.

Stage 7

Leg ulcers typically form in the final stages of vein disease. Watch out for wounds on your legs. These wounds are caused by abnormal or damaged veins, which can lead to venous hypertension and a breakdown of your tissue. 

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What Causes Corona Phlebectatica?

Corona phlebectatica is a sign of chronic venous insufficiency. People with chronic venous insufficiency often experience the presence of fanned-out discolored veins around the ankle area.

Those with chronic venous insufficiency have damaged veins that prevent blood from flowing backward. This causes blood to swell and pool within the leg veins. The most common cause of chronic venous insufficiency is high blood pressure—however, factors like diabetes, age, obesity, and family history can play a big part in your diagnosis.

What Are the Dangers of Vein Disease?

 Even though vein disease is common, serious complications can occur down the road. If left untreated, vein disease can cause ulcers, bleeding blot clots, and life-threatening deep vein thrombosis.

Deep vein thrombosis is a condition characterized by a blood clot deep within a leg or arm vein. This condition can be fatal if not treated immediately due to the high chance of the clot breaking off and traveling to the lungs. 

What Are the Symptoms of Vein Disease?

Symptoms of vein disease typically start within your legs and ankles.

  • Aching
  • Burning
  • Cramping
  • Heaviness
  • Itching
  • Swelling
  • Throbbing
  • Restlessness

If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, especially with the presence of discolored veins, then you may be suffering from the early stages of vein disease. Schedule a free screening with the vein experts at Gilvydis Vein Clinic to tackle your symptoms with today’s most innovative vein technology.

How Is Vein Disease Treated? 

Vein disease treatment no longer has to hurt. Instead, Gilvydis Vein Clinic has turned to non-invasive vein treatments like ultrasound vein mapping, endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), and sclerotherapy. 

Ultrasound Vein Mapping

Also called a vascular ultrasound, ultrasound vein mapping is a safe and effective non-invasive technique used to create a visual roadmap of your veins. Ultrasound vein mapping is perfect for gauging the size, depth, and flow of your blood to reach a diagnosis.

Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) 

Endovenous laser ablation is an FDA-approved outpatient treatment that destroys the walls of a diseased vein through the use of laser heat. Our clients have a 97% success rate after one EVLA treatment.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is an effective treatment for eliminating varicose and spider veins. The vein experts at Gilvydis Vein Clinic will inject a saline solution into your vein, which will cause it to collapse and force blood to run through healthy veins instead. The only discomfort you might experience after sclerotherapy is mild cramping. 

Treating your veins shouldn’t end at the vein clinic. Practice healthy home remedies like changing your diet, exercising more, and quitting smoking. Contact our vein specialists for more information about how you can create a positive impact on your veins at home.

What Are the Risk Factors of Vein Disease?

Venous insufficiency affects millions of Americans every year. Even though vein disease can be linked to family history, other risks like an unhealthy diet and tobacco use play a role in the development of vein disease.

Risk factors for vein disease include:

  • Age
  • Obesity
  • Smoking
  • Cancer
  • Lack of exercise
  • Muscle weakness
  • Various trauma

Schedule a Free Screening With a Trusted Vein Specialist

Don’t let your vein disease get out of hand. Take control of your vein health and schedule a free screening with a vein specialist at Gilvydis Vein Clinic. With leading vein technology, there’s no reason to repeat scary and painful invasive vein treatments. Get back to the life you love and contact Gilvydis Vein Clinic today.

 Schedule a Free Vein Screening

woman sitting at home on couch holding leg showing varicose veins

How To Get Rid of Varicose Veins

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Getting rid of varicose veins is easier than you may think, even if you’re not going the medical treatment route. 

Varicose veins affect around 35% of people in the U.S. Don’t become a part of this statistic—read on to find out how you can take vein health back into your own hands.

What Are Varicose Veins?

Learning how to get rid of varicose veins starts with knowing exactly what they are. Varicose veins are superficial, gnarled veins that protrude from the skin. Typically, they’re darker than other veins and are common in legs and feet. 

Weakened or damaged valves cause varicose veins. This is what happens: the valves can’t properly transport blood throughout your veins, so the blood stays pooled in your veins. As time passes the blood pools up and darkens, causing the characteristics of gnarled, blueish varicose veins on legs.  

Causes and risk factors of varicose veins include:

  • A sedentary lifestyle
  • Long periods of sitting
  • Family history and genetics
  • Obesity
  • Gender—more women have varicose veins than men
  • Leg injury
  • Pregnancy
  • Hormonal replacement or therapy

Download the E-Book for More Information

 

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Spider Veins vs. Varicose Veins

Not to be confused with varicose veins, spider veins are also a cause of blood pooling near your skin’s surface. They get their name from their thin, spider-like appearance. They’re different than varicose veins because they tend to be less enlarged and swollen—and they’re typically harmless. For most people, spider veins are simply a cosmetic concern. 

If you have spider veins and would like to get rid of them, sclerotherapy is a popular, quick treatment option.

Why People Want To Get Rid of Varicose Veins

The top two reasons people want to rid themselves of varicose veins are because a.) it’s a cosmetic issue that bothers them and b.) it’s threatening their health. 

Cosmetic Issues

Many people get treatment for varicose veins because they want to show their legs off again! It can be hard to enjoy yourself and wear the shorts or skirt you want while worrying about what others think of your legs.

Health Conditions

Varicose veins start off as a cosmetic issue but can develop into a potentially life-threatening issue. If left untreated and worsening, varicose veins can put you at significantly increased risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and chronic venous insufficiency. This is when blood clots form in your veins and can run the risk of traveling throughout your system to your lungs. DVT is can be life-threatening. People with varicose veins are five times more likely to develop DVT, so if you notice varicose veins, it’s best to talk to a doctor about treatment.  

Symptoms of Varicose Veins

Not sure if you have varicose veins? Here are some tell-tale signs:

  • Twisted, swollen veins
  • Bluish or green tinge to bulging veins
  • Aching pains in your legs
  • Heaviness in your legs
  • Itchiness or tingling in your lower legs
  • Occasional burning or throbbing

How To Get Rid of Varicose Veins in 3 Steps

If you have varicose veins, don’t worry—they’re usually treatable in less than a day and may even be covered under insurance. Here’s the best route to go for varicose vein treatment:

1. Schedule a Vein Screening for Ultrasound Vein Mapping 

First things first, find an IAC-accredited vein clinic with stellar reviews to schedule a vein screening at. During your screening, your vein specialists will map your veins using ultrasound. This allows them to see where your varicose veins are and what the best treatment route for you may be. 

2. Talk to Your Specialist To Decide on the Right Treatment

Treatment varies on a case-by-case basis. The most common treatments for varicose veins are laser ablations and sclerotherapy. Your vein doctor will give you the rundown on the benefits and drawbacks of both and can help you figure out which one works best for you. 

3. Treat Varicose Veins: Endovenous Laser Ablations or Sclerotherapy

Endovenous laser ablation: If you select this treatment, your vein doctor will insert a laser fiber into your legs and use heat to close the problem vein. This allows the blood to reroute through the surrounding healthy veins. It’s minimally invasive and the doctor applies a local anesthetic so that you won’t feel a thing!

Sclerotherapy: Sclerotherapy is when a solution is injected into the problem vein. This allows it to scar and—similar to laser ablation—causes your blood to reroute through healthy veins. Once the varicose vein scars, it gets absorbed into your tissue and fades over time.

Both of these treatments are quick, relatively painless, and require little recovery time.  

Natural Treatment Options for Varicose Veins

You can also try different home remedies for varicose veins that will help you manage symptoms and may improve your veins. Natural treatments include:

 

  • Staying Active. Doctors recommend participating in low-impact exercises to help improve varicose vein symptoms. Activity helps get your blood flowing, which can improve your blood circulation.
  • Wearing Compression Socks. Compression socks are great for varicose veins if you’re experiencing stiffness, pain, or swelling. A 2018 study found that those who use compression socks reported lower pain and aching from varicose veins.
  • Eat Your Greens (Among Other Things). Having a healthy, balanced diet can help improve vein health. Be sure to eat veggies like spinach and broccoli; healthy fats like pistachios, salmon, and almonds; legumes like lentils and white beans; and eat healthy fibers present in oats, flaxseed, and other whole-grain foods.

Say Goodbye to Varicose Veins—It All Starts Here

Looking for a reliable place to get those varicose veins treated? Gilvydis is just the place. 

At the Gilvydis Vein Clinic, our commitment is to your vascular health—not to our paychecks or schedules. We always put our patients first to ensure they get the best, customized vein treatment plan they can get. We offer the latest treatment options for varicose veins, so gone are the days of painful, long vein treatments! 

Our hundreds of 5-star reviews and accolades are a testament to how much we care. We even offer free vein screenings to help you stay on top of your vein health. Get your veins back into great shape. Schedule a free screening and get started at the Gilvydis Vein Clinic today.

 

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Gilvydis Vein Clinic Experience

Why Choose Us: Experience and Results

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Living with the symptoms of varicose veins or spider veins can disrupt your quality of life. At Northern Illinois Vein Clinic, we are the leading experts in vein disease in the region because we focus solely on the treatment of leg vein disease. We deliver successful outcomes, and our patients become our best advocates.

Patient Experience

We prioritize your experience during each step of the process. During the consultation, we explain what vein disease is and how it progresses, perform an exam that assesses if you have vein disease and how advanced it is, and we discuss next steps, which may include minimally invasive treatment in our clinic that will help relieve symptoms, improve the look of your legs, and requires little-to-no downtime. Each treatment plan is individualized to the patient depending on the stage their vein disease is in. Vein disease is covered by most insurance plans and before treatment, our team will work with your insurance and health benefits to secure medical coverage whenever possible.

Patient Outcomes

Our 5-star experience means that patients trust us to refer their family and friends back to our clinics. We also take pride in the fact that local healthcare providers trust us to refer their patients for care. After treatment, the most common thing we hear from patients is, “I wish I would have done this sooner.” Patients often go on to be our best advocates, regularly leaving 5-star reviews and recommendations on Google, Facebook, and other healthcare review platforms. One patient said:

“Dr. G. is a genius in his field! After two procedures the transformation in my leg and life is truly miraculous.”

Unmatched Expertise

Dr. Rimas Gilvydis brings the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease to the 21st century, combining modern technology with advanced expertise. He is a board-certified vascular and interventional radiologist, as well as a diplomate of the American Board of Venous & Lymphatic Medicine. Our leading-edge, minimally invasive treatments are performed in our state-of-the-art facilities by Dr. Gilvydis and his team. The team has performed more than 24,000 successful laser vein treatments.

You don’t have to delay help for your varicose veins or spider veins. Vein disease is progressive and if left untreated can become serious. A simple consultation can assess your legs and determine the next steps in your individualized treatment plan. If you are experiencing any symptoms of vein disease, contact us today.

Improving Leg Circulation

Guys: Don’t Ignore Varicose Veins

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Varicose Veins in Men

We get it. Guys don’t often obsess over the look of varicose veins at the beach.

But men make up about 25% of varicose vein patients nationwide and nearly 45% percent of our patient base at Gilvydis Vein Clinic. Almost half of all men get varicose veins at some point, and the debilitating pain associated with vein disease is not something to ignore.

In 2018, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association determined that there was a greater occurrence of serious health problems when varicose veins were present. The significant observation of the study was that the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot deep in the veins, was over five times greater in varicose vein patients than those who did not have varicose veins.

 

Download the E-Book for More Information

 

Schedule a FREE screening

 

Don’t Leave Varicose Veins Untreated

Vein disease will worsen over time if left untreated. Complications include leg ulcers, where the skin breaks down and allows bacteria to enter, causing numbness and infections.

Varicose veins look like purple or blue blood vessels on your thigh or calf. You also might experience aching, heavy or sore legs, restless legs, sometimes with swollen ankles or feet, especially after standing or sitting for long periods of time.

Risk factors associated with vein disease include a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, age, smoking, and family history. You can help prevent varicose veins by exercising, increasing your water intake, and consuming more fiber, vitamin C, and rutin (found in food such as cherries, blueberries, apples, apricots and buckwheat).

These activities and wearing compression socks/stockings can also help ease symptoms related to varicose veins but will not stop its progression. Individuals often feel the achiness and heaviness in the legs due to vein disease before it becomes visible. For this reason and if and when varicose veins become more visible, treatment is the next step.

Find A Vein Specialist in Illinois

At Gilvydis Vein Clinic, we treat varicose veins simply and easily through minimally invasive procedures such as endovenous laser ablation and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy. These are highly effective treatments that are covered by most health insurance and with minimal recovery time.

Our specialists can help you determine if you have varicose veins and if vein disease has progressed to something more serious. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and read more about other men who have taken steps to treat their varicose veins.

 

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Treating Varicose Veins from pregnancy

Treat Varicose Veins Between Pregnancies

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Your risk of developing vein disease – especially varicose veins – increases if you have a family history of them or if you spend long periods of time standing or sitting.

Varicose veins affect both women and men, and a common risk factor for women is pregnancy. More than 40% of pregnant women experience varicose veins during pregnancy.

These bulging, twisted veins can cause legs to feel heavy, restless, painful, and achy, and increase the risk of developing blood clots.

Pregnancy causes a woman’s body to work harder than normal, leading to the development of varicose veins. Here’s why:

  • The body produces higher levels of progesterone, which are linked to varicose veins.
  • These increased hormone levels relax veins and promote blood to flow in the wrong direction.
  • More blood is flowing through the body, causing the veins to work harder, resulting in weakened valves that can lead to pooling of blood within the veins.
  • The pressure of an enlarged uterus on the pelvic veins can obstruct the veins from draining into lower extremities and lead to the backflow of blood.

For many women, varicose veins will be less noticeable (although still present) after pregnancy once progesterone levels return to normal. For others, vein disease will progress after pregnancy, worsening the look of and pain associated with varicose veins.

The good news? In both cases, a thorough evaluation and noninvasive treatment can help. And a consultation can be scheduled between your second and third trimesters.

During the consultation, we will assess your level of vein disease, explain the condition and answer your questions, and fit you for compression stockings (insurance requires these to be worn prior to treatment). Modern technology allows for vein disease to be treated in between pregnancies.

Our founder Dr. Rimas Gilvydis, a board-certified vascular and interventional radiologist, has spent his career treating vein disease and educating patients, individuals, and the medical community that vein disease – including varicose veins – is not purely cosmetic and that painful vein stripping (which your mother or grandmother might have experienced) is a thing of the past.

The Gilvydis Vein Clinic team has performed more than 24,000 successful laser vein treatments, delivering innovative treatment with minimal downtime and discomfort. We are known for excellence in vein care and for always providing the highest-quality, individualized care with the best possible outcomes for our patients.

If your varicose veins appeared during or after pregnancy, call us at 815-981-4742 to schedule a consultation or contact us right here on our website. Don’t let the debilitating pain often associated with vein disease take time away from your pregnancy or time with your children.

family history and risks for varicose veins

Family history increases risk for developing varicose veins

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It’s important to know our family history for various medical issues, from cancer to vein disease.

A visit to the doctor’s office is a frequent reminder of this need-to-know information every time we have to fill out a form or confirm details with a nurse during a checkup.

Another question to ask your immediate and/or extended family members is for their history with vein disease, be that varicose veins, spider veins, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It’s common to assume these issues are just cosmetic, but vein disease is serious and will worsen over time if left untreated.

Study links varicose veins, DVT

How serious are varicose veins? A 2018 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that among adults with the condition, there is a significantly increased risk of developing DVT, when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs.

A blood clot is a life-threatening complication, so treating varicose veins before they get worse is critical. There are real health risks associated with vein disease.

Symptoms can be debilitating

The look of varicose or spider veins can be annoying and embarrassing. They can appear as red and blue spidery lines on our legs or bulging, twisted veins that make us choose long pants over shorts or a bathing suit every time (or be grateful for added layers during the winter months).

But clothing doesn’t cover up the symptoms of vein disease, which can feel unbearable and interfere with everyday activities like sleeping, standing, and walking. The most common symptoms of varicose veins include:

  • Aching or throbbing pain in the legs
  • Slightly swollen legs, ankles or feet
  • Itchy legs
  • Hot or burning sensation in the legs
  • Heaviness in the legs or feet
  • Restless legs
  • Skin that looks discolored or thick along the legs or feet

Talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms. Or you can contact us anytime for a consultation, and we can determine what next steps are needed.

 Ask Your Parents

Nearly 55% of women will develop varicose veins, and 45% of men, too. That’s why it’s critical to understand your family history on both your mother’s and father’s sides. Vein disease affects both men and women.

The earlier vein disease is treated, the better, and women no longer need to wait until after they’re done having children. Vein disease can be treated between pregnancies, and we can do consultations for women in their second and third trimesters.

Men are less likely to seek treatment for vein disease. Men tend to wait on treatment and ignore the early symptoms, allowing the disease to advance. Men will seek treatment when they start experiencing the more debilitating symptoms of the disease. Vein disease affects individual lifestyle activities and quality of life. Today’s treatment is safe, with little or no downtime allowing men to get treatment without having to miss work.

One of your parents or grandparents may be reluctant or hesitant to talk about varicose veins because they were previously treated with painful vein-stripping procedures. Those are outdated treatments. At Gilvydis Vein Clinic, our founder Dr. Rimas Gilvydis performs minimally invasive sclerotherapy and endovenous laser ablation that produce minimal pain and offer little-to-no downtime.

Our team has performed more than 24,000 successful laser vein treatments. Don’t wait to schedule a consultation for varicose or spider veins. Act now to stop the progression of vein disease, which, if left untreated, can debilitate your quality of life and limit your active lifestyle.

stretching and exercising to improve leg circulation

Get On Your Feet

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With shelter in place in Illinois heading into its second month, it’s important to stop and think about how your health may be affected by the restrictions.

Whether you have been binging Netflix shows, trying to finish a 1,000-piece puzzle, or getting lost in a novel, sitting for long periods of time increases the risk for chronic issues such as heart disease and diabetes.

Varicose veins are another medical condition that can develop when veins no longer sufficiently send blood from the legs back to the heart. Our veins have valves that enable the blood to flow forward toward the heart, but those valves can become damaged and weakened over time.

Damaged and weakened valves result in blood pooling in the legs and sitting too long helps gravity push that blood further down in the body. That’s when we increase our risks for serious, life-threatening conditions such as blood clots and deep vein thrombosis.

As the spring weather turns warmer, there isn’t a better time than now to start getting on your feet every day. Keeping your blood flowing and circulating well is important for your health. You don’t have to participate in rigorous exercise every day. Movement of any kind will make an impact on leg vein health. Below are some ideas to get you started:

  • Prop your feet up on a footrest or stool to help elevate your legs throughout the day.
  • Stand up and do some calf raises (stand on your tiptoes, release and repeat) or try a few squats.
  • Take a 30-minute walk (or run) every day. This can help boost circulation and allow your veins to function properly.
  • Participate in an activity such as yoga. There are many great instruction videos available online (check YouTube or your cable provide might have yoga and other fitness resources on demand).
  • Take a bike ride with your family. This is a lower-impact activity that can improve leg health.

If you’re concerned about painful, achy legs, call us anytime or click here to schedule a virtual consultation or in office screening. You can also hear directly from patients about how our minimally invasive treatments helped their leg pain caused by too much standing and sitting on the job.

Healthy Legs without Varicose and Spider Veins

Treat Yourself To Healthy Legs This Holiday Season

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The holidays are a time of giving, spending time with family and friends, and preparing for a New Year.
Taking care of yourself and treating yourself to better leg vein health should also be on the to-do list this season.

It’s understandable that the busyness of the holidays means commitments such as health screenings and doctor appointments get put on the backburner. Here are a few reasons to keep them top of mind this month and heading into 2020.

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Vein Disease Symptoms

Common vein diseases include varicose veins, spider veins, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a pulmonary embolism and chronic venous insufficiency.

Vein disease is progressive and if left untreated can develop into potentially life-threatening complications such as blood clots.

Let’s take a step back, though, and talk about symptoms. You might not know you have one of these conditions, but consider these symptoms:

  • Bulging veins that are excessively visible
  • Heavy feeling in the legs
  • Calf pain and cramping
  • Discolored skin
  • Fatigue
  • Aching
  • Burning
  • Throbbing
  • Itching
  • Restlessness of the legs

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, they could be the result of leg vein issues. A simple first step is to call us to schedule a free screening or request an appointment online.

Vein Issues Aren’t Just Cosmetic

One of the most common concerns we hear is that treatment for issues such as varicose veins won’t be covered by insurance. Our team will help you eliminate insurance barriers by assisting with insurance authorization and certification.

Treatments such as endovenous laser ablation and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy procedures for varicose veins are covered by almost all plans. We also offer procedures for cosmetic purposes that are typically not covered, though we have third-party financing options available.

As we noted, vein disease should be taken seriously and treatment works. There’s no need to be embarrassed about the appearance of varicose veins, to cover them up, or to put up with the discomfort from pain, swelling and other symptoms.

Treat yourself to healthy legs this holiday and instill confidence, eliminate downtime and improve your overall health.

Request a FREE Screening

Business person showing only legs walking

Varicose veins can lead to health problems during long trips

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It’s that time of year, when traveling and the holidays go hand in hand for millions of Americans. Long trips of four hours or more by car, train or plane can be challenging for people in general. But these days, air travel is uncomfortable for just about everyone, and sitting in a cramped seat for hours is even more challenging for those traveling with vein disease.

Vein disease and blood clot risk

If you suffer with vein disease, especially bulging veins, the chances of developing a blood clot during air travel is increased by:

  • Use of oral contraceptives
  • Pregnancy
  • Cancer
  • Recent surgery
  • Older age
  • Obesity
  • History of previous blood clots
  • Genetic predisposition to blood clots

Take these precautions when traveling with varicose veins

These simple steps can help you protect yourself from blood clots while traveling:

  • Pump it up – Lift up your heel like you’re getting on your tippy toes to engage your calf muscle. This allows blood to pump from the leg to the heart, which is key for vein health. Do as many “heel lifts” as possible, especially if it’s inconvenient to get out of your seat during the flight.
  • Avoid tight pants – Keep things loose around your waist area. A tight fit in the waist creates a tourniquet effect, increasing pressure on the abdomen and hindering the venous system’s purpose of moving blood from the legs back to the heart.
  • Water rules – When traveling, it can be tempting to indulge in alcohol, sweets and other foods and drinks that can dehydrate you. But make water your top choice. Staying hydrated keeps vein walls from narrowing and can prevent constipation, which also stresses the venous system.
  • Keep things flowing – Wear compression stockings to improve blood flow from the legs back to the heart.

If you plan to travel soon, have varicose veins and are concerned about getting a blood clot, talk with your doctor.

Advanced, specialized vein care is close to home

If you have varicose veins or spider veins and you’re concerned about traveling for the upcoming holidays or anytime soon, contact Gilvydis Vein Clinic in Sycamore and Geneva, Illinois today. With advanced diagnostics and individualized, leading-edge treatments, we’ve helped thousands of Midwesterners overcome vein disease and varicose veins to look and feel great.

To learn more or schedule an appointment with one of our vascular specialists, call 815-844-8607 or click here to use our online form.

Image Credit: Getty/Ivanko_Brnjakovic

Varicose vein treatments gives patient ‘two new legs’

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Tom Adland thought his varicose vein issues would permanently sideline him from everyday life. But then he met Dr. Rimas Gilvydis and his team.

 

Adland’s varicose veins started bothering him about 15 years ago. Since that time, the now-68-year-old underwent three vein-stripping procedures.

 

“It was just to no avail,” he recalled. “They came back and were worse, so I just kind of threw up my hands.”

 

Genetics play a part in his condition, as two of his brothers also sought treatment for varicose veins. And while exercise can help decrease the symptoms from varicose veins (Adland used to be a jogger, and he and his wife, Lynn, played tennis and racquetball and rode bicycles together), even those types of activities became too painful. It hurt just to sit, he said.

 

Things got so bad that walking a one-block distance with Lynn to a restaurant or shop was difficult. “She would get to the end of the block, and I’d only be halfway there. It hurt to extend my stride and try to keep pace. People got tired of waiting on me.”

 

Lynn heard about Dr. Rimas Gilvydis from patients who had reported great results with minimally invasive laser treatments that are now available. So Adland made an appointment.

 

“During my consultation, I started to describe to Dr. Gilvydis how my legs hurt and how they limited my lifestyle. He stopped me halfway through and said, ‘We’re going to solve that. We’re going to give you two new legs.’ And by golly, he did it.”

 

Dr. Gilvydis said pain and swelling are among the most common symptoms of varicose veins, and those symptoms are caused by venous stasis – old, stagnant blood pooling and collecting in the legs, which worsens as the day goes on. Venous stasis is caused by permanently damaged valves in the legs. Patients often attribute this and its symptoms to being part of the normal aging process, but, left untreated, symptoms worsen: swelling, pain, purplish discoloration, cellulitis, scar tissue, ulcers, bleeding varicose veins and blood clots.

 

Varicose veins can be easily closed with Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) in an outpatient setting. Once treated, the venous stasis resolved, Dr. Gilvydis said.

 

Adland said he never had any pain with the laser treatments, a major change from the leg-stripping procedures of old. “There was an occasional pinch, but Dr. Gilvydis was always good about warning me.”

 

Recovery was also painless, and Adland was pleased that the compression stockings he wore post-treatment had also improved in design through the years.

 

Adland grew especially fond of the clinic’s staff during his treatment appointments. “They go out of the way to make sure everything works for you. They’re great people.”

 

He connected to the staff so well, he used his experience working in aerospace to help ease an employee’s fear of flying. He appreciated that staff members were always flexible in making appointments that fit with his work schedule.

 

The clinic’s comprehensive vein care begins with patient education, Dr. Gilvydis noted. And because EVLA treatment is very standardized, the staff can create a comfortable environment in the treatment rooms: Patients can select the type of music they listen to; they have their own ultrasound monitor, which allows them to see the work being done; and because only local anesthesia is used, Dr. Gilvydis and his team are able to talk with patients throughout the entire procedure.

 

“We want every patient to understand what varicose veins are, how they are affecting their health and how we can help them,” Dr. Gilvydis said. “The more our patients are educated about varicose veins and their treatment, the less anxiety they are likely to experience.”

 

Today, Adland can proudly “keep pace with anyone.” In less than a year, he has shed more than 75 pounds, and his ability to exercise and focus on his health has improved with the leg vein treatment.

 

“I can’t say enough good things,” Adland said of his experience. “I’ve recommended the office to anybody who is willing to engage in a discussion about varicose veins. You can’t ask for a better specialist to work with.”

 

As for Adland’s “two new legs,” Dr. Gilvydis said patients often describe their legs feeling lighter and younger, not experiencing swelling or aching, and lamenting that they wish they would have sought treatment sooner.

 

“I am pleased with every single patient we treat, whether the varicose veins are mild, moderate or severe,” Dr. Gilvydis said. “Having specialized in EVLA over the past 14 years, there are no patients that we can’t treat. Tom presented with a history of prior surgical stripping and blood clots. This doesn’t affect our scope of treatment. In fact, the more complex and advanced the varicose vein disease, the more I would like to treat patients, as their results can be very dramatic.”